NCS⁴ NEWS eNewsletter | February 2, 2023

Thanks to everyone who attended the 2023 National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Forum at Texas A&M University, along with Title Partner, Landmark Event Staffing Services, Inc. The keynote speakers and expert panels provided insight on topics such as severe weather, crowd management, hostile vehicle mitigation, and legalized sports betting. In addition to general programming sessions, attendees participated in moderated discussions to review the NCS⁴ Best Practices for intercollegiate athletics.

Thank you to the Intercollegiate Advisory Committee for your guidance and support.

THANKS TO OUR SOLUTION PARTNERS who helped make the forum possible!

Register Now and Join NCS⁴ for the National Conference in June

Make plans to join us for the 14th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition on June 27-29 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. The 2023 conference theme is Level-Up, challenging our industry friends and partners to strive for continuous improvement. The conference will offer dynamic programming, solution provider engagement, and opportunities to network with fellow professionals. This highly regarded gathering of sports safety and security professionals is an opportune time to share ideas, tools, and proven strategies to help advance the industry.

Early-bird registration is available through April 14. Register now and save $$$.

Registering a Group?

Save $75 off each attendee registration when registering three or more people from the same organization. Discount will be automatically applied when applicable. *Cannot be combined with the member discount. *Does not apply to Private Sector Attendee registration or Exhibitors/Sponsors.

NCS⁴ Connect Member discount

NCS⁴ Connect Members receive a discount on conference attendee registration fees. If you are a current member, contact Sara Priebe for the conference discount code at sara.priebe@usm.edu. To become a member of NCS⁴ Connect, click here.

Young Professional Scholarship Program

Deadline to apply: March 1

The NCS⁴ is committed to educating the next generation of sport security professionals. The Young Professional Scholarship Program is designed for professionals 40 years of age or younger working in the sports and entertainment security industry. The scholarship program is sponsored by Axis Communications and supports young professionals’ educational goals by covering the NCS⁴ Annual Conference and Exhibition registration fee. Recipients are exposed to general educational programming, innovative technology solutions, security expert insights, and networking opportunities.

The NCS⁴ will award five scholarships covering the cost of registration to the National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition, June 27-29, 2023, in San Antonio, TX.

• Application Deadline: March 1, 2023, @ 11:59 pm CDT
• Recipients Notified: March 15, 2023

Application Criteria

• Applicants must be 40 years of age or younger.
• Applicants must be current practitioners in the sports and entertainment industry.
• Applications must be completed online and submitted before the deadline.
• Recipients must be able to attend the National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition, June 27-29, 2023, in San Antonio, TX.

Solution Partners – Apply for the Golden Eagle Award

Excellence in Design and Innovation in Sport Venue Security Integration

DEADLINE TO APPLY: MARCH 14

Applicants from leading systems integration, architecture, design, engineering and consulting firms are invited to submit case studies from successful projects, which had safety and security at the forefront of planning and execution.

Only registered NCS⁴ Conference exhibitors and sponsors may apply.

The NCS⁴ and SDM and Security magazines have once again partnered to sponsor the 2023 Golden Eagle Award, which recognizes excellence in system integration, architecture, engineering and/or construction (A/E/C) specifically related to the safety and security of spectators, property, and infrastructure of spectator event facilities. The Golden Eagle Award considers critical design and functionality elements that enable and promote the safety and security of all stakeholders in an efficient and effective manner.

A panel of judges reviews all applications to determine the most compelling projects. The winning submission will be selected as the 2023 Golden Eagle Award Recipient, with the opportunity to present their case study to attendees at the National Conference. The winner will be recognized at the Awards Luncheon during the National Conference.

Solution Partners – Attend, Exhibit, or Sponsor the National Conference

Registration for exhibitors and sponsors is being accepted. Exhibitors may register online using the link below. For those interested in sponsoring, please contact Sara Priebe at sara.priebe@usm.edu to request a sponsorship packet or for additional information. To attend, register as a Private Sector Attendee using the link below.

Considering CSSP Certification?

NCS⁴ offers applicants the opportunity to sit for the CSSP exam at the conference with no testing fee!

The CSSP examination will be offered to eligible candidates on Tuesday, June 27, during the 14th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition. To be considered eligible to take the exam, individuals must complete and submit their CSSP Application, including the application fee, by April 28, 2023, to allow enough time for the NCS⁴ Certification Department to collect and process all supporting documentation. Approved candidates will receive a notification of test eligibility before arriving at the conference. Find out more about CSSP and how to register for the exam now.

NCS⁴ in the News

The NCS⁴ Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Forum and the National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition both made the cut for Security magazine’s list of top physical security conferences to attend in 2023.

NCS⁴ Staffer, Brooke Graves, Speaks to NFHS Group

Brooke Graves, NCS⁴ Senior Training Manager, recently traveled to Indianapolis to speak to the National Federation of High Schools - Student Services Committee. Graves provided participants with an overview and update of NCS⁴ Best Practices, as well as an overview of interscholastic resources available.

