NCS⁴ NEWS eNewsletter | March 28, 2024

Agenda Announced for the NCS⁴ National Conference

The NCS⁴ is pleased to announce L. Vance Taylor as the keynote speaker to kick off the conference’s opening general session with “Building Spectator Security for Everyone.” Taylor is Chief of the Office of Access and Functional Needs for the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. He is responsible for ensuring the needs of individuals with disabilities and persons with access or functional needs are identified before, during, and after disasters and integrated into the State’s emergency management systems.

Dave Delaney will follow with “The Master Communicator's Secret Weapon.” Delaney is a communication expert, podcaster, and the CEO of Futureforth, a leadership and communication firm based in Nashville, TN. He is passionate about helping improve people's communication skills with his workshops, presentations, and coaching to build stronger professional relationships and accomplish professional goals.

Conference programming will include general sessions with panel discussions on topics relevant to today’s ever-changing security landscape, while breakout sessions allow participants to engage with panelists and attendees on key issues. Topics slated for the conference include:

• Security Planning for the One-Off Event
• Emergent Threats and Hardening Tactics
• Security Technology Megatrends and Legislative Impacts
• Mitigating Liability for Event Premises and Organizers
• Violence Prevention Through Behavioral Threat Assessment
• 2026 FIFA World Cup: Planning and Preparation
• De-Escalation and Conflict Resolution, and more!

Additional information on these topics and others will be announced soon.

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.

Early-bird registration is available through April 15 with fees of $600 for NCS⁴ Connect members and $650 for non-members. Prices will increase by $50 after April 15. If you register three or more people from the same organization, save $50 off each attendee registration. The group discount will be automatically applied when applicable. Visit the website for additional information and exclusions.

Early-bird registration ends April 15.

Thank you to our exhibitors and sponsors

Have You Attended Every NCS⁴ National Conference Since 2010?

If so, we want to hear from you!

The NCS⁴ is celebrating 15 years of its annual conference and exhibition by recognizing individuals who have attended every conference since its inception. If you have attended every National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition since 2010, please inform Lauren Cranford at lauren.cranford@usm.edu.

Six Individuals to Receive Young Professional Scholarship at the 2024 Conference

The NCS⁴ will recognize six individuals as Young Professional Scholarship recipients during the 2024 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition on July 9-11 in Phoenix, AZ.

The NCS⁴ is committed to educating the next generation of sport security professionals and recently announced the Young Professional Scholarship Program to support young professionals’ educational goals by covering the registration fee for selected individuals to the National Conference. The scholarship program is sponsored by Axis Communications.

“We would like to thank our sponsor for this program, Axis Communications, as we work together to recognize and support young professionals in the sport security space. We look forward to connecting with them at the conference,” said Dr. Stacey A. Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management.

The conference will expose recipients to general educational programming, innovative technology solutions, security expert insights, and networking opportunities.

“Axis Communications values education, and we celebrate personal and professional development,” said James Stark, Axis Communications Segment Development Manager – Retail, Americas. “We are proud to participate in helping deserving young professionals through the financial support of the scholarship and appreciate the opportunity to partner with NCS⁴ in this impactful initiative.”

Recipients were representatives of the following industries: professional sports and entertainment and intercollegiate athletics.

The NCS⁴ and Axis Communications are excited to announce the 2024 Young Professional Award recipients:

• Alex Algee, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
• Shane Burgess, Wisconsin Athletics
• Adrienne Hutchens, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment
• Dan Koch, Jacksonville Jaguars
• Travis W. Smith, Virginia Beach Police Department
• Matt Wannemuehler, University of Alabama Athletics

Congratulations to all of the recipients! Visit the conference website for more information or to register for the conference.

Become an EXHIBITOR or SPONSOR

Exhibit booth spaces and sponsorships are quickly filling up - so don't delay!

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.

New eLearning Course Released

The NCS⁴ is pleased to announce the release of the Frontline Staff Foundational Skills course. This video-based training introduces frontline staff members to the skills necessary for providing guests with a safe and enjoyable experience. For additional details or to enroll your team, contact our learning management team at NCS4Learn@usm.edu.

Dr. Hall attends DHS Commercial Facilities Sector Summit in Washington, DC

Dr. Hall attended the first Commercial Facilities (CF) Sector Summit on March 11, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The CF sub-sector leaders presented on threats and challenges facing their specific industries.

NCS⁴ Staff presents at CSRI Conference

NCS⁴ Graduate Assistant Enzo F. Ferreira and Dr. Chris Croft presented at the 2024 CSRI Conference in Columbia, SC. Their presentation, “A Content Analysis on Lightning Safety Policies at Power 5 Schools,” investigated the current scenario of lightning safety policies and procedures among top-tier athletic departments in the country, identifying common terminology and topics covered in the lightning safety documents. Lastly, the research identified whether those institutions’ lightning safety documents were in accordance with guidelines proposed by the NCAA and national weather organizations (e.g., NOAA, NWS, etc.)."

Dr. Hall, Dr. Chris Croft and Dr. Ali Fridley’s research on illegal drone activity at sports events is presented at the CSRI in Columbia, SC.

Texas Athletic Administrator Newsletter Features Article on the NCS⁴ Interscholastic Forum

The Texas Athletic Administrator Newsletter featured an article on the NCS⁴ Interscholastic Forum hosted last month at Katy ISD. The article highlighted the forum and went over key objectives and takeaways from the event. Click the button below to read the full article.

CISA Releases Violence Prevention through De-escalation Video

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released a new resource titled Violence Prevention through De-escalation Video to help critical infrastructure and public gathering location stakeholders identify concerning behaviors and mitigate the risk of an incident of targeted violence. This video provides both security and non-security trained professionals with conflict prevention techniques and recommended practices that may augment more traditional security protocols. This approach can help individuals who have observed activities and behaviors that may be considered suspicious or indicative of potentially violent activity.

For more information and to access this video click the image below or visit: cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/violence-prevention-through-de-escalation

This Week’s Must Read from Gameday Security: Sports League Expansion

The latest issue of GAMEDAY SECURITY magazine highlights an article on Sports League Expansion. The article focuses on the NFL, NBA, NCAA, and other major sports organizations playing more games beyond U.S. borders; security planning requires “checking your ego at the door.” Click the link below to view the magazine and navigate to page 13 to read the article.

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/Managers
• Venue/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.

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.

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.

Sport and Special Event Staff Training and Development Course Coming Fall 2024

This DHS/FEMA-funded course, expected to be released in the fall of 2024, will bring together first responders, government, and commercial facilities personnel to improve safety and security training and development programs. The overall goal for this training is to provide tools and methodologies for training and developing staff assigned to and responsible for public safety at sporting and special events.

This course represents 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.

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. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend!