Friday, 1 December 2023

Procedure to be followed by private clubs affiliating for the 2024 season.

In this photo, Joost Loftus and Reneilwe Maphasa stand at OR Tambo before departing for Russia in November 2023. This trip was the 7th time that MSSA had sent representatives overseas in 2023.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is the national federation for Board games, Card games, Esports, and Wargames.

MSSA promotes all  the different disciplines equally, although each affiliated club may pick-and-choose which discipline it wishes to promote in its club. Some clubs will promote the whole gambit, while others will concentrate on only one discipline, and/or even just concentrate on one specific title.

The choice is ultimately up to the member club.

The various mind sports offer unique opportunities to many South Africans. Many South Africans have been able to earn Regional, Provincial, and National Colours which have allowed them to earn bursaries and obtain first-class educations.

MSSA has sent teams with full Protea Colours to international events since 1991 for wargames, 1996 for Morabaraba, 1997 for Checkers, and 2005 for Esports. 

All selected have found being part of the national team to be an education in itself.. 

All clubs must be legal bodies, as well as being non-profit organizations. Thus each club needs to have a founding document. Associations may use the draft constitution as provided below.

It is the club that is the member of MSSA, while the players are affiliated to the club.

Any applicant needs to be aware of the following:

  1. MSSA’s Constitution, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S8LogUNBbPNtfjjjukwvBiSr1u9qHOodLXhvBzZqzIk/edit
  2. MSSA’s General Regulations, ttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1GcOB2rTjv9PjBHhgdRH824NahSI4SrmfjvecaQiLNyA/edit 
  3. Proforma Constitution - (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z-V4MJUAK8vec9XAp4zXXEREnvdrYFfy/edit?rtpof=true) this is a draft constitution that is used by many clubs affiliated to MSSA, 
  4. Application for Affiliation form,  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZfu6g5tSAk8gAgHWe3U7Unkk33_u8xa/edit
  5. Registration Forms for all players – including administrators and any/all coaches, https://docs.google.com/document/d/12sS0BkXNT2rjVROicwYHOEhJcPj0WXtG/edit?rtpof=true
  6. Fee note  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UyPFzb0Sf4jVQrN57GEtyJ1Av7iPZRB6/edit
  7. Letter of Undertaking, https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1ma4A2XZaSiR2hJMThjMUxDdVE, and
  8. MSSA's brochure. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZzfT280fxlzP5m22Z4wJAHWBGtNpkJAY
In order to affiliate, the completed Application for affiliation Form must be submitted to the MSSA.

Once the Board has approved a club’s affiliation, the club then needs to complete the Google Registration Page allocated to the club for the players and make payment.

All club members may participate in all events for which it qualifies. Such events include meetings, championships, courses, and so forth. 

Advantages of having a MSSA affiliated club: 

There are many advantages of having a MSSA affiliated club, such as:
  1. Being part of a community where your club has a real say in how things are done
  2. Being able to apply for National Lottery Funding – MSSA member clubs can apply for up to R800,000.00 in funding
  3. Being able to get assistance from your local government
  4. Experience increased media exposure of your events and your gamers
  5. Become part of the international community through the MSSA Registered players are able to become internationally recognised umpires, etc.
  6. Enable your gamers to take part in MSSA events, which may qualify them for Regional, Provincial, and National colours, overseas trips, and even sports bursaries at university.
MSSA’s Constitution   

The Constitution forms the foundation of the MSSA. It guarantees members rights and governs the way that the MSSA operates. It can only be amended by a two-thirds majority at a Council Meeting. Please remember that Associations only have two (2) votes each, whereas member clubs have a representational vote, being: normal clubs: one vote per every five registered players, and school clubs: one vote per every ten registered players.

MSSA’s General Regulations   

The General Regulations comprises of decisions made by both Council and Executive Committee Meetings. The General Regulations deals with how sub-committees operate as well as to how teams are selected and development funding is distributed. Please refer to Schedule 10.12 in regard to the rights of clubs in hosting events.

MSSA’s Discipline Specific Regulations   

The Discipline Specific Regulations deal with rules concerning the different disciplines. The Disciplines that the MSSA caters for are; Board Gaming, Card gaming, Esports, and Figure Gaming.

Application for Affiliation form   

When a club applies for membership, the applicant club must complete such form and return the same to the MSSA.

Fee note for 2024

The fee note details the Affiliation Fees and Registration fees that are payable.

Player Registration Form   

The Player Registration Form needs to be completed by every player that is a member of a club and intends to participate in MSSA affairs.

MSSA’s Letter of Undertaking   

The Letter of Undertaking is for all registered players who sit on any MSSA committee.

Social Media

The MSSA makes use of the following:
Should you have any queries whatsoever, please contact mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com.

Additional reading:

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Reminder: 2023 SA National Online Championships to be held on 2 December 2023.

2023 MSSA National Team that played in the 2023 IESF World Championships in Iasi, Romania in September 2023.

The hunt is on for the 2024 National Protea Esports Teams. 

To have a chance to qualify for selection, players must be members of an affiliated club and qualify for National Team Trials at a MSSA event.

Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) annual National Online Championships are well known for the ferocity of the competition and high standard of play.

MSSA's 2023 SA National Online Championships represent a wonderful chance for many aspiring Protea Esports Team members to earn a berth in the coveted National Team Trials (NTT) to be held 2024.

