Curbing Violence at Athletic Events

By Jay Hammes

The Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies has reported a disturbing statistic: there are 270 million guns in our country. The latest U.S. Census reported a population of 300 million. That's 90 weapons for every 100 Americans.

Throughout the world, of the eight million weapons manufactured each year, the United States will purchase more than half (4.5 million). More than 41 percent of the U.S. population owns guns; that's 30 percent of all the small firearms on the planet (Graduate Institute of International Studies).

This information strongly suggests that it is the number of available guns joined with the breakdown of family structure, the lack of parental guidance and a decline in the value placed on education that are major contributors to crime and violence. When combined with poverty, increased numbers of gangs and thugs, and the abuse of drugs, we have all the elements in place that can bring violence into our schools and to our activities programs. Equally disturbing is the latest research that indicates one out of every 25 students has possessed a firearm in the past 30 days.

The new crime figures come as no surprise to police or citizens in dangerous neighborhoods. Racine, Wisconsin, like other large urban centers, has experienced an increase of violence during and after school for each of the past five years. The city also has the highest unemployment in the state at 9.8 percent, and out of the 23,000 students attending Racine Unified School District, 47 percent are living at poverty level.

Other communities have reported a deterioration of safety as a function of increased crime coupled with declining economic conditions and societal values. What is important to remember is that a large number of school tragedies are only partially attributable to poverty. Rather, they were more closely related to unstable and impulsive student decisions facilitated by access to firearms and other weapons. It is with those precursors to violence in mind, that school administrators, including athletic directors, must constantly seek state-of-the-art security practices to enhance school safety in classrooms and hallways, and during activity programs.

How to Structure Security Programs for Activities
As an athletic director, I am extremely concerned about safety and violence issues that must be addressed, prevented and intervened after the school day has ended. In that regard, two very significant questions need to be answered:

1. How many violent crimes have there been at athletic events in the past five years?

2. Is the number of incidents increasing annually?

Gathering school data to assess the number of incidents involving fights or guns is a necessary step to enhance future security and overall safety. It is also important to research and pool emerging "best practices" in athletics security and violence prevention in order to control and reduce the number of violent incidents that occur during and following athletic events.

As a series of proactive measures, Racine Unified School District (in particular, Horlick High School) has taken the following steps to prevent weapon usage, violent acts and disruptions during athletic contests:

1. We are moving toward requiring a photo identification (ID) for admission to all future sports events. We plan to make four IDs per student; we will give one to the student, one to the parent and keep two at school to replace losses. By consistently requiring presentation of the school ID at entry gates, students will grow accustomed to the requirement. Identity checks can prevent confrontations at the gate and provides ticket-takers and security personnel with an opportunity to exclude unwanted fans and potential criminal elements.

2. A "No-entry" list is published and provided to participating schools. Security personnel are thus able to exclude students from entering an event when attendance privileges have been curtailed.

3. Changing a contest schedule is not a choice most athletic directors would make except for security reasons. When considering changes in game times, location or dates for security reasons, Racine schools and athletic administration have found that a location change is best and creates the least confusion. Changing the time of a contest (e.g., varsity game at 4:00 instead of 7:30 p.m.) would be a second choice. Our experience with violent confrontations suggests that scheduling varsity events on a date other than Friday or Saturday nights removes one of the major contributors to violence - the consumption of drugs and alcohol.

4. To date, we have chosen to use a visual scan search rather than metal detectors, which can create a negative image for a school. Visual searches are also more cost-effective and expedite entrance of a large crowd into the sporting event. Visual scan searches are accomplished by asking spectators to open their coats. If there is resistance or if there is reasonable suspicion that someone is carrying an
unwanted item, a law officer is asked to complete a physical search. Spectators who refuse this inspection are denied admission. This can be a major deterrent to carrying contraband into athletic contests. Officers should have a breathalyzer on them while spectators are entering. These policies should be published in news releases in the local media and in parent newsletters sent out by the school.

5. School policies and signage should prohibit backpacks and large bags to prevent weapons, drugs and alcohol from being brought into a venue. It is important to remember to post signs indicating that violators may be prosecuted.

6. Portable lights at contest entrances and exits can also deter and prevent misconduct. These generator-powered lights can be rented or purchased for events with need for heightened security. It is important to understand that maintenance and storage of portable lighting with generators have significant cost and logistical considerations.

7. In conjunction with portable lighting, video cameras are also used during and after the events as a further deterrent to unacceptable conduct. When filming without artificial lights, it is difficult to identify individuals.

8. Although each facility has different supervisory requirements, one that is common to all events is the need to keep spectators seated and not loitering or wandering. To curtail these potentially disruptive practices, police officers are assigned to walk in pairs in predetermined spectator areas during the event. Other supervisory personnel who are working at the event are provided identifying uniforms and are given specific duties. Supervisors must be trained to understand their critical role in contest security.

9. Inappropriate music, before and/or during the event, must be screened for contest standards and copyright issues.

10. Following a contest, directing all exiting spectators through a central exit has also prevented problems. This also creates a net advantage for supervisors because it reduces the square footage that must be supervised and secured. Spectators are directed to exit through one brightly lighted and heavily secured location. Although this practice can cause spectators of opposing schools to mingle in a crowded environment, we have made the brightly illuminated exit a point of concentrated security forces and increased vigilance.

11. Securing a parking lot with security personnel, a fence, or both, can be helpful. Fans and officials appreciate knowing that their cars are safe during the event. In this environment, the need to escort contest officials becomes a minor concern. Security fences with limited entry and exit gates are the best protection for the long term.

12. Early intervention of unacceptable conduct helps prevent larger, potentially dangerous, problems from occurring later. Escorting an unruly spectator out of an event in handcuffs also has a proven deterrent effect on others.

13. The contest announcer can be your best friend. A well-trained announcer can prevent the worst from happening at your events. He or she should inform spectators about the exiting procedures to be used after the game, and should direct personnel during an evacuation procedure in the event of a problem. Having a staff member(s) announce all home athletic events is the preferred method. A recognized announcer can develop a climate for positive sportsmanship and calmness that contributes to overall safety. There is NO place for the sensationalism that is common in professional sports announcing.

Taking time to orient and train the announcer for various spectator management and emergency circumstances can pay dividends. In this way, the announcer automatically initiates predefined directions to spectators, while supervisors, police and contest workers implement previously developed, rehearsed and coordinated plans.

Since initiating these steps, Racine Horlick High School has not had a serious crime happen during athletic events and continues to seek best practices from a wide range of sources.

If there is any preventive measure that needs our continued focus and long-term efforts, it is connecting with students. Research on communities in which student violence has occurred indicates that students often know about potential incidents of violence.

In one Wisconsin school district, as many as 13 students knew about an act of violence before it happened but told no one. Conversely, in a suburban Chicago high school, a student came forward to tell an administrator about a student who had been keeping a gun in his locker. When police investigated the locker, they found six guns.

In conclusion, a recent survey asked master teachers to cite their most important prerequisite to success in the classroom. Their unanimous response was: provide me with a safe and secure environment. The same feeling must persist for our after-school events as well.

Jay Hammes is the athletic/activities director, as well as security director at William Horlick High School in Racine, Wisconsin. Hammes may be contacted at 262-989-7711 or by e-mail at jpchammer@yahoo.com.