TEAM Coalition Training Summary (PDF)

TEAM is the newest employee-focused, full-facility alcohol management program available to sport and entertainment facility managers. It has combined the wisdom of industry operations professionals from MLB, MLS, NFL, NHL, NBA, NCAA, ARAMARK Sportservice, and IAAM, and represents the most comprehensive thinking about alcohol management. The TEAM program encapsulates a highly effective approach to preparing facility operations managers to train alcohol servers and event-day employees to manage the sale, service and consumption of alcohol at public gatherings.

The TEAM mission is to reduce alcohol-related injuries and fatalities in and around public assembly facilities and on the nation's roadways by promoting the responsible sale, service and consumption of alcohol. We work to accomplish this through alcohol management training and "responsible fan" education materials.

The TEAM training program utilizes a train-the-trainer approach. Facility operations, concessions, and human resources managers attend a two-day train-the-trainer workshop called an Instructor Development Program (IDP) in order to become a certified TEAM trainer. The standard registration fee for an IDP workshop is $600. Discounts are available based on specific affiliations. See prices for more information. After passing the certification test, trainers can train the TEAM program to their employees for a certification period of two years. Trainers must recertify every two years. Online recertification is available if a trainer has conducted at least four session or trained at least 80 employees during their current certification period. Every other recertification must be completed at an IDP (every four years trainers must attend the two-day workshop).

TEAM training for facility employees is divided into two levels. Level 1 is taught to the entire facility, and encourages various departments to unify and work together as a team. Following the 2-hour course, there is a 20-question certification test for all employees. Upon passing the test, employees will receive a certification card, thereby recognizing every employee as a valuable asset. Level 2 is a continuation of Level 1 training taught to concessionaire employees only. It focuses on blood alcohol levels, checking IDs and serving guidelines. The concessionaire employees take a 30-question certification test. Their certification card will acknowledge a higher level of training resulting from a more advanced training curriculum.

The most exciting aspect of this program is the certification of all employees. The benefits of certification are enormous to a program of this magnitude. Facility insurance claims, premiums and liability suits are drastically lowered when facilities are trained in alcohol management. Certification provides a tool for improving employee morale, as certification cards validate that employees play a critical role in alcohol management, the quality of the organization, and the safety of the community. TEAM provides an independent third-party test grader which ensures credibility, while also removing the administrative burden from the facility. The facility will be able to track the training progress of each employee through TEAM' reporting process. In addition, certification also provides a "reasonable efforts" defense in the event of a liability suit.

We are extremely excited about our program. If any team or league is interested in experiencing TEAM training, we would encourage you to contact us and start planning your facility's future. We are confident this program will reduce alcohol abuse incidents at your facility, thereby improving fan enjoyment.