NCS4 Announces New U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA Risk Management Training Course for Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities
Thu, 08/08/2019 - 01:03pm | By: Kelley Gonzales
To assist high schools across the country in their safety and security efforts, The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), in conjunction with the United States Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, and Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center, have developed a new online training course focused on interscholastic athletic programs and after-school activities.
The Risk Management for Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities training course allows participants to identify and develop an increased understanding of planning and responding to incidents that may occur after school hours.
“This new course represents the first course delivery to support the School Safety Initiative,” said Justin Kurland, NCS4’s Manager for Interscholastic Sports Safety and Security. “The goal of the School Safety Initiative is to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to school safety, interscholastic athletics, and after-school safety and security programs.”
The Risk Management for Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities course participants will include athletic directors, school resource officers, public safety professionals, facility/operation managers, emergency managers/planners, school administrators, as well as school district administrators. Faculty, staff, and school club advisors will also benefit from the training.
“We are living in a society today that is very different than previous years,” said NCS4 Director Lou Marciani. “Administrators, teachers, parents and even students are now concerned with the evolving threats presented outside of the regular school hours such as at their games, events, and meetings.”
The overall goal of this online learning program is to enhance the safety and security awareness of individuals responsible for organizing, supervising, and supporting after school activities and interscholastic athletic events. Those responsible for organizing, supervising, and supporting the activities and events will learn and apply best practices for risk management, professional development, communication, and planning.
Since 2015, The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security hosts an annual National Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities Safety and Security Summit and also produces an annual “Best Practices Guide” for interscholastic athletics safety and security professionals.
To view all of the NCS4 training opportunities including the new Risk Management for Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities (AWR-375-W) training course, visit https://www.ncs4.com/trainingportal.
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The Risk Management for Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities 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.