Externals? The Golden Apple of Discord

Should the participation be limited only to Agency Staff? Husbands? Boy friends?

It's not just us, ETF, that put forward a mixed group of employees and friends. Finally, it seems that the composition of the team will not be penalising, but it will rely on fair play. 

For me, I think winning is a remote dream. But starting already knowing that we should loose (because of the composition) each and every game (except maybe the ones where we'll be playing against mixed teams like ours!) would be seriously demotivating, and would throw away all the fun.

The Plea 
(the Organisers, and ETF subscribes):

• We are  now received 09 out of 12 team lists. The non staff members are very few. None in EASA, ECHA, EFSA, ERA and just 2 relatives out of 12 staff in EMSA and F4E and 1 out of 8 in EMA . CdT and EDA did not answer yet.
• The teams with more relatives are 3 ECB (girls) ETF and EMCCDA. 
• The ladies are 9 with 4 male friends, so at the worts there will be in the field 3 girls and 4 boys; 
• ETF with 5 extras out of 9 staff and us with 5 out of 5 (and we do not have more then just 10 people) 
• In our case the question is that we are a pretty small agency and not many players. We usually play againts EMSA  that are many more using also 2 husbands of collegaues and 3 boyfriends. We have friends that play with us normally but they are not playing in the tornament, and not happy about it. We play with the same people since years, even though in an off from injuries. None of us is a pro or semi and we are between 30 and 45, I am 44 myself.
• Also in our original letter we allowed relatives, would be a little unfair to say now you can play but you loose. Given the fact that they are close relatives I would allow that. 

The voice of reason:

For us it is acceptable  but this situation has to be improved in the future.
Please find enclosed the comments I just publish this one that we have to retain for the further organization.

For the sake of the game and the fun I think we should let everyone play as they are, with spouses, boyfriends, friends, as it would be hard for the smaller agencies to even make up a team: the rule, in the end, should affect only the classification and the eligibility to claim the title of winner of the tournament. I’m sorry, but a team made up by a majority of ‘friends’ or players from 2, 3 agencies should not be eligible to claim the title.

I repeat: we all play, but eligibility to the title is limited to those teams that have a majority of employees, including husbands/spouses
(for example, how would your team/Agency claim they won the title when all players are external?)

Anyway thank you very much to launch the EVENT and I understand for the small agencies it is not easy to have a competitive team or to have a team.
You’re reason, the aim is to participate and don’t apply the Schuman Trophy rules, I’m very confident about the fair play of everybody.