NCS⁴ NEWS e-newsletter | February 24, 2022

Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities Forum Next Week

Join us – There's still time to register

The forum will focus on crowd management and de-escalation strategies.

The Crowd Management session will introduce participants to effective crowd management strategies and provide the opportunity to apply lessons learned and professional experiences to an exercise scenario using a simulated sequence of events.

The De-Escalation session will familiarize participants with the common causes of escalation and provide tools and techniques that can be used to de-escalate emotionally-charged behavioral incidents.

Find out more or register for the forum by clicking the button below.

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

Thank You to Everyone Who Attended Our Safety and Security Forums Last Week

A special thanks to Professional Sports and Entertainment Forum sponsor, Patriot One Technologies, a leader in advanced AI-powered Patron Screening and Threat Detection solutions.

Mark Your Calendar and Make Plans to Join Us in Orlando This Summer

The 13th annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition will take place June 28-30, 2022, at the Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate. 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. A special thanks goes to Title Sponsor, inOrbit.

Registration is now open. Save $50 when you register before April 15. Click the button below for more information or to register.

THANK YOU TO OUR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS!

NCS⁴ is also accepting exhibitors and sponsors. Don't delay — spaces are filling up quickly with the Exhibit Hall already over half full and a few sponsorships remaining. Visit the website to register as an exhibitor, or contact Sara Priebe, at 601-266-6858 or sara.priebe@usm.edu to request a sponsor packet.

Now Accepting Golden Eagle Award applications

Only registered exhibitors and sponsors of the 2022 Conference are eligible to apply.

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.

The 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. Selected entries have the opportunity to submit case studies during the annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference on June 28-30, 2022. The winning submission will be selected as the 2022 Golden Eagle Award recipient at the awards luncheon, which also takes place during the National Conference.

For more information or to apply for the Golden Eagle Award, visit ncs4.usm.edu/conference. If you have any questions about the award or application process, please contact Sara Priebe, at 601-266-6858 or sara.priebe@usm.edu.

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? 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 during the 13th 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 29, 2022, 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 Executive Director Participates in International Webinar

The NCS⁴ Executive Director, Dr. Stacey A. Hall, recently presented for the “International Best Practices for Stadium Security” webinar hosted by the Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Police. The purpose of the webinar was to enhance the domestic sports sector by bringing specialists from around the globe to share their expertise. Dr. Hall joined other leading experts in spectator safety and event security, including Antonio Talarico, Head of Match Operations, Events, Infrastructure, Integrity and Security Office at the Italian Football Federation, FIGC (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio); Francesco Davalli, co-founder of the international sports law firm, Sportlaw, and partner at Italian firm, Safety Ecotechnic; Florentino Villabona Madera, Director of Integrity and Safety for Spanish La Liga; and Mustafa ABBA-SANY, President of the France-based Organization of Event Security Professionals (OPSE) and Chairman of Gest’n SPORT.

NCS⁴ Staffer, Daniel Ward, Facilitates Workshop at IAVM GuestX Conference

The NCS⁴ was proud to support the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) GuestX Conference in Atlanta on February 9, 2022. Participants at this three-day event took part in skills-based workshops and networking sessions intended to foster an exceptional, safe and extraordinary guest experience. Daniel Ward, NCS⁴ Director of Training and Exercise, facilitated a workshop addressing staff training needs with the goal of providing a road map for continuously improving organizational training and development programs. We would like to thank IAVM for the opportunity and look forward to our continued collaboration!

NCS⁴ Staff Appreciation Spotlight — February: Michael Finley

Each month, the NCS⁴ recognizes a staff member 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 Michael Finley, Curriculum Manager.

In his role at the Center, Michael provides leadership and oversight for the development, implementation, and strategies for sports safety and security in domestic and international curriculums. In the international program, he is responsible for the development and implementation of the trainer's certification program. In addition, he is responsible for executing the process of consultation and drafting of all security best practices, policies, and standards as well as compliance procedures and oversees the implementation of e-learning training for security personnel.

Congratulations NCS⁴ Staffer, Mayra Ordonez

Please join us in congratulating NCS⁴ Instructional Design Specialist, Mayra Ordonez, on receiving a leadership position at a tech company. Mayra has been an integral part of the NCS⁴ team for the past year, and she will be greatly missed. Congratulations and best wishes for your continued success, Mayra!

NCS⁴ is Hiring

The NCS⁴ is now hiring for the position of Training Manager. This person will be part of a dynamic team of individuals responsible for the day-to-day supervision of instructional and support staff, including evaluations, scheduling, and administrative oversight for the DHS/FEMA sport safety and security training program. For more information about the position or to apply, click the button below.

You Are Invited to Attend a Webinar Next Week on Security of the U.S. Today: Domestic Unrest, Russia & China

RSVP Required – Register Today – Limited Availability

The CELL would like to extend NCS⁴ subscribers complimentary tickets to this event.

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.