Online Sports Security Management Certificate Program Begins Feb. 14
Thu, 01/20/2011 - 12:20pm | By: Vanessa Molden
The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi will offer an online Sports Security Management Professional Certificate program Feb. 14-April 25.
The certificate program provides effective management planning, prevention, response and recovery standards and procedures in sports security. This comprehensive program uses techniques that fulfill the standards and procedures of the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Individuals who will benefit from this program include sport facility managers and operations staff, emergency management personnel, emergency service personnel, law enforcement officers, public safety communicators and security professionals.
“In preparing to take the England Football Team to the World Cup in 2010, the processes and research undertaken during my course with USM played a significant role in my planning and preparation for the tournament,” said Ray Whitworth, head of team and corporate security for the Football Association. “The opportunity for networking with colleagues and sharing best practice and ideas is not reduced by being online, as students are actively encouraged to share and discuss a wide range of common issues.”
Topics to be covered with the program include an overview of terrorism and the examination of domestic and international threats at sporting events, including natural disasters and crowd management issues; basic legislation and operations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; sport venue risk assessment methodologies and mitigation and preparedness strategies.
“At the completion of this program, current and future sports and entertainment professionals will be provided with the specialized capabilities and knowledge needed to meet the management challenges of safety and security issues in a sports environment,” said Dr. Stacey Hall, program director and assistant professor in the School of Human Performance and Recreation.
To register for the program, call the Office of Professional Development and Educational Outreach at 601.266.4186. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.usm.edu/profdev_edoutreach/SPORTSECURITY.html