Thursday, 16 January 2020

How a private club affiliates to Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA).

Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club is the oldest club, with continuous membership, affiliated to MSSA.
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 Souuth 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 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, 
  2. MSSA’s General Regulations, 
  3. Proforma Constitution - this is a draft constitution that is used by many clubs affiliated to MSSA, 
  4. An Application for Affiliation form,
  5. Registration Forms for all players – including the administrators and any/all coaches,
  6. The fee note form – please note that the fees for private clubs are R104.00 affiliation fee and R110.00 per player per annum, 
  7. The Letter of Undertaking, and
  8. A brochure about MSSA. 
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 2020 

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.

Monday, 13 January 2020

Registration for MSSA's Gauteng level 1 umpire's course - 25 January 2020.

Previous participants at MSSA's Gauteng Umpire's Course.
For all those Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) member clubs that wish to send delegates to MSSA's Gauteng level 1 umpire's course to be held on 25 January 2020, such clubs need to download the Registration Form, complete such, and submit the completed form to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com.

The registration form may be found at:


Details of MSSA's Gauteng level 1 umpire's course are as follows:

Date: 25 January 2020
Time: 9H00 - 18H00
Cost: R331.00 per person
Venue: Old Edwardian Society, 9 11th Avenue, Lower Houghton, Johannesburg
Date by which registration must be submitted: 20 January 2020

The cost will include morning and afternoon tea, and lunch.

The course shall include:
  • Ethics
  • Background to MSSA's systems
  • Roles of the different umpires
  • Entry
  • Pairings
  • Data capturing of results
  • How results are further used
At the end, a test will be given, and those that pass will be accredited as level 1 umpires.

Any Registered Player who is 18 or older may register for such course through their member club.

Friday, 10 January 2020

How school clubs affiliate for the 2020 season.

North West University (NWU) is the proud sponsor of MSSA's Online School League.
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 school may pick-and-choose which discipline it wishes to promote at its school. Some schools 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 school.

The various mind sports offer unique opportunities to many South African learners. Many learners 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. Many members of the national teams have been scholars, and all have benefited from their involvement in the national Protea Team.
 

With the above in mind the MSSA has streamlined the process for schools to affiliate to the MSSA. There is still the option open for a school to start a full-blown sub-club on its premises, but bearing in mind the tight regulatory conditions under which accredited schools have to operate in the Republic, the MSSA no longer deems it necessary for a school to start a sub-club.

As long as the school club has the approval of the school, and has an Educator-in-Charge, a school may affiliate by merely completing the Application for Affiliation Form and submitting such to MSSA.
Any applicant needs to be aware of the following:
1.    MSSA’s Constitution, 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17Mp0R18tLGgpXwbWFufG3yOAsKNe7rVP
2.    MSSA’s General Regulations, 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1h6Za5yBD4LlymH2WuFf5genqXuBd6NSD
3.    An Application for Affiliation form,  
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bPmnmvPu0ZYYye_ZB8uSzyxqGJ3hYTLX
4.    Registration Forms for all players – including the teacher in charge and any/all coaches, 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ueL9ocHH1ftFJ7yOwnDkYT0ll54auFQs
5.    The fee note form – please note that the fees for school clubs are R104.00 affiliation fee and R10.00 per player (including the Educator-in-Charge) per annum, 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E3oRMA1NBBFtDA1Sg231yqUd2_9gZ9td
6.    The Letter of Undertaking, 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1ma4A2XZaSiR2hJMThjMUxDdVEand
7.    A brochure on the MSSA. 
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 school’s affiliation, the school then needs to complete the Google Registration Page allocated to the school for the players and make payment.

All school 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 2020 

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:

Wednesday, 8 January 2020

SA's official body continues to have sustainable growth.

All affiliated clubs have the ability to affect every aspect of MSSA's administration.
Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) was founded in 1985, and caters for a wide array of various mind sports. Such mind sports include the disciplines of Board Games, Card Games, Esports, and Wargames.

Since the founding of MSSA 212 clubs have affiliated. Some of the clubs have had the staying power and have been members right from the beginning, whereas others do not have the staying power. The lack of staying-power can often be ascribed to clubs not having the proper structures to enable hand-over from outgoing to incoming committees.

Where clubs are based on an individual, the club may not survive. It seems as though clubs without proper structures only seem to have a three to five year life expectancy.

Thus clubs based at established institutions seem to have a greater chance of surviving through the years and being able to deal with those unexpected events.

MSSA, with over 30 years under its belt, has seen many clubs, organisations, and operators come-and-go.

At MSSA's annual General Meeting held in December 2019, MSSA accepted no less than a further 23 clubs into full membership.

Such clubs now all enjoy all the rights of full membership and  are now able to help steer MSSA and help all the disciplines (Board Games, Card Games, Esports, and Wargames) grow.

The clubs accepted into membership are:


# NAME
1 AHS Sasolburg
2 Boo Games
3 Curro Heritage House
4 Curro Krugersdorp
5 Curro Mosselbay
6 Curro Mount Richmore
7 Curro Secunda
8 Edenvale High School
9 HeronBridge College
10 Hoerskool Klerksdorp
11 Hoerskool Randburg
12 Hope Fountain Combined
13 Innovation Village Esports
14 Level 1 Gaming
15 MAD Esports
16 Makgofe Slaughters Mind Sports Club
17 Norman Henshilwood High School
18 Pyromania
19 Raving Mad Gamerz
20 Redhill High School
21 Royal Knights
22 Sigma eFootball
23 Tea Cup Clan

Sunday, 5 January 2020

Affiliation and registration fees for the 2019/2020 season.


