Oh, to be S A National Champion.

Wargames, esports and boardgames are all on offer at MSSA's 2019 South African National Championships.

All Registered Players are reminded that MSSA's South African National Provincial Championships are an open championship. 

It is such S A National Championships (SAN) where the national titles are awarded, and where the final positions for the SA Ladders are decided.

However, more importantly, it is at the SA Nationals where it is decided in which periods (game titles) South Africa will officially compete in international competition.

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 mindsportscorrespondence@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/2019/09/south-african-national-wargames.html

Hosting Club: Fakkel School
Venue: Fakkel School, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg
Date: 7 & 8 December 2019

Entries: All entries must be entered onto the club's Google  Drive before or on 8 November 2019. Clubs must use the entry form on Google Drive to enter their teams/players. The entry form can be found on https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_ERR6815uVjSMu4t5KkRxYqGJ_AA88kkz31qRgksASc/edit#gid=287696184. The entry form must be downloaded completed and e-mailed to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com.

Also read: 

• Events for July until December 2019
• Gearing up for 2020.
• Any Registered Player may enter MSSA's S A National Championships.
• Earning Provincial Colours at S A National Championships.
• National Federation Colours
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• New National Team Selection Criteria

MSSA slips to third for administration by IESF.

International Esports Federation (IeSF) has recently sent out their rankings of federations in terms of good governance and administration.

According to such rankings, South Africa's MSSA is now ranked third in the world.

MSSA's President, Amanda Pakade, is satisfied with the ranking. The ranking shows both MSSA's competitiveness within the international community, as well as its ability to deliver at home.

MSSA is competitive in everything that it does. From development of clubs and championships, and its athletes through to the the hosting of events, selection of teams and even its own administration.

Amanda Pakade is hopeful that MSSA will climb back into its number one spot. With IESF now having 56 member national federations, it is harder every year for MSSA to keep its position of pre-eminence.

Of course it does depend on every elected office-bearer doing their part.

The top ten countries are:

#	Country	Points
1	Chinese Taipei	36
2	Russia	35
3	South Africa	33
4	Korea	33
5	Finland	33
6	Georgia	33
7	Namibia	32
8	Sri Lanka	32
9	Israel	31
10	Italy	30

Also see:

• IeSF ranks MSSA 1st for administration
• Reminder: Nominations for MSSA's Board must be in by 1 November 2019.
• MSSA elections allow change and growth.
• Preventing dominance by any one club.
• Advantages of affiliation

MSSA's NWU 2019 Inter-School Online League

JOIN THE RISE OF ESPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA – ARE YOU GAME?

Be part of the movement and help enrich lives through new opportunities

Media24 and North-West University (NWU), along with Partnermedia and Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), are promoting eSport at school and university level.

Esport has become one of the fastest-growing spectator sports in the world.

What is eSport? Esport (also known as electronic sports, e-sports, or eSports) is defined as a form of competition involving video games and online gaming.

According to Business Insider, South Africans earned R3,78 million playing formal esports in 2018 – excluding lucrative sponsorship deals, according to data from esportsearnings.com. With up to 6,8% growth experienced from the previous year, exponential growth is predicted for 2019 and years to come.

MSSA is the largest membership-based organisation for gaming in South Africa. NWU has since seen the opportunities presented by eSport and backed the movement, becoming the national headline sponsor of the NWU MSSA Online School League.

BENEFITS OF ESPORT 

This all-inclusive sport builds cognitive performance, teamwork and task management skills – known to help promote mood and even gives the possibility to earn an income.

Combining the competitive elements of gaming with a fan base has helped the discipline soar to greater heights. Online gaming went from bedrooms and the arcade to gamers competing for more than just bragging rights – facilitating connections around the world and an influx of interest and sponsors. 

The discipline has caught the eye of big-spending brands who want to tap into the market, and we wish to join forces to increase the trajectory with mutual growth.

An opportunity exists for your institution to become involved in promoting eSport in South Africa. Let’s be part of the revolution and create an exciting new realm of opportunities for the local and eSport landscape.

For more information contact: Hansie Du Plessis

Email hansie@partnermedia.co.za

Call 083-287-2964

MSSA's membership base continues to grow.

I-Village Academy intends to develop the next generation of innovators.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), South Africa's largest membership based body for esports has just become even larger by accepting I-VILLAGE DIGITAL ACADEMY into membership.

I-Village Academy is the Centre of Excellence (CoE) that develops next generation of digital pioneers who will contribute to the evolution and development of an inclusive South African digital economy.

