Is Your School Prepared for This Weekend's Big Game?

Homecoming. Rivalry games. Community festivals. These are the moments that bring your school community together but they also present some of your biggest security challenges of the year.

As school leaders, we know your top priority is keeping students, staff, and visitors safe. But here's the reality: a few staff volunteers and last year's plan aren't enough anymore.

Here's what modern event safety really looks like:

Start with Solid Planning

Great event security begins weeks before kickoff. Partner with security professionals to assess your unique risks—everything from crowd density to parking lot visibility. Bring everyone to the table: administration, facilities, athletics, local law enforcement, and emergency services. When everyone knows their role before game day, you're already ahead.

Control Access, Manage Crowds

The simplest way to reduce risk? Control who enters and how they move through your campus. Consider screening systems for high-profile events, implement digital ticketing to verify identities, and use clear signage and barriers to manage crowd flow. Secure those side doors and maintenance gates; designate official entry points and staff them properly.

Invest in Professional Personnel

Your parent volunteers are amazing for concessions and ticket-taking. But crowd management, conflict resolution, and emergency response? That requires trained professionals. Deploy uniformed officers visibly at entries, parking areas, and high-traffic zones. Train all staff in de-escalation techniques so small issues stay small.

Leverage Technology and Communication

Ditch the personal cell phones for emergencies. Equip your team with dedicated radios or emergency apps for instant communication. Ensure your surveillance system covers all critical areas with live monitoring. Use your PA system proactively: announce expectations and procedures before the event starts. And don't overlook social media monitoring for early warning signs.

The Bottom Line

Securing school events isn't about reacting to problems—it's about preventing them. The difference between a binder on the shelf and a ready-to-execute plan could be everything.

Ready to move from hoping for safety to guaranteeing it? Let's talk about developing a comprehensive Event Management Security Plan tailored to your school's unique needs.