Proposed changes to the position of National Team Manager.

MSSA's 2018 team officials - Jesse Joubert (left), Amanda Pakade (centre), and Johan van Breda (right).

Mind Sports South Africa's National Team Manager (NTM) is vital in ensuring the discipline, training schedule, and performance of the National Protea Team. 

It is the National Team Manager that is held responsible for the performance, or non-performance, of the national team. Obviously there are sometimes extenuating circumstances which MSSA's  Management Board takes into account upon reviewing the performance of the National Team Manager.

To help MSSA choose the best  possible National Team Manager, MSSA is proposing to increase the number of criteria in order to allow even more Registered Players to qualify for this ever  so important position.

The proposed rules also remove the selection of the National Team Manager from the Management Board and places such selection of such position in the hands of the Selection Committee. It is thought that such a move will remove the appointee from being a political appointment and, instead, ensure that the position shall be based purely on merit and limit political wrangling on the Management Board.

With the Selection Committee themselves being responsible for the performance of the National Team Manager and the National Team, the appointment of an ineffective National Team Manager could mean the replacement of the entire Selection Committee.

The proposed changes are:

40. NATIONAL TEAM MANAGERS

40.1 National Team Managers shall be appointed by the Selection Committee from Registered Players who are:

a. Current or past members of the Management Board, or

b. Have held office for at least three years in an administrative or technical capacity for MSSA, or

c. Have already served as a National Team Manager, or

d. Have earned Protea Colours.

40.2 Team Managers shall be appointed on a contractual basis to be determined by the Selection Committee.

40.3 All such contracts shall require ManCom approval.

40.4 The Selection Committee may dismiss a National Team Manager for non performance.

40.5 Members of the Selection Committee shall not be eligible for selection.

Also read:

• For a team to be selected, the game must be played at SA National Championships.

• SA's Ladder titles are up for grabs at SA National Championships.

• SA National Championships: Extension of entry date - 27 November 2018.

• Proposed changes to the selection of MSSA's Protea Teams.

Proposed changes to the selection of MSSA's Protea Teams.

MSSA's Protea League of Legends Esports Team that attended IESF's 10th World Championships - Kaohsuing City.

Selection of a Protea Team is always a thorny issue.

What with some athletes feeling omitted, outsiders believing that thay could do a better job, and many other factors, there is always  some level of controversy surrounding the selection of the national team - no matter what the sport code.

However, over the years, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has refined its selection criteria, and will continue to do so, in order to create the best selection process.

The current thought is that it is not good enough to just select teams at the National Team Trials, as suchh NTT is held over too short a period for a proper evaluation of the candidate athletes.

Thus, in the proposed changes, National Team Trials as a separate event will be abolished, and selection will take place by examing the results of teams over 3 MSSA championships. Such championships may be Regional, Provincial, and/or National  Championships.

This method will also give the Selectors time to interview all the candidates in a more relaxed manner in order to ensure that all athletes are afforded every opportunity.

There is no doubt that the revised rules apropos selection shall increase the pool from which MSSA's Selectors have to choose and will give even more athletes the opportunity to be selected.

However, it must be remembered that any athlete not conforming to the code of conduct, will not be selected.

The proposed rules are as follows:

12.1 NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION

1. The National Squad Selection Date for every year shall be announced on MSSA’s annual calendar of events after every Annual General Meeting and shall be at least 30 days before the event.
2. Selection shall only be held in periods/genres that are currently being played at a MSSA Provincial or National Championships, if such period is played in at least 30% of the Provinces.
3. To be eligible for selection a player shall;
   i. If being of the age of majority and have received Protea and/or, National Federation, and/or Provincial Colours in the previous year, shall have successfully completed an Umpires’ Course (if such course was held in the province in which such player resides after the date of being awarded such colours), and
   ii. Have been awarded Protea and/or National Federation Colours in the previous year, or
   iii. Have participated in at least 3 MSSA events where such player shall have in at least 2 of these 3 events;

   I.   Have won a Regional Championship in such period/genre, or

   II.  Have finished in the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, at any          official Provincial Championships for such period/genre, or

   III. Have finished in the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, at the            SA School National Championships for such period/genre.

   IV. Be fully-paid-up members of an affiliated Member, and

   V.  Be ranked in the top ten of the Ladder for such period/genre.

   
   
4. Only players who have participated in MSSA’s SA National Championships and who meet the above criteria as stated in Schedule 12.1.3 (above) shall be considered for selection, unless any of the following apply:
   i. A player is on maternity leave, or
   ii. A player is on paternity leave, or
   iii. A player is on compassionate leave, or
   vi. A player is unable to obtain leave from his/her employer, or
   v. A player has valid financial reasons for not attending (being on holiday and thus not being able to afford to attend, does not count as a valid financial reason), or
   vi. The player is a minor and has not received parental permission to attend, or
   vii. Be in their first year of registration.
5. Should a player meet the requirements of any of the criteria as stated in Schedule 12.1.3 (as above), such player may still be considered for selection if such player has won, or is part of a team that has won, all of his/her games at a Provincial Championship that has been held in a physical venue.
6. Players making themselves eligible for selection, shall submit copies of their valid Passports with theirentry to the SA National Championships.
7. Should entry fees be required, such entry fees shall be paid by the date of entry.
8. Players, who are minors, making themselves eligible for selection, shall submit copies of their valid Passports and any other documentation as required with their entry to the SA National Championships.

Also read: 

• For a team to be selected, the game must be played at SA National Championships.

• SA's Ladder titles are up for grabs at SA National Championships.

• SA National Championships: Extension of entry date - 27 November 2018.

For a team to be selected, the game must be played at SA National Championships.

MSSA's Protea Esports Team at IESF's 10th World Championships - Kaohsuing City.

MSSA's Management Board has granted an extensionof time for clubs to enter the SA National Championships until 27 November 2018.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) may only select Protea Teams for periods which are played at the SA National Championships. It is through such system that MSSA is able to give control to the very athletes that it serves to be the deciding factor. There is, however, an exception for new periods (game titles) that are accepted during the year for inclusion in a World Championships.

You may contact MSSA at mindsportssa@gmail.com

Details are as follows:

• Board gaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-board-gaming.html
• Esports: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-lan.html
• Wargaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-african-national-wargames.html

Hosting Club: Fakkel School
Venue: Fakkel School, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg
Date: 1 & 2 December 2018
Entries: Clubs must use the entry form on Google Drive to enter their teams/players.

Entry date: 27 November 2018.

Member clubs must enter their teams/players on the Google Drive page.

The 2018 Calendar of Events may be viewed here.

The draft Calender of Events for 2019 may be viewed here.

Monster Strike Played as a Demonstration Title at IESF's 10th Esports World Championship

For the first time in the history of the Esports World Championship, a mobile game has been selected as an esports discipline. Available on app stores worldwide, Monster Strike is a Hunting Action RPG game optimized for smartphones. 

Monster Strike Stadium, a companion app specialized for competitions, was used during Monster Strike’s demonstration at the championship. Players competed in real-time 4-on-4 battles with the faster team emerging victorious.

In the final game, "JAPAN RED" won with "JAPAN BLUE" coming in a close second. Medals were awarded by IESF President, Colin Webster. 

But it was not just MONSTER STRIKE that was held as a demonstration title,before the opening and the final game, "XFLAG PARK" made its world debut.

IESF President, Colin Webster  enthusiastically stated, "In my opinion, it is vital to have esports game titles of the highest caliber, as demonstration titles at every Esports World Championships to further promote and develop new titles for the inclusion as main line events at IESF World Championships. IESF is proud to have Mixi's 'Monster Strike' as a 2018 demonstration title. The game is not only fun to play, but enthralled the spectators. IESF looks forward to working in closer relationship in the future with Mixi". 

■ Monster Strike App Description

Game Name: Monster Strike 
Category: Game (Action RPG) 
Playing Fee: Free (Partially Paid / Item Charged) 
Supported Models (OS): 【iOS】 iOS 8.0 or later 
                         【Android】 Android 4.3.0 or Later (Android 4.3.0 or    
Less inoperable) is 
how to use: search for "Monsuto" in each store 
game Download URL: 
[iOS] https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/id658511662?mt=8
[Android] https: // play. google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.mixi.monsterstrike
[Amazon] https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01M09D6KY/

■ Monster Strike Stadium Application Overview

Game name: Monst Stadium 
Category: Game (Action RPG) 
Playing fee: Free 
compatible model (OS): 
【iOS】 iOS 6.0 or later 
【Android】 Android 4.0.3 or later (with partially deprecated terminal) 
https: // www .monster-strike.com / news / 20160223_1.html
How to use: Search "Monst Stadium" at each store 
Game download URL: 
【iOS】https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/id959456987
【Android】https : //play.google.com/store/apps/details? id = jp.co.mixi.monsterstrike_stadium

■ Mixi Group <mixi.co.jp> 
Since its founding in 1997, the Mixi Group has introduced SNS "mixi" and a smartphone application "Monster Strike", etc. We have provided communication services to enjoy with friends and family members. 
We are striving to create better communication by envisioning the future where people's lives become more enriched and promoting businesses and services that encourage communication revitalization from the aspect of IT. 

■ XFLAG ™ Studio <xflag.com> 

In August 2015, in order to further develop the entertainment business, we established the XFLAG ™ studio in MIKUSHI CO., LTD. At the XFLAG studio, in addition to offering "Monster Strike" and "Fight League" with "Slogan" as a slogan, "Distance of adrenaline", Dokidoki exciting game and video contents are disseminated to the world To go. 

"Mixi", "mixi", mixi logo, "XFLAG", XFLAG logo, "Monster strike", "Monst", "MONSTER STRIKE", "Fight League", "Fight League" Is a trademark. 
Company names, services and product names of each company are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by their respective companies.

Producing top quality umpires.

Garth Schoeman, one of MSSA's most dedicated umpires.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has been running esports events since 1998.

In order to do so, MSSA has had a policy apropos umpires in place since 1985. Efficiant umpires can do much to build and enhance an event, where poor umpiring can be its death-knell.

Over the years, MSSA has produced 8 international accredited umpires. Some of such umpires have no less than 6 years of umpiring under their belts. When you consider that international umpires are accredited on an annual basis, you will realise the amount of effort expended by both MSSA and the umpires in question in maintaining their accreditation.

However, umpiring often remains a thankless task. An umpire needs to be tough, resilient, and to know a great deal about the discipline which he or she is umpiring.

Too few volunteer for this all important job, that is why MSSA always delights in being able to send candidates overseas for training.

The list of current accredited umpires is as follows:

#	Names	2017				2018				Accredited international umpires
		International	National	Provincial	Regional	International	National	Provincial	Regional
1	Allwright, Terence James		1	3				3
2	Beck, Simone		1
3	Botha, Bernice			1				1
4	Boyes, Morizane		1							YES
5	Boyes, Ryan			1
6	Colin, Henry						1	2
7	Janse van Rensburg, Adele			1
8	Joubert, Jessie			5				4
9	Loftus, Leonard		1	1	2			1	3
10	Loftus, Paula		1	1				1
11	Schoeman, Garth	2	2	3		2		2		YES
12	Swart, Esmari		1		1
13	Uys, Johan		1	1
14	van Breda, Johan	1	1	4	1	2	1	7	1	YES
15	van der Wath, Cobus							2
16	van der Westhuizen, Marisa							1
17	van Wyk, Nelson							2
18	Webster, Colin		2	11	4		1	9	2	YES

Also read:

• MSSA to nominate candidates for IESF's International Referee Workshop