NCS⁴ NEWS e-newsletter | May 19, 2022

Final Course Completed for INTERPOL-Project STADIA

INTERPOL-Project STADIA and NCS⁴ are proud to announce the conclusion of the second round of the Project Stadia Major Event Security Program. Held May 10-13 in Lyon, France, 16 students representing 13 countries completed the sixth and final capacity-building course for police commanders and incident management leaders, covering several crucial topics relevant to policing and securing major international events. NCS⁴ instructors for this course were Paul Denton and Seaton King.

Like the previous courses in the series, The Advanced Safety and Security Management for Major International Sporting Events Training Course is a scenario-based practicum designed by international subject matter experts to allow police commanders and incident management leaders to develop a series of plans for a major international sporting event and test the effectiveness of their plans during a multi-hour incident-response exercise.

The course supports the more comprehensive curriculum content in the six-course series by allowing participants to use a multi-day planning process to develop an event management plan and consider various contingencies for a major international sporting event. The course included an immersive exercise to explore the life-cycle of a major international sporting event through intelligence and information sharing, risk assessment, crowd management and crowd control planning, protective action planning including evacuation and shelter-in-place, event management and incident action planning, and considering transportation and traffic management, mass casualty incident, and crisis communications.

An Article Also Appears on the INTERPOL website

Time is Clicking by – Register Now for the Conference Next Month!

The NCS⁴ invites you to attend the 13th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition on June 28-30 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Orlando. The conference is presented in conjunction with Title Sponsor inOrbit. The 2022 conference theme is Game-Changers: Lead, Discover, Innovate.

The conference will offer dynamic programming, solution provider engagement, and opportunities to network with fellow game-changers in our industry. Experienced professionals will share ideas, tools, and proven strategies to help you stay informed of industry advancements.

General sessions cover broad topics with panel discussions relevant to sports safety and security professionals in today’s ever-changing landscape, while breakout sessions allow participants to engage with panelists and attendees on key issues.

Agenda HighlightS

Akmal Ali, J.D., Founder and CEO of Title Sponsor, inOrbit, will present an engaging and informative session on “The Four Tenets of an Effective Venue Security Program.” Akmal will also facilitate a breakout session to “Discover Ways to Secure Our Nation Together Through the SAFETY Act,” joined by representatives from the DHS Office of SAFETY Act who will answer questions about the SAFETY Act.

inOrbit is a software company dedicated to improving the lives of security professionals by developing the first Security Program Management Software, which provides a comprehensive toolkit to effectively manage and implement their security program by automating and streamlining critical tasks and providing them with the important information they need to make informed decisions. Akmal is also the founder and CEO of Aluma, a risk management and security consulting firm that specializes in, among other topics, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) SAFETY Act program. He formerly served as the Deputy Director for the SAFETY Act Office (Science & Technology Directorate).

On day three of the conference, Dane Dodd, Vice President, Advanced Utility Solutions, USIC, will present a general session on “Preventing Crowd Crush and Collapse” and lead a breakout session on “Preventing Spectator Violence and Disruptions.”

In addition to keynote speakers, an awards luncheon, interactive panel discussions, and breakout sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to explore emerging technologies and network with peers during the conference. A social reception planned for the event’s first evening allows practitioners, industry partners, and exhibitors to gather and network with friends and colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere. The reception continues outside with a Party on the Patio featuring live entertainment by the band Blonde Ambition!

The rate to attend is $600 for NCS⁴ Connect members and $650 for non-members. Companies who provide products/services to the industry may register for $800 as a Private Sector Attendee.

The draft agenda is available on the website. Click the button below to review the agenda and register.

THANK YOU TO OUR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS!

NCS⁴ is sold out of booth spaces and sponsorships for this event. Contact Sara Priebe, at 601-266-6858 or sara.priebe@usm.edu to be contacted about the 2023 Conference scheduled for June 27-29 in San Antonio.

NCS⁴ in the News

Southern Miss Sport Management Partners with NCS⁴ on Marketing Project

As part of the spring 2022 curriculum, the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Sport Management program partnered with the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) in a real-world marketing project. The project included the graduate Sport Marketing and Public Relations class working with NCS⁴ staff to develop specific marketing plans for various areas.

Dr. Stacey Hall, Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management, and Daniel Ward, Director of Training and Exercise, provided an in-class training session on NCS⁴, its background, and their organizational needs. Specific marketing plans were developed for NCS⁴ Membership Recruitment, CSSP Recruitment and Awareness, Product Reviews/Operational Exercises, and E-Learning Courses (Crowd Safety Fundamentals, Certified Sport Security Professional, and Senior Leadership).

NCS⁴ Staff Appreciation Spotlight — May: Dr. Joslyn Zale and Ryan Kavanaugh

Each month, the NCS⁴ recognizes staff members for their contributions to the NCS⁴ mission. Center accomplishments require exploration, initiative, teamwork, and versatility — we celebrate their hard work and tireless efforts.

This month’s staff spotlight is Dr. Joslyn Zale, Senior Research Associate and CSSP Manager, and Ryan Kavanaugh, Graduate Assistant.

Dr. Joslyn Zale

In her role at the Center, Dr. Zale contributes to research produced by NCS⁴ Research Fellows and oversees the CSSP Program. Dr. Zale also produces white papers and technical reports, and aids with product review and product operational exercises.

Ryan Kavanaugh

In his role at the Center, Ryan assists with gathering research, data analysis, and the CSSP program. He also assists with operational exercises and product reviews. Kavanaugh is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sport Management with an emphasis in Sport Safety and Security and a Sport Security Management Certificate at The University of Southern Mississippi.

NCS⁴ LEARN – New e-Learning Platform Launches

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

• Certified Sports Venue Staff (CSVS) Training
• Crowd Manager Fundamentals
• Senior Leader Course: Sports and Entertainment Security

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

NCS⁴ Publishes Patron Screening Guide

The NCS⁴ is proud to release the Venue Managers Guide for Evaluating Patron Screening Solutions. The guide aims to assist venue managers and operators in better understanding patron screening solutions and the operational considerations for deploying patron-screening technology. Incorporated checklists provide a roadmap for reviewing solution documentation, technical specifications, operator needs, capabilities, and detection and operational considerations.

New Research Webinar Available

A new Research Seminar Series webinar is now available on demand. The seminar “Off the Rails” is led by researchers at the University of West Florida Administration and Law Department, which encompasses legal studies, construction management, sport management, and public administration. In the webinar, presenters address issues related to fan injuries and deaths associated with falling over a railing or falling as a result of a malfunctioning railing. The discussion examines whether the line of site exception of 26 inches is safe, analyzes load force concerns associated with fans leaning against the railing, and offers solutions to concerns regarding railing. Click the link below to watch the webinar.

Now Scheduling Select DHS/FEMA-Funded Training Courses

The NCS⁴ is currently offering four safety and security courses in face-to-face format. Each course is designed to be interactive and allow individuals to become more confident in their ability to identify, prevent, and manage incidents. The key principles that individuals will learn range from risk management, evacuation messaging, threat prioritization, and communication. Each class is being presented in a face-to-face format that requires 8 hours each day for two consecutive days.

You can learn more about each of these courses by visiting the NCS⁴ website or by clicking on one of the following courses below:

• AWR-167: Sport Event Risk Management
• MGT-412: Sport Venue Evacuation and Protective Actions
• MGT-466: Sport and Special Event Enhanced Risk Management and Assessment
• MGT-467: Sport and Special Event Public Information and Emergency Notification

These courses represent a cooperative effort between The University of Southern Mississippi’s National Center for Spectator Sports Security and Safety (USM/NCS⁴) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC), a member of The Texas A&M University System.

If you are interested in attending or hosting a training course, please email us at NCS4train@usm.edu.

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. K. Still, Professor of Crowd Science at Manchester University, 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.

Upcoming Events Scheduled

Please mark your calendar and make plans to join us! Details coming this fall.

2023 Annual Conference Dates Announced

The 14th annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition will take place June 27-29, 2023, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas. The gathering of top safety and security professionals across multiple disciplines provides a versatile and intimate environment dedicated to innovative technologies, products, services and educational programming. Please mark your calendar and make plans to join us! Full conference details will be released later this year.