Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association

What Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association does

The Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association (ISESA) is an all-island non-profit organisation and the sole representative body for the sport and exercise sciences community in Ireland, operating as an associate member of the International Confederation of Sport and Exercise Sciences Practice (ICSESP). The association serves qualified practitioners, students, academics, and higher education institutions across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with 14+ partner universities including UCD, University of Limerick, Dublin City University, TUS, SETU, and University of Galway.

ISESA's core offerings comprise an individual membership programme (Professional at €125/year, Graduate at €50/year, Student at €25/year, and a free Affiliate tier), an organisational membership tier for universities, governing bodies, and sports clubs, and a professional accreditation framework including Accredited Advanced Sport Scientist and Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist credentials, with a forthcoming Accredited Sports Performance Analyst pathway. The accreditation is a stated requirement for practitioners working with Sport Ireland carded athletes, giving ISESA a credentialing gatekeeper role in Irish high-performance sport. Supporting products include the Find a Practitioner directory (55+ listed accredited professionals), the ISESA Podcast, a blog and webinar resource library, and an annual conference (the second edition scheduled for May 21-22, 2026 at TUS Athlone). The underlying technology is a WordPress-based website with Mailchimp for email marketing and a member discount partner programme spanning equipment, insurance, and sports technology vendors.

Revenue is generated through membership subscriptions, accreditation fees, conference registration and sponsorship, and commercial affiliate partnerships; organisational membership pricing is opaque and requires direct contact. ISESA monetises primarily through low-ticket, recurring individual subscriptions rather than enterprise contracts, supplemented by event and sponsorship revenue. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with growth dependent on academic network referrals, conference participation, and the credibility conferred by ISESA accreditation and its reciprocal recognition through ICSESP and CASES partnerships.

Name

Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association

Legal name

Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association

Website

https://isesa.ie

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