I-Village Academy intends to develop the next generation of innovators that will contribute in solving problems through developing technology solutions that will impact the delivery of services and contribute to the growth of the South African digital economy. I-Village Academy programs are designed to inspire young people's interest and engagement in science and technology, and to motivate them to pursue education and career opportunities in STEM fields. 

According to Mr Mpho Tladi – Director – I-village Academy, "“The I-village programs focus on creating an environment for students to gain the same value from esports as a student does from traditional sports. Our key focus is the development of leadership, teamwork skills and experiential learning opportunities for students that want to take the next step towards success and we are really excited to be part of Mind Sport of South Africa, as this will ensure that we achieve our objective to connect students interest in esports to sportsmanship, entrepreneurship, and STEM interests and we believe that through our affiliation with MSSA we can help more students thrive, gain a passion for STEM-related careers, and grow into great citizens of our society”.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) welcomes I-Village Academy into membership, and Amanda Pakade (MSSA President) stated, "I am sure that I-Village Academy will

have a long and fruitful association with MSSA.

You can reach I-Village Academy through their platforms, being:

Twitter: @ivillagenpc

Facebook: @ivillageNPC

Website: www.i-village.co.za

Email: info@i-village.co.za

Reminder: Nominations for MSSA's Board must be in by 1 November 2019.

Amanda Kwaza (MSSA President) will oversee major changes  to MSSA's Board with the possibility of 11 new Board members being voted in.

Only Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) runs accredited, and official, regional, provincial, and national championships and leagues.  
Any event not accredited by MSSA is essentially a flawed event as not only does it not have any accreditation, but it is not able to ensure the metal and physical health of the participants.
Thus serving on Mind Sports South Africa's Management Board is not for the faint-hearted as there are many tough, and some unpopular, decisions to be made on a continuous basis.

It is during these times when Board members have to stand up and be counted, times when you know that it is the right decision, albeit not a popular one. It all comes down to ethics.

Even bearing all the above in mind, the work is done gleefully by a core of volunteers who seek no reward other than seeing the various disciplines and games grow, and watch the athletes attain their full potential.

Every club may nominate athletes for the Board, and since retiring officers are not automatically made eligible for re-election, even retiring officers need to be nominated by a member club in good standing, if the following criteria are met:

• A member club has nominateds the Registered Player on the prescribed form, and
• The Nomination Form has been submitted to MSSA on or before 1 November 2019, and
• The Registered Player is fully-paid-up for the 2019/2020 year as at the date of nomination, and
• The club nominating the Registered Player has paid its affiliation fees for the 2019/2020 season on or before 1 November 2019.

However it should be noted that only athletes who meet the following criteria may be elected on to the Management Board:

1. Have served a full term on the Management Board, or
2. Have served a full term as Provincial Director (2 year terms), or
3. Have served two full terms as Regional Director (1 year term), or
4. Have served two full terms on a Board of Control (1 year term), or
5. Have earned at least ten (10) Protea caps, or
6. Have served three years on the club committee of which they are currently a member.

Thus positions available on MSSA's Management Board are all 3 year terms and are:

1. Vice-President
2. Three Executive Officers 
3. General Secretary
4. Disabled Gamers' Representative
5. Legal Advisor (only a qualified lawyer may hold this position)
6. National Schools' Director (only an Educator may hold this position)
7. Disabled Gamers’ Representative
8. Womens’ Representative (only a female may hold this position)
9. Wargames Representative
10. Card Gaming Representative
11. Board Gaming Representative

Also read:

• MSSA elections allow change and growth.
• Preventing dominance by any one club.
• Advantages of affiliation

Reminder: Elections for the Confederation of African Esports.

Who will be elected onto the Confederation of African Esports' Executive Committee. Will Egypt and South Africa still dominate the Committee, or will, other member federations make a grab?

All member federations of the Confederation of African Esports (CAES) have been informed of the impending elections.

It is expected that Egypt, Tunisia, Namibia, and South Africa (through Mind Sports South Africa - MSSA) will all be making a bid to get its candidates onto the Executive Committee.

CAES playes an important role in assisting national federations become accredited by their own governments, which in turn, allows  them to become full members of International Esports Federation.

It was through such membership of CAES that the Namibian Esports Association (NeSA) was able to gain recognition on all levels.

CAES also does a great deal of work in liaising with organisations like ANOCA, as well as organising officially recognised test matches.

If a so-called 'test match' and it is not an International Esports Federation and/or Confederation of African Esports (CAES) accredited event, it is not an official event.