In order to participate, players must be registered for the 2023/2024 season.

The championship shall be held on 2 December 2023

Game titles to be played are:


Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
Shooter
CODMMobile184 v 4
CS GOPC165 v 5
PUBGMMobile184 v 4
Sport
FIFA '23PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play121 v 1
eFootball 2023 (Konami)PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play121 v 1
Rocket LeaguePC and Console121 v 1
Rocket LeaguePC and Console123 v 3
Sim racing – Assetto Corsa CompetizionePC121
MOBA
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
League of LegendsPC125 v 5
Clash of ClansMobile121 v1
Mobile Legends Bang BangMobile125 v 5
Fighting
Tekken 7PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play161 v 1
Street Fighter 6PS5, and all platforms compatible with PS5 for cross play121 v 1
CardHearthStoneVarious121 v 1

Players are to acquaint themselves with the rules apropos substitutes and loadshedding.

Tournament Structure:


As per the MSSA's rules, being:

  • If less than six teams, the championship shall be a Round Robin Championship
  • If 6 to 10 teams enter the championship there shall be four rounds as played to the Swiss System
  • If 11 or more teams enter the championship there shall be five rounds as played to the Swiss System

Eligibility:

  • Any team consisting of players who are Registered Players affiliated to a MSSA member club may enter.

Entries:

  • Entry is R100.00 per Registered Player.
  • Only fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.
  • Entries must be submitted by midnight 1 December 2023
  • To enter, the club must complete the Google Drive document. 
  • The entry form may be found on Google Drive. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_ERR6815uVjSMu4t5KkRxYqGJ_AA88kkz31qRgksASc/edit#gid=287696184
  • Clubs are to download the entry form, completed the downloaded form, and e-mail it to Mind Sports South Africa. 
  • Photographs of players must accompany the entry.
  • Only entries submitted via email and on Excel shall be accepted.

Medals:


Medals shall be handed over to winners at the next MSSA LAN that they attend. 


      MALE:

  • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
  • UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognized University.
  • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized school, provided they have not received any Premier medals. 
        FEMALE:
  • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
  • UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognized University.
  • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized school, provided they have not received any Premier medals.

Colours:

  • Protea Colours: Only Players that are selected to represent South Africa in International Championships may earn National Colours if the Protea Colours Board's criteria are met.
  • National Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a National Championship will earn National Colours.
  • Provincial Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a Provincial Championship will earn Provincial Colours. All Players who score within the top 50% in a specific Period at a Provincial Championship, and who also score within the top 50% at a National Championship in the same period and in the same year, will earn Provincial Colours.

        General:

        • The championship shall be played on: 2 December 2023
        • The first round will start at 10H00. Players shall be given 60 minutes to complete each round.
        • Players playing 3 v 3 Rocket League shall be given 1.5 hours to complete the round.
        • The championship is accredited as being of the same status as a provincial championship. 
        • The championship shall be used for the awarding of provincial colours;
        • The championship shall be used for the awarding of medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in Premier, Under 24, and School categories;
        • The championship shall be used for the ability to qualify for National Team Squad.
        • All medals shall be awarded to the recipients at a MSSA LAN championships.

        Umpires:

        • Umpires may only be contacted over Skype on the day of competition. Any communication not on the Skype channel shall not be entered into.

        Ladder:

        • All games shall count towards the National Ladder.

        Shout casting:

        • MSSA shall decide who may shout-cast the games.
        Anybody wishing to be appointed as a Shout-Caster must apply in writing to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com 

        Additional reading:

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        Nominations required by midnight,1 December 2023 for MSSA's Management Board Awards.

        Anneke Lourens Luies is both the National School's Director, and in 2022, a member of the National Protea Squad for Mobile Legends Bang Bang.

        Mind Sports South Africa's Management Board Awards are the longest running awards for gaming in South Africa. The awards take into account all the various disciplines being, board gaming, card gaming, esports, and wargaming.

        It could even be argued that such awards are the longest running awards for rewarding such athletes in the world having started in 2009. Whereas the long running awards (like BAFTA) acknowledge the games themselves, MSSA's Management Board Awards acknowledge the contribution made by the very gamers/athletes themselves. 

        MSSA's Management Board Awards were initiated in 2009 to reward excellence not specifically provided for in MSSA's Constitution.

        When reading through the names of those previously honored, the reader is quickly reminded of MSSA's rich history. The names are not just names, these are the men and women who have made an incredible contribution to the various mind sports in South Africa and even beyond South Africa's borders.

        The awards are now more representative of MSSA's membership, of the work being done, and of society as a whole.

        It should be noted by the reader that the categories for Writer of the Year, Social Media Person of the Year, and Sponsor of the Year are open categories and apply to anyone that has given their 'all' to the development of boardgames, card games, esports, and wargames as a sport.

        The awards now take into account the following categories:
        • Mind Sports Person of the Year
        • Board Gamer of the Year
        • Esports Player of the Year
        • Wargamer of the Year
        • Team of the Year
        • Volunteer of the Year
        • Umpire of the Year
        • Coach of the Year
        • Educator of the Year
        • Writer of the Year
        • Social Media Person of the Year
        • Sponsor of the Year

        MSSA's Management Board requests all members to make submissions by midnight 1 December 2023.

        The names of previous winners may be seen on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_Sports_South_Africa#Management_Board_Awards

        Additional reading:

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