NCS⁴ NEWS eNewsletter | August 22, 2024

SAVE THE DATE!

National Marathon and Endurance Events Safety and Security Forum

The NCS⁴ team is excited to announce the National Marathon and Endurance Events Safety and Security Forum will be held December 3-4, 2024, in Virginia Beach, VA. Registration is now open! Mark your calendar and make plans to attend!

National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Forum

The NCS⁴ team is excited to announce the National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Forum will be held January 28-29, 2025, at Duke University in Durham, NC. Registration is now open! Mark your calendar and make plans to attend!

NCS⁴ Welcomes New Graduate Assistants and Web Developer

This year, the NCS⁴ is excited to welcome four new students to our staff.

Graduate Assistants

• Peyton Phillips- Peyton received his bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Southern Mississippi. While working with NCS⁴, Peyton will receive his master's in English Literature and assist with research.
• Brooklynn Pinegar- Brooklynn received her bachelor's degree in Marketing from Mississippi State University. While working with NCS⁴, Brooklynn will receive her master's in Business Administration and assist in marketing and event development.
• Lauren Villarreal- Lauren received her bachelor's degree in Speech Communication and Public Relations from William Carey University. While working with NCS⁴, Lauren will receive her master's in Public Relations and assist in research as well as assist the Certified Sport Security Professional certification team.

Web Developer

• Nishit Thapa- Nishit is in his junior year at the University of Southern Mississippi as a Computer Science major. While working with NCS⁴, Nishit will assist in website development.

The NCS⁴ hosts MGT-304 Train the Trainer!

The NCS⁴ brought 16 instructors together for a ”Train the Trainer” seminar this week at the Trent Lott National Center on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. The purpose of the event was to ’train up’ instructors on the new DHS/FEMA-funded MGT-304: Sport and Special Event Staff Training and Development course.

This course represents 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.

Are you looking for more information on this course or the other courses NCS⁴ offers?

NCS⁴ Constituents Featured on Global Podcasts

In the newest episode of Axis Communications "Connect," hosted by Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives at Axis Communications and NCS⁴ National Advisory Board member, Scott Dunn, Jeff Stonebreaker, SVP of Safety and Security at Major League Soccer and NCS⁴ National Advisory Board member, discusses how the want for more soccer across the U.S. has spiked since the 90s and what it means from a security planning perspective.

Deputy Academic Director, Graduate Sports Management Program at Columbia University and NCS⁴ Research Affiliate, LJ Holmgren, was the special guest in the latest episode of Segal McCambridge's TortsCenter podcast. In this episode, LJ discusses athlete branding in college and professional sports, Olympic branding, social media dynamics, and sports venue safety.

Read the Summer 2024 Issue of GAMEDAY SECURITY

The articles in this issue cover court-storming incidents, protecting high-profile individuals at events, and a safety and security primer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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:

• NEW! Frontline Staff Foundational Skills
• 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.

The NCS⁴ is the only organization that offers a certification recognizing expertise in sport security management. Earning the Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) designation sets you apart from other professionals and highlights your dedication to remaining current with industry trends. Professionals in the sports security industry need to have a firm grasp of public safety measures and understand how to apply those measures in the unique environments created by sports venues and events. The CSSP certification validates expertise in the following domains:

• Business and Facility Management
• Emergency Planning
• Emergency Management
• Legal and Regulatory
• Crowd Management
• Security Principles and Practice

The CSSP certification is awarded to individuals who meet experience, education, and professional reference criteria and pass an exam relevant to sports safety and security management. It is maintained through ongoing continuing education and industry contribution requirements every three years.

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Venue/Event Security Directors/ManagersVenue/Event Operations Directors/Managers
• Law Enforcement
• Emergency Managers
• Private Security Practitioners
• Fire/HAZMAT
• EMS
• Other Sports Safety and Security Leaders

BENEFITS

• Expand security knowledge and experience
• Strengthen relationships with peers
• Broaden career opportunities
• Demonstrate a commitment to professional development

IMPORTANT LINKS

• CSSP Application Process
• Senior Leader Course: Sports and Entertainment Security
• See the CSSP Candidate Handbook for eligibility, application, exam preparation, and recertification details.

For more information, visit the website by clicking the button below or contact CertificationSupport@usm.edu.

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 1,000.