Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Security Enterprise ServicesArenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment

De-Escalating Sports Venue Conflicts with the Right Tools

By Paul Hughes
sports
January 14, 2014

If you’ve never considered the safety risks of a professional security officer, placing them in a sporting venue where they are significantly outnumbered is an excellent research lab. Because of the sheer quantity of people, the passion for their teams and the possibility of alcohol consumption, sports leagues, such as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), recommend one security officer for every 250 visitors in a venue, while some high schools recommend one officer for every 50 students. Assigning the proper number of security personnel is a delicate balance of operational efficiency, cost and visitor safety, which makes proper equipment for the job an essential consideration.

There are a number of sensible options available for security officers to achieve “enhanced presence” with non-lethal tools. The tools should be appropriate for the officer’s role and improve the ability to perform their duties. Consider this: If your officers carry handcuffs, what other tools do they have to control an individual while attempting to cuff that person? If your answer is “nothing,” keep reading.

Tools for The Job

Distance + Time = Safety. For security professionals, this is an important equation, particularly when considering what tools are available on their duty belts. The tools should help maximize the time an officer has to react to a threat while keeping that threat at a safe distance. Here is a look at the benefits and drawbacks of tools available today to security professionals:

 

  • Enhanced Non-Lethal (ENL) – ENLs are an emerging category of economical tools that combine two or more non-lethal capabilities, as well as an integrated communication or alerting platform. For example, an ENL can combine pepper spray, a disorienting strobe light and a Bluetooth® communication module that automatically calls a central desk or field supervisor for support when it’s needed. Products in this category can engage a threatening person at distances of 10 feet and provide a security officer with an ability to remove a disruptive visitor without placing others at risk.
  • Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) – There is a significant difference between contact stun devices and neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI) devices built for law enforcement. Both are in the CEW category, but contact stun devices require your staff to get within arm’s reach of an aggressive visitor before they can engage them. Generally speaking, this is a poor tactic. If you are evaluating CEWs, understand that your security team may be deploying a CEW as a tactical tool in a situation that is edging out of control.
  • Batons – While batons have been in use for years, technology has improved their balance and striking power. The operating principle of a baton is simple: intimidation and/or the physical destruction of tissue and bones. Batons are low-cost and effective, but the chance your security officer may accidentally deliver a fatal head strike could be too much risk for your venue to absorb. Consider them, but understand that pictures of an effective baton strike could be the centerpiece of a plaintiff’s case against your staff, team owners and venue operators.
  • Pepper Spray – By some estimates, nearly 30 percent of security officer currently carry pepper spray as a defensive tool. Pepper spray is popular because, by spraying the active ingredient oleoresin capsicum (O.C.), it provides an inexpensive incapacitation capability. The risks associated with deploying pepper spray are generally low and can be overcome with excellent training and regular refresher courses. Training is essential to ensure proper aiming technique, because pepper spray deployed excessively (for two- to three-second bursts) can affect innocent bystanders.

 

Arming Sporting Venue Security Professional

When considering what devices officers need on their tool belts, here are some guidelines to ensure that your decisions are sensible, tactically sound and cost effective:

  • Collaborate with your security chief, stakeholders and C-Suite in defining the role of your security officers and the risks they face;
  • Enable your officers to meet threats with an appropriate response;
  • When possible, maximize the distance at which your security personnel can engage a threat;
  • Budget for annual training at minimum, but quarterly is preferred;
  • Review training materials to ensure they address risks unique to your venue; and
  • Enable thorough reporting of incidents, and include images and audio.

 

When choosing the tools for your security officer’s duty belt, remember that there isn’t a perfect tool for every situation. A smart strategy would be to encourage the use of products that provide a layered defense for your officer and protect your venue against frivolous lawsuits. By selecting the right tools, your officers will have more satisfaction in their job, resulting in lower turnover, less risk and reduced operating costs.

KEYWORDS: guard tools non-lethal security tools security officer security officer training sports security

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Paul Hughes is the COO of Guardian 8, a provider of enhanced non-lethal devices built for the security industry. He was formerly with TASER International and Smith & Wesson and served in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Mr. Hughes received his MBA from Arizona State University, and he completed more than 60 hours of non-lethal weapons studies at Penn State University. He completed the Entrepreneurship Development program at MIT in January 2010.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Security Leadership and Management
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Logical Security
    By: Charles Denyer
Subscribe For Free!
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

  • Duty of Care
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Integrating Technology and Physical Security to Advance Duty of Care

Popular Stories

Pills spilled

More than 20,000 sensitive medical records exposed

Laptop in darkness

Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report shows rise in cyberattacks

Coding on screen

Research reveals mass scanning and exploitation campaigns

White post office truck

Department of Labor Sues USPS Over Texas Whistleblower Termination

Computer with binary code hovering nearby

Cyberattacks Targeting US Increased by 136%

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

September 29, 2025

Global Security Exchange (GSX)

 

November 17, 2025

SECURITY 500 Conference

This event is designed to provide security executives, government officials and leaders of industry with vital information on how to elevate their programs while allowing attendees to share their strategies and solutions with other security industry executives.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • enewsguard

    How Low Retention Costs Enterprises

    See More
  • product spolight

    Product spotlight: Sports, venue and entertainment security

    See More
  • Sports Feature

    What’s Changed in Open-Air Venue Security?

    See More
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing