National Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities Safety and Security Forum Addresses School Safety and Security Issues

Thu, 02/01/2024 - 02:50pm | By: NCS4 Staff

More than 100 safety and security officials from high schools across the country gathered in Katy, TX, recently for the 2024 National Interscholastic Athletics and After-School Activities Safety and Security Forum sponsored by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴).

The event was held at the Katy Independent School District’s Legacy Stadium. Event attendees ranged from superintendents, principals, athletic and facility administrators, fire/HAZMAT, emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, and school resource officers.

“The NCS⁴ forums are ideal for professionals to discuss issues and develop best practices most important to their respective industries. We aim to provide a safer environment for student-athletes, spectators, school staff, and officials,” said Dr. Stacey Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management.

The Forum allowed industry leaders to gather and discuss current issues facing the interscholastic athletic community, including exploring solutions that will help high school and athletic administrators, school resource officers, and law enforcement enhance safety and security plans and operations.

Key discussion topics included:

• Access Control and Screening
• Emergency Communications
• Extreme Weather Planning
• Staff Training and Development
• Emergency Medical Planning
• Recovery Planning

Dena Scott, Director of Athletics for Fort Bend ISD and NCS⁴ Interscholastic Committee member, who presented at the Forum noted: “Participating in events like the High School Forum is making an investment in the safety and success of our student-athletes. These forums empower athletic directors with knowledge, connections, and innovative solutions. It fosters a community dedicated to advancing safety and security standards in high school athletics. Together, we shape a resilient and thriving future for our sports programs.”

A highlight of the event included hearing from experienced leaders on expert panels, and the ability to focus on safety and security issues in roundtable settings enables the NCS⁴ to improve its industry Best Practices.

General Manager of Facilities for Katy ISD and NCS⁴ Interscholastic Committee member Ben Rolens spoke about “creating a culture of safety.” He added, “This great event allows us to collaborate with our colleagues from around the nation on identified best practices that we can benefit from. Our industry is committed to keeping our communities, students, and staff safe when attending events, and events like this Forum are critical in our planning.”

In addition to general programming sessions, attendees participated in discussions to review the NCS⁴ Best Practices for interscholastic athletics and after-school activities.

NCS4 extends special thanks to Solution Partners whose participation helped make this event possible, including Presenting Partner – Evolv Technology and Signature Partner - Metrasens.

NCS⁴ will host the 2024 National Professional Sports and Entertainment Safety and Security Forum at the University of Notre Dame on February 20-21, 2024. Limited space is available. View the full agenda and register for the event.

About NCS⁴ 
Established in 2006, the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) is the nation's only academic center devoted to the study and practice of sports safety and security. The NCS⁴ is partially underwritten by grants from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NCS⁴mission focuses on three key pillars – Training and Education, Research, and Outreach. For more information about NCS⁴, call 601.266.6183.