NCS4 Announces Certified Sport Venue Staff (CSVS) Certification

As the first research and development center specifically focused on sport event security management, The University of Southern Mississippi's National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) offers the nation's first comprehensive sport and special event security credential for front line venue staff: the Certified Sport Venue Staff (CSVS) certification.

This research-based certification program helps address the critical need to extend safety and security training capabilities to all venue and event staff and now includes a new and interactive online platform.

Effective security management systems and standards are imperative at spectator sport venues due to the inherent risks and threats surrounding these popularly attended events. In today's environment, front line staff must be equipped to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover from all hazards. Supported by a grant from the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, the CSVS certification is a paradigm change, pioneering the way that front line staff are trained and credentialed.

“The sport security profession can never transition to becoming a true profession unless the issue of bona fide standards and core competencies are assessed and permanently resolved through professional standards and legislative action that codifies the standards,” said NCS⁴ Director Dr. Lou Marciani.

CSVS is the only certification in the country that blends front line venue staff training with a comprehensive monthly monitored background check using the FBI's National Criminal Information Center dataset.

This standardized, baseline training is compromised of individual online modules for 8 staff roles including cleaning attendant, concessions, gate security, guest services representative, retail associate, ticket taker, traffic/parking lot attendant, and ushers.

In addition to training, CSVS includes background checks for each enrolled candidate that provides continuous criminal monitoring and easy-to-use online audit tools help mitigate liability resulting from potential negligent hiring practices. 

The CSVS is a three (3) year certification program.

For more information, visit http://www.ncs4.com/csvs or contact Kyle Hopkins at Kyle.HopkinsFREEMississippi or 601-266-5837.