From club to national federation to international federation

South Africa's Sport and Recreation Act defines a National Federation.

Although I will be writing in general terms, the basics apply to practically every national federation.

It all starts with the individual!

All you need is one individual who wants to play with other individuals. Eventually through a sense of community, the individuals playing together form a society to reflect their common interest in the game, and as such a club is born!

Then the newly formed club looks for other clubs to play against. Should they not find any, the club either stagnates and eventually dies, or it boldly, and unabashedly, promotes the growth of other clubs.

Once the clubs have created a framework for competition, the clubs generally come together to form the federation.

As such, the club always precedes the federation.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) (https://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa) is no different. Some of the member clubs date back as far as the 1970's (Wits Wargames Club which was founded in 1979) whereas MSSA was only founded in 1985. 

This is true for swimming as well where clubs in what was known as the Transvaal were founded as early as 1884, but Swimming South Africa (SSA) was only founded in 1899. FINA, the international federation, was then founded in 1908.

Even in football, a British club like Cambridge was founded in 1846, the Football Association (English) was only founded in 1863 whereas the international federation (FIFA) was only constituted in 1904.

However, what is important to note is that at no time does government become involved in the creation of these national sport bodies.

In fact government involvement is decidedly frowned upon and discouraged by the international controlling bodies.

So, just like any other sport, esports has done its time in developing the national federation with the first clubs being formed in the 1970's, the national federation being formed in 1985, and International Esports Federation (IESF) being formally constituted in 2008.

Few gamers will understand the amount of work that it has taken a small group of dedicated people to get esports to this level, and many of those who have poured their hearts and efforts into this project may very well be forgotten over time. However, the legacy of having a non-profit structure that is dedicated to the promotion of the games and a structure that is dedicated to serving the gamer will endure for many decades to come!

Also read:

• The road to Eilat
• IESF announces first three titles for 12th World Championships
• The transition of eSports from a recreational game to a structured sport
• Mind Sports are indeed a sport!

The importance of sport.

There are few moments in life that can rival carrying one's national flag into an  international event in front of thousands of spectators - Marisa van der Westhuizen at IESF's 10th World Championships - 2018.

While it is always nice to accumulated certificates, medals, and trophies, and sometimes even prize money, that is not the most important lesson that doing a sport teaches you.

Yes, it is important to excel, to compete, and to push oneself to do one's best, which, in my mind is what sport is all about.

Sport is about learning to:

• deal with all types of people (those with you agree and those with which you disagree), 
• becoming self-disciplined, 
• learning to focus on what is, and what is not important, 
• developing an inner strength that will help form character, and 
• learning to deal with structures and how to manipulate them.

It is like going to a swimming pool on a hot summer afternoon. On the one side there are lanes neatly stretched across the pool where swimmers train in a disciplined and organized manner. On the remaining two-thirds of the swimming pool, there are no lanes, and children splash around enjoying the summer afternoon.

But who is getting the most out of their time?

I would argue that those involved in the training session are as they are focussed on achieving their own  personal goals. The others are merely marking time and whiling away time in the pursuit of so-called fun.

However, it is  those that are involved in the process of being trained by a professional who will walk away with real life experiences with memories of accomplishment and cameraderie.

So too with esports. Those who treat esports as a sport are able to learn all those lessons that other sportspersons learn. Those who participate on a  recreational level, or outside of official structures, will grab fleeting moments of fun and in my opinion never achieve their true potential.

Official structires allow esports athletes to achieve honours (provincial and national colours) that athletes will take, and carry with them, for all of their lives.

Such accreditation has a  positive effect on the individual for as long as they live and helps create better citizens.

Also read: 

• Closing date for booking accommodation at Fakkel School of Skills for SA Nationals in December 2019.
• Events for July until December 2019
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• National Federation Colours
• Earning Provincial Colours at S A National Championships.
• Any Registered Player may enter MSSA's S A National Championships.
• 2020 Calendar of Events

Find your dream!

Francois Mouton representing South Africa in HearthStone at IeSF's 8th World Championships - Jakarta. 

It is not easy to find your dream.

There are so many people along the way that  might attempt to deter you, or steer you along a different path for their own ulterior motives.

Then there are those who go out and try to educate and get you to create a considered opinion.

In my own life, I consider myself to be blessed to be surrounded by the latter.

My parents (now deceased) always promoted freedom of thought at a time in South Africa when such freedom was not much appreciated. Then there was Zvi Katabi, my old swimming coach, who added much, and to whom I shall always be indebted.

But I digress.

Many gamers will look at the two options offered to gamers in South Africa by Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) on the one side, and by private operators (like TELKOM) on the other.

Such gamers feel that they need to choose between the two.

The truth is that gamers can do both.

Few gamers are aware that  the league offered by TELKOM was in fact started by MSSA in 2005.

It is important though that gamers get in as many competition type games as possible if they are to improve on an international stage.

In my own experience, I have found that I was only ready for international competition if I had played in at least 5 competitions between championships

Thus, in order to find your dream, you have to put in a lot of work.

Your dream will  not just fall into your lap, and often you will find that the more difficult path leads to greater success.

Just as it takes years of study to acquire a degree to find the career of choice, so becoming a professional gamer requires hours of training, competitive play, and taking every opportunity that is offered no matter by what, who, or whom.

Swimming South Africa may be about to lose its SASCOC membership

On reviewing Swimming  South Africa's Constitution dated 12 April 2015, it is clear  that  there are a number of omissions and irregularities that put such constitution at odds with not only SASCOC's Constitution, but the South  African Constitution as well.

No South African organisation may allow its constitution to conflict with the Constitution of South Africa as the Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the country of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government.

One can only wonder what FINA and the IOC think about it.

Generally in the world of sport, a national federation has to get approval from the international body before such changes may be  implemented.

Has FINA then also lost the plot?

At one stage Swimming South africa had, without doubt, the best constitution out of  all  the sporting bodies, but  it  seems as though the officials and  administrators of Swimming South Africa would rather run the risk of having their  membership of  SASCOC terminated than maintain good governance.

As Jace Naidoo prepares to leave the Presidency of Swimming South Africa

Jace Naidoo - President of Swimming South Africa

And so it seems as though the South African Sports Community will be saying goodbye to Jace Naidoo as President of Swimming South Africa.

Why?

Well, SASCOC has a clause in its Constitution (10.2.2) that does not allow ANY federation to allow Board Members to hold the same office for more than twelve (12) years.

As we all know, Jace was  elected into office in 2004.

Thus his 12 years of being president are up.

Of course this does not stop him from assuming a different position.

However, it is hard to go when you are on top, and just after the Rio Olympics too...

Certainly, the Jace I know, the Jace of high stature, impeccable ethics, solid moral grounding,  and virtue, will always comply to the rules - not like some other President's of sporting codes.

It will be interesting to  see the list of the candidates for the position at this year's AGM.

From club to national federation to international federation

With the debate surrounding what is, or isn't, a national federation, it is important for people to know how federations are formed.

Although I will be writing in general terms, the basics apply to practically every national federation.

It all starts with the individual!

All you need is one individual who wants to play with other individuals. Eventually through a sense of community, the individuals playing together form a society to reflect their common interest in the game, and as such a club is born!

Then the newly formed club looks for other clubs to play against. Should they not find any, the club either stagnates and eventually dies, or it boldly, and unabashedly, promotes the growth of other clubs.

Once the clubs have created a framework for competition, the clubs generally come together to form the federation.

As such, the club always precedes the federation.

The MSSA (https://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa) is no different. Some of the member clubs date back as far as the 1970's (Wits Wargames Club which was founded in 1979) whereas the federation was only founded in 1985.

This is true for swimming as well where clubs in what was known as the Transvaal were founded as early as 1884, but the Transvaal Swimming Association was only founded in 1902.

Even in football, a British club like Cambridge was founded in 1846, the Football Association (English) was only founded in 1863 whereas the international federation (FIFA) was only constituted in 1904.

However, what is important to note is that at no time does government become involved in the creation of these national sport bodies.

In fact government involvement is decidedly frowned upon and discouraged by the international controlling bodies.

So, just like any other sport, eSports has done its time in developing the national federation with the first clubs being formed in the 1970's, the national federation being formed in 1985, and the international federation (the IeSF) being formally constituted in 2008.

Few gamers will understand the amount of work that it has taken a small group of dedicated people to get eSports to this level, and many of those who have poured their hearts and efforts into this project may very well be forgotten over time. However, the legacy of having a non-profit structure that is dedicated to the promotion of the games and a structure that is dedicated to serving the gamer will endure for many decades to come!