NCS⁴ Web Developer Receives Special Mention

Aayush Gautam, NCS⁴ Web Developer and USM freshman computer science student, received Special Mention in the Data Scientist category in the 3rd Annual UC Berkeley AI Summit Real World AI Challenge. The contest was held as part of the Berkeley AI Summit, which aims to bridge the gap between AI research and business applications. Participants included students from high schools and universities across the country. To read more, click here.

Congratulations, Aayush!

Welcome New Graduate Assistant, Liana Guillemaud

Liana Guillemaud is a Graduate Assistant for the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security. Before joining NCS⁴, she received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Policy and Administration while also playing volleyball at The University of Southern Mississippi. Guillemaud is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration at USM.

Welcome to the team, Liana!

ICYMI: Free Webinar on Severe Weather Now Available

Weather is one of the most-likely disruptors to all planned events and operations. Each year severe and other inclement weather cause delays, postponements, cancellations, and in some cases serious injuries and even fatalities to athletes, event staff, and fans. Organizations managing events must have weather identified as a risk and adjust their planning based on the realistic assessment of historical and potential weather events and impacts. In this webinar, representatives from the Disaster Science Operations Center (DSOC), located at Western Kentucky University, discuss how we can plan for and monitor the weather to improve the level of safety and fan experience if severe weather does strike.

PANELISTS:

Josh Durkee, Ph.D., Professor, University Meteorologist, Western Kentucky University Dr.

David E. Oliver, Ed.D., CSP, CEM, Director, Environmental Health and Safety and Emergency Manager, Western Kentucky University

ICYMI: Dr. Stacey Hall Co-Authors New Textbook

Dr. Stacey A. Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director, recently announced the release of a new textbook in collaboration with longtime colleagues Dr. Walter Cooper and Dr. Jim McGee, Ph.D. “Security and Risk Assessment for Facility and Event Managers” is a new resource for practitioners in facility and event security, as well as for students taking courses in sport management, risk management, and security management. Dr. Hall thanks the Human Kinetics team for all their support and guidance (and patience).

Congratulations to Dr. Hall and her colleagues on publishing this valuable resource!

ICYMI: New Research Seminar Series Available

A new Research Seminar Series webinar is now available on demand. The seminar “Understanding the Interface Between Security and Customer Service at NCAA Division I FCS Institutions” is presented by Dr. Kiernan Gordon, Assistant Professor of Sport & Recreation Management at the University of New England. As sport venues become increasingly hardened, security personnel take on an increasingly important role in customer service. This presentation explores what effective customer service ought to look like for security personnel, as well as how we should view the customer journey at sport venues. Click the link below to watch the webinar.

IAVM’s Academy for Venue Safety and Security (AVSS) Coming Up

The International Association of Venue Managers invites you to their Academy for Venue Safety and Security (AVSS). Please see details below and click the link for more information.

There has never been a more compelling need to raise the bar and establish industry training for safety and security than now. IAVM advocates a proactive approach to preparing the professionals who manage and staff our venues, and the Academy for Venue Safety and Security (AVSS) is the perfect way to learn from the experts in our field and gain access to a tremendous network.

AVSS, a dynamic, two-year school, is built to train venue and event managers, security professionals, and other key personnel involved in every aspect of venue safety and security. The curriculum, developed and taught by a diverse team of experts, equips every attendee with the best practices, resources, and tools needed to face the evolving challenge of providing a safe venue for everyone.

NCS⁴ eLearning Options

The NCS⁴ eLearning platform, NCS⁴ LEARN, provides opportunities for individuals and organizations to access asynchronous professional development opportunities. Current offerings include:

• Venue Staff Training
• Crowd Manager Fundamentals
• Senior Leader Course: Sports and Entertainment Security

Please visit the website or contact us at NCS4Learn@usm.edu if you have any questions or would like to inquire about bulk registration.

Click one of the links above or the button below for details or to register.

Check Out the NCS⁴ Best Practices Online

You asked for it, and we answered…The NCS⁴ industry safety and security best practices are available in an online format. Search for and find best practices at your fingertips – on gameday, in a meeting, or wherever you need them.

The NCS⁴ recognizes the need to help protect people, infrastructure, and information by sharing safety and security best practices. General best practices applicable to all types of venues and events are presented with the capability to navigate to industry-specific best practices, including professional sports and entertainment events, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, and marathon and endurance events.

Fundamentals of Crowd Safety Course Offered Online

NCS⁴ and GKStill International have partnered to jointly offer the Fundamentals of Crowd Safety online E-Learning course to address capability gaps in crowd behavior and sciences. Professor Dr. G. Keith Still, Visiting Professor of Crowd Science at the University of Suffolk, developed this certified, accredited course. The course offers an 8-hour online interactive experience designed to teach the essential elements of crowd safety and crowd risk analysis. The course is especially valuable to event organizers, as it ensures that those who complete it are compliant with the NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code — specifically, the areas of section 12 of the code that require a venue to provide a crowd manager trained in crowd management techniques for occupancies exceeding 1000.