Staff and Roles

Every person that is present at the event will wear a badge that describes their role(s).

5.1. The Steering and Executive Committees

The Steering Committee consists of representatives from the countries participating in the ECSC competition. It is the governing body of ECSC, ensuring the organization fulfills its mission and achieves its objectives. The Steering Committee oversees ECSC’s operations, sets policies, makes major decisions, and is legally responsible for ECSC’s activities. It establishes standing committees (such as the Executive Committee) to address specific issues.

The Executive Committee is established on behalf of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee provides guidance and oversight to ECSC’s Executive Board. Its responsibilities include setting the overall strategic direction of the organization, establishing policies and procedures, monitoring organizational performance, ensuring financial sustainability, accountability, transparency, and communicating with stakeholders. Together, the Steering Committee and Executive Board work to ensure the organization’s success.

5.2. The Jury

Jury members are responsible for impartially resolving disputes and maintaining fairness in the competition. The jury is a small body (3–5 people) with high experience and diverse skill sets.

The main responsibilities of the jury include:

• Receiving and handling complaints from participants during the event.
• Coordinating with watchdog managers and watchdogs to address possible unfair behaviors during the competition.
• Making decisions in emergency situations (e.g., broken challenges, unfair advantages to some teams due to infrastructure issues, etc.).
• Acting as an impartial authority to control and evaluate decisions made by the organizers.

5.3. Watchdogs and Angels

Watchdogs are expected to monitor the correct development of the competition in accordance with the rules, and any jury or Steering Committee decisions. They are the primary point of contact for players during the competition (in addition to the ticketing system) in case of complaints and/or questions about the rules. Watchdogs report their observations to watchdog managers, who act as a direct interface with the jury and organizers to handle non-trivial situations.

Angels are non-technical collaborators needed to ensure a smooth event. They mainly handle logistical aspects such as registration, access control, and food and beverage administration.

Watchdogs are selected by a public call among CTF players, students, and former ECSC players with past experience in CTFs or large event management.

5.4. Organizers and Technical Staff

Organizers and technical staff serve as the core team responsible for running the event.

Organizers are in charge of venue logistics, which includes setting up several areas, coordinating catering, and managing the event schedule.

Technical staff oversee the competition infrastructure, including the creation and development of challenges, testing and deployment, as well as the overall format, rules, and organization of the competition.

During the event, they address the competition-related tickets from participants and assist the jury by providing all necessary technical materials for their investigations. Additionally, they manage communication with players and moderate the Discord server.

5.5. Teams

A team is the entire set of people representing one of the countries playing in the ECSC. The core of a team are the team’s players, which are the ones who actively play the competition games in the game arena, at the team’s table.

Each team has at least one coach. The coaches do not take part in the competition challenges and there is no limitation on their age. The coaches are responsible for the well-being and behavior of their players.

The coaches should ensure that essential information coming from or intended for the team players is communicated, understood, and acted upon.

The coaches are physically separated from the team players during the competition.

Among its players, each team nominates a captain, who is the point of contact for the team.

5.6. Press and media

Media accreditation is required for every person producing photos, video, audio, interviews or written coverage for public release. This includes reporting for a news organisation, team, sponsor, partner, social media channel, or any other organisation. It also covers material intended for any public social media post. Each person must apply separately at ecsc2026.de/press. Submitting the form does not grant access. The ECSC 2026 Communications Team confirms accreditation.

Recordings that remain strictly private and non-public do not require accreditation. If you intend to publish the material, you must apply for accreditation. Consent, screen protection, access and non-disruption rules apply in either case. Official event coverage is carried out by the organisers or commissioned crews and is subject to internal rules.

During active competition, media may not enter the competition area, unless explicitly approved by the Communications Team and accompanied by a press angel and a watchdog. Recordings are permitted only from outside that area or from a position expressly approved by the Communications Team. Screens, notes, challenge material and other sensitive competition information must not be identifiable. Coverage must not distract participants or disrupt the event.

Do not photograph, film or record anyone visibly marked as having opted out. You can identify players and other guests that have opted out of photography by their yellow lanyard (the default lanyard is black). Accreditation does not replace consent or any other right needed to record or publish material. The person creating the coverage and their organisation must obtain all necessary permissions, including permissions involving minors.

During active competition, participant interviews may take place only outside the competition area. They require the participant’s consent, coach approval, organizers’ approval, an assigned press angel and a watchdog. The watchdog or press angel must understand the interview language well enough to monitor the situation. Media must contact the Communications Team in advance so that it can start and coordinate this process. Outside active competition periods, interviews require the interviewee’s consent. Advance coordination with the Communications Team is strongly recommended.

Indoor drone use is prohibited. Outdoor operators must comply with the law, local rules, venue restrictions and all required permissions. Operation remains the operator’s responsibility.

Official photography, video recording and livestream coverage will take place during ECSC 2026. Full media rules and accreditation information are available at ecsc2026.de/media. For any questions, please reach out to the ECSC 2026 Communications Team at media@ecsc2026.de.

5.7. Role Colors

Color	Hex	Role
	#AE0DFA	Steering Committee/ENISA
	#F90293	Jury
	#CA0121	Watchdog
	#99F8FB	Angel
	#F95702	Organizer
	#F7A40C	Technical Staff/Challenge Author
	#3FF81B	Player/Captain
	#016CFA	Coach
	#FAF704	Press
	#D3A55A	VIP
	#DBD9DA	Guest/Delegation