College Sports Information Directors of America

Providing a safe environment during sporting events for student-athletes, coaches, fans and game personnel is of paramount concern for every athletic department.

Sports communicators/SIDs can take an active role in this process and become a key member of  emergency/risk management teams on their campuses and at sports venues.

The CoSIDA Board, in partnership with The National Center for Sports Safety (NCS4) and with support of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), has endorsed a plan to involve SIDs in event risk management teams (see link to letter, above).

All SIDs/sports communicators are encouraged to discuss these issues with their athletic management team, and also are invited to attend FREE upcoming workshops and training programs. NCS4, located on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi, will offer these training session at various locations around the country, beginning in April 2010.

“Communications is a vital link to the preparedness, mitigation and response to an emergency incident at a sporting event,” stated Lou Marciani, Director of NSC4.  “Getting the sports communication and information directors involved in this important risk management training will provide them will the necessary skill set to handle the proper communication protocol during emergencies.”

The overall goal of this training program is the standardization of sport event risk management practices at all intercollegiate athletic events. Training will be delivered to an estimated 5,370 participants via 80 regional workshops. The majority of these workshops will take place at National Football League venues.

“CoSIDA is very appreciative of Dr. Marciani’s support and partnership,” noted Justin Doherty, CoSIDA President. “Lou recognizes the importance of communications in a catastrophic situation and it makes perfect sense to have CoSIDA members trained to play a significant role should such a crisis arise on a college campus or at a collegiate event.”
                       
About NCS4

In 2006, The University of Southern Mississippi announced the establishment of a ''first of its kind'' Center for Spectator Sports Security Management (CSSSM) - a world-wide interdisciplinary Center specifically focused on research, education, and outreach efforts in sport event security.

The mission is to develop a research-based model for security management of sport event venues.
In 2009, the Center for Spectator Sport Security Management (CSSSM) became the National Center for Spectator Sport Safety & Security (NCS4). NCS4 is an outgrowth of a grant initiative funded by the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.