All positions held on CAES are held on a staggered basis. The reason to do such is to protect CAES.

However, for the first time, it just so happens that the entire Executive Committee will have to be elected.

The positions up for election are:

1. A President   (3 years)
2. A 1^st Vice-President  (2 years)
3. General Secretary, who will oversee the CAES’s finances (1 year)
4. 1st  Board Member (3 years)
   2nd Board Member  (2 years)
   3rd Board Member (1 year)

Only members paid up at the date of the General Meetinng shall  be able to vote, and that only members who are paid up at the date of nomination are eligible to nominate candidates.

MSSA assists students from University of Johannesburg.

Lungisile Mabuza and Sanele Ndlovu (both of University of Johannesburg) hard at work.

Universities running degrees in Sport and Movement Studies often require their students to do at least 20 hours in volunteer work in terms of marshalling, officiating, administration, umpiring, and/or coaching and other assistance in sport events.

Certainly University of Johannesburg is no different, and Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is always eager to assist.

Thus MSSA put Lungisile Mabuza and Sanele Ndlovu (both of University of Johannesburg) through their paces, which earned them 22 hours of volunteer service.

So impressed was Sanele Ndlovu with the training received  that she immediately, upon completion, exclaimed that she would like to progress even further with MSSA.

CALL FOR IESF’S PLAYERS’ COMMISSION

Mind Sports South Africa's Jason Batzofin (foreground) is IESF’s retiring Players’ Commission Chairman

It is IESF's duty to protect all players who participate in IESF events.

The IESF Players' Commission was created in 2016 for this very purpose. Each member on the
Players' Commission serves a 3 year term. It is now coming up to the end of 2019 and thus, the end of
the three year term for all who are currently serving in the Players' Commission.

The Players' Commission has no role in any selection disputes, disciplinary hearings or anti-doping
involving athletes. The Commission serves a far greater purpose and that is to represent the athletes'
best interests to the IESF Board.

The founding and current Players' Commission consists of Jason Batzofin (South Africa), Koen
Schobbers (Netherlands), and Madeleine Leander (Sweden). This will be the end of their full term and thus a new election will be held.

Each National Federation’s Players’ Representative shall have one vote each and shall elect six
members of which half shall be male and half shall be female.

However, should a National Federation’s Players Representative not be able to attend, such Players’
Representative may appoint a member of such National Team attending IESF’s 11th World
Championships to vote on his/her behalf.

The voting shall take place at IESF’s 11th World championships, and IESF shall make a venue and
time available for all the National Federation’s Players’ Representatives to meet.

It is at such meeting that the various eligible retiring Players’ Commission members and National
Federation’s Players’ Representatives shall state which of their number are making themselves
available for election. However, if there are not a sufficient amount of players standing for election
then Players may offer to stand for election even though they are not National Federation’s Players’
Representatives, but as long as they are members of a national team at such World Championships.

It is further emphasized that gender equity shall be enforced and that 50% of the six person
commission shall be female on this commission that does not allow more than one representative per
country.

Only National Federation’s Players’ Representatives are allowed to vote, and in order to qualify as
such and athlete shall:

• Have a seat, as per the NF’s own Constitution/Statutes, on the Board of such member
• federation, and
• Have reached the age of majority, and
• Have represented such member federation in a national team at an IESF accredited event, and
• Not be older than 30 years of age.

This is a vital position that requires athletes who are dedicated and committed to ensuring a better
environment for all athletes.

IESF President, Colin Webster, stated, “IESF is proud of the contribution made by the members of the inaugural commission. All members worked well during their term of office and have created a
culture within the commission that will ensure that all esports athletes are protected.”

All athletes interested in participating in this exciting endeavour are urged to contact Jason Batzofin
on:

• Facebook Group Page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/331951380921285/.
• Discord Group- https://discord.gg/thHXAVm
• E-mail - jaybatzofin@ie-sf.org (CC Email to info@ie-sf.org)

REMINDER: WADA SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR 2020 STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIR VACANCIES

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR THE ATHLETE COMMITTEE IS 24 OCTOBER 2019 THE DEADLINE FOR ALL OTHER COMMITTEES IS 1 NOVEMBER 2019

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wishes to remind stakeholders that it is seeking nominations for 2020 for the Chairs of four (of its five) Standing Committees, which report into WADA's Executive Committee (ExCo) and Foundation Board (Board) and act as advisory committees, providing guidance for the Agency’s programs. The current Standing Committee Chair terms end on 31 December 2019. This public call applies to the following four vacancies: Athlete Committee Education Committee Finance and Administration Committee Health, Medical and Research Committee The deadline to submit applications for the Athlete Committee is 24 October 2019; and, for the other Standing Committees is 1 November 2019. The successful candidates will take office on 23 January 2020 [the date that WADA’s ExCo will approve the nominations]; and, their terms will conclude on 31 December 2022; after which, candidates may reapply to continue for two further three-year periods. The term of the Agency’s Compliance Review Committee Chair also concludes on 31 December 2019; however, this role will be filled via a different process due to a stricter requirement for independence. The newly formed Nominations Committee will be responsible for recruiting, reviewing and vetting the candidates for this specific position, and for setting the related processes. Standing Committee Chair Role Below, WADA is pleased to provide links to the revised Role Description/Position Profiles and Terms of Reference for each of the Committee Chair positions, which outline the scope of work and detail the functioning of the respective Committees. Athlete Committee: Role Description/Position Profile and Terms of Reference Education Committee: Role Description/Position Profile and Terms of Reference Finance and Administration Committee: Role Description/Position Profile and Terms of Reference Health, Medical and Research Committee: Role Description/Position Profile and Terms of Reference How to apply With the exception of the Athlete Committee, applications for the other committees must be forwarded by Friday, 1 November 2019 to Mr Olivier Niggli, WADA Director General, (c/o e-mail: marjorie.chinnarassen@wada-ama.org or fax: +1 514 904 8743). In the case of the Athlete Committee, the closing date to submit applications is Thursday, 24 October 2019. This special timeline is required as the WADA Athlete Committee will be reviewing the applications, which is not the case for the other committees. All nominations must include the following: a maximum one-page cover (motivational) letter; an updated curriculum vitae, which fully captures the candidate’s experience and expertise; letters of endorsement from at least two members of WADA’s Board (one representing the Olympic Movement and one representing the Public Authorities); and a signed declaration of independence form. Any questions can also be directed to Mr Niggli, c/o Ms Chinnarassen. Governance Reforms and Independence In 2017 and 2018, WADA carried out a governance review, which resulted in a series of reforms that were endorsed by WADA’s Board in November 2018; including, that certain independence criteria be applied to some governance roles. Accordingly, the Chair of each of these four Committees will need to meet the following requirements of WADA’s General Standard of Independence as stipulated below: "An individual is considered independent when he/she remains free of undue influence, is independent in character and judgment and there are no relationships or circumstances which to an informed third party could affect, or could appear to affect, the individual's judgment." About WADA Formed in 1999, WADA is an international independent agency composed and funded equally by the Sports Movement and Governments of the world. As the global regulatory body, WADA’s primary role is to develop, harmonize and coordinate anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries. Its key activities include: ensuring and monitoring effective implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code and its related International Standards; scientific and social science research; education; intelligence and investigations; and building anti-doping capacity with anti-doping organizations worldwide. WADA’s vision is a world where all athletes can compete in a doping-free sporting environment; and, the Agency’s mission is to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport. WADA is composed of a 38-member Board, which is WADA’s supreme decision-making body; a 12-member ExCo, which is WADA’s ultimate policy-making body and several Committees. The Board and ExCo are composed equally of representatives from the Sports Movement and Governments. The Board delegates the actual management and running of the Agency, including the performance of activities and the administration of assets, to the ExCo.

Closing date for clubs to bid to host events - 1 November 2019.

A MSSA provincial championship in full swing.

All clubs that are fully-paid-up and affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) have the opportunity to host any MSSA event. Such events include: 

• Coaching courses,
• Umpires' courses,
• Regional Championships,
• Provincial Championships, and 
• National Championships.

The closing date for such bids is 1 November 2019, and must be directed to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com . However, should there not be sufficient bids for an event, MSSA reserves the right to extend the date for such bid or to even just hold the event itself.

The ability for clubs to host is part of MSSA's policy of developing and strengthening member clubs.

By hosting events, member clubs are able to gain much needed publicity and ensure that their members are afforded the opportunity of participating in MSSA events.

Only clubs within a province may bid to host a provincial Offline championship, whereas any club may bid to host a national Offline championships.

The proposed calendar of events for 2020 may be found at:  https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2019/09/gearing-up-for-2020.html

The rules for the hosting of National and Provincial events is covered by the regulations.

For further details please contact mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com

Also read:

• Regional Championships boost club participation.
• 2019 Calendar of Event
• Gearing up for 2020.
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• Age restrictions in esports are important.