Mind Sports South Africa's registration and affiliation fees increase in line with South Africa's CPI. For the period under review the CPI averaged at 4.16% with having experienced a high of 5.1% (November 2018) and a low of 3.9% (January 2019). Thus the fees charged by MSSA remain in line with the South African economy, and are not based on the whim of the administrators. For MSSA to increase fees by more than the CPI, the Board has to approach a General Meeting to do so. Every member club, in-good-standing, has the right and duty to vote in a General Meeting, so, any extraordinary increase is subject to the majority's wishes.

The affiliation and registration fees are, as per MSSA's Constitution, due and payable on the 1st of November of each year.

However, member clubs may remit payment by 1 February 2020. Those that do not shall have their affiliation terminated and their members shall not be allowed to participate in Mind Sport South Africa's events or team selection.

Members may only participate in a MSSA event if such member is fully-paid-up at the time of such event.

The fees for the 2019/2020 gaming year (1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020) are:

Affiliation fees per club per annumR104.00 per annum
Registration fees:Registered with MSSA R110.00 per player
Players who are members of school clubsR10.00 per player

Please note that Registration Fees may be waived by the Management Board should a player have reached the age of majority and is unemployed, or if the player is a minor and his/her parents are unemployed.

Registration forms may be found on: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ueL9ocHH1ftFJ7yOwnDkYT0ll54auFQs

Friday, 3 January 2020

The importance of club championships.

Playing at club level develops players.
Many a player is only interested in participating in official championships where players may earn medals, colours, and qualification for national teams, as well as those for which prize-money is awarded.

However, a player should not only play in the above, but also participate in as many club championships as possible.

Club championships form the basis of all championships. It is at club championships that players are able to practice new tactics and strategies without putting their rankings and ladder positions at risk.

Also players are able to gain much needed competition practice.

Many top international players, including a three times World Champion, are of the opinion that for players to do well at any international championships, the team and/or individual should have played  no less than fifty (50) competition games. That is of course in addition to the hours of coaching, and other preparation, that a top-of-the-line competitor needs to do.

Clubs also use their own championships to solidify their member base by delivering to those who are already members as well as by attracting new members.

Thus, those clubs that put on their own championships are way ahead of the curve, as it is those clubs that will have the staying-power to survive from year-to-year.

Also read:

Wednesday, 1 January 2020

28th OLD EDWARDIAN SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS - 1 & 2 February 2020

Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club dominates wargames events in South Africa.
The 28th OLD EDWARDIAN SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS shall be held at the Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Avenue, Lower Houghton, Johannesburg, on 1 & 2 February 2020.

The championship is renown for having many of South Africa's top players play in such championships as a warm up to Mind Sports South Africa's Provincial Championships. Past participation in this event is a veritable 'who's who' in South African gaming. No less than eight world champions have used the Old Edwardian Summer Championships in which to hone their skills.

Since the Old Edwardian Summer Championships does not count for MSSA's official rankings, the players who participate in the board gaming, esports and wargames events, are able to dabble with new tactics, and ready themselves for the new season.

The championships shall start on both days at 9H00. The figure-games shall be played on both days.

This is an open championship and open to all.

Championship Details:
Venue:                  Blue Room, Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Ave, Lower Houghton, Johannesburg
Date:                      1 & 2 February 2019
Game Entry Fees:R50.00 for Checkers, Morabaraba, and PES 2020
R80.00 for Ancients figure gaming
Entries:                  Please contact Terry Allwright on: tj.allwright@gmail.com
Entries must be submitted by 8 February 2020.
Food & refreshments:A wide selection is available at the club at highly reasonable prices

The schedule of play is as follows:


Saturday – 3 February 2018Sunday – 4 February 2018
MorabarabaCheckersAncientsAncientsPro Evolution Soccer 2020
(PES 2020)
Round 110H00-10H4510H00-10H459H00 – 12H00
09H00
Round 211H00 - 11H4511H00 - 11H4514H00 – 17H00
10H30
Round 314H00 -14H4514H00 -14H45
9H00 – 12H0012H00
Round 415H00 - 15H4515H00 - 15H45
14H00 – 17H0014H00
Round 516H00 - 16H4516H00 - 16H45

15H30
Awards shall be awarded immediately after play has ceased.

Medals are awarded to the first three places for Premier and High School divisions.


All MSSA rules shall apply for Checkers, PES 2020 and Morabaraba. 

However, for Ancients wargames the championship uses the very popular 600 points format where losses are carried forward. Should you require the full rules, please contact the club on 
tj.allwright@gmail.com .

Fees must please be deposited into the Old Edwardian Society's account, which is:


OEWC
F.N.B. - Killarney
Branch Code 256205
Account Number 62071433115

A new day, a new year.

There is nothing as exciting, and rewarding, as heading off to represent your country in international competition.
Welcome to 2020!

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) wishes all its member clubs, Registered Players, and members of the media a Joyful and Prosperous New Year.

The year is full of optimism and opportunity.

MSSA is, of course, committed to carry on delivering LAN and online championships from grass-root level to the highest of standards.

International Esports Federation (IESF) has already declared the City of Eilat, Israel, to be the host of IESF's 12th World Championships. MSSA has already committed to send a full team to the event.

FMJD, the international body for draughts, has also released its calendar of international events.

Thus, a year of hard work presents itself to MSSA's Board of volunteers in order to make dreams and aspirations actual.

However, all athletes should note that the only way into the National Protea Team is through participation in MSSA events as a member of an affiliated club.

For more information please contact mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com


Also read: