Preventing fights at football games

Small town football leading to some big-time fights. Last Friday, two- people were arrested by police at the Upper Dauphin football game, charged with harassment after things got physical. Two-days later in Mount Carmel, a couple was arrested after a brawl, this time at a peewee football game.

"2024 football season is all about safety," says Coach Andrew Erby with the Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers.

Coach Erby is sharing his safety 'playbook' this season.

Students heading to see the Rollers in action must now bring their student ID and be accompanied by an adult, plus:

"We'll have 8-10 police officers at our game that are patrolling throughout the game," says Coach Erby.

The Steelton-Highspire community lost a current and former student to gun violence this summer. Violence off school property is encouraging safety on school property.

John Sancenito with Information Network Associates, Inc., says they work with a handful of schools in central Pennsylvania.

"We provide school security guards for school football games. Our guards are all highly trained individuals, many of who are prior law enforcement. Unfortunately, we are seeing a large increase in unruly behavior during sporting events," Sancenito explains.

Schools have the option of hiring armed or unarmed personnel for games. The company's professionals are trained in conflict de-escalation and crowd control. They don't replace police officers but do support them.