NCS⁴ NEWS eNewsletter | September 21, 2023

Reminder to Register for NCS⁴ Upcoming Forums

Space is Limited.

The NCS⁴ will host the 2024 National Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities Safety and Security Forum on January 23-24 at Legacy Stadium in Katy, Texas. The objective of the Forum is to address key safety and security challenges facing interscholastic athletics and after-school activities and to share best practices for continuous improvement.

Confronted with the incredible task of ensuring the safety and security of those involved in high school athletics and after-school programs, high school officials must respond to emerging challenges by integrating and leveraging new resources and information. Discussing current issues and exploring solutions in a forum environment will help high school and athletic administrators, school resource officers, and law enforcement enhance safety and security plans and operations.

Superintendents, principals, athletic administrators, school resource officers, and other school personnel, local and state law enforcement, emergency managers, fire, HAZMAT, facility administrators, and board of education members are invited to register as attendees for the Forum.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FORUM

Attendees consist of those working and/or supporting high school athletics and after-school programs. Private sector companies may only attend the forums as Solution Partners.

We have very limited space for this event, and registration is based on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to register is January 2, 2024, or until sold out, whichever comes first.

For additional information or to register, please visit the event website by clicking the button below.

The NCS⁴ will host the 2024 National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum on February 20-21 at the University of Notre Dame. The objective of the Forum is to address key safety and security challenges facing the professional sports and entertainment industry and to share best practices for continuous improvement.

The threat environment surrounding high-profile sport and entertainment events is continually evolving. Discussing current issues and exploring solutions in a forum environment will help safety and security managers, operations managers, and local and state law enforcement enhance safety and security plans and operations.

Safety and security managers, operation managers, event managers and facility operators, local and state law enforcement, emergency managers, fire, HAZMAT, emergency medical services, guest services, and government officials are invited to register as attendees for the Forum.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FORUM

Attendees consist of those working and/or supporting professional sports and entertainment venues and events. Private sector companies may only attend the forums as Solution Partners.

We have very limited space for this event, and registration is based on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to register is January 29, 2024, or until sold out, whichever comes first.

For additional information or to register, please visit the event website by clicking the button below.

This Week’s Must Read: Gameday Security’s Article on Facial Authentication Technology

The latest issue of GAMEDAY SECURITY magazine highlights an article on Game Faces. The article focuses on facial authentication technology and how it is speeding up fan entry, the difference between facial authentication and facial recognition, fan acceptance of the technology, and privacy concerns. Click the link below to view the magazine and navigate to page 21 to read the article.

CISA Releases Security Planning Workbook

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced the release of a new resource titled Security Planning Workbook, which can assist critical infrastructure owners and operators with developing a foundational security plan. This workbook is designed to be flexible and scalable to suit the needs of most facilities. It is intended for any individual who is involved with an organization’s security planning efforts, including those with varying degrees of security expertise, who are charged with the safety and security of facilities and people. This product also provides descriptions of critical elements of security planning information, offers a multitude of resources, and includes fillable fields to guide stakeholder efforts.

Now Scheduling DHS/FEMA-Funded Training Courses

The NCS⁴ is offering seven safety and security courses in a 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 presented in a face-to-face format that requires 8 hours each day for two consecutive days unless otherwise noted. Two of the courses are already full.

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 and Special 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
• MGT-475: Crowd Management for Sport and Special Events

These courses represent a cooperative effort between The University of Southern Mississippi’s National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (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.

NCS⁴ eLearning Options

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

• 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.

Fundamentals of Crowd Safety Course

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.

Check Out Training and Professional Development Opportunities Via

• ASIS International and newly approved Continuing Professional Education (CPE) accredited courses in Drone Security
• Event Safety Alliance (ESA)
• FEMA Emergency Management Institute (FEMA EMI)
• International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM)
• Security Industry Association (SIA)
• Stadium Managers Association (SMA)

The NCS⁴ Is Hiring!

The NCS⁴ is now hiring for the position of Manager of Marketing and Business Development, which is responsible for managing business development initiatives and developing and implementing marketing strategies, communications, and public relations activities for the NCS⁴. For more information about the position or to apply, click the button below.

15th Annual Conference

details coming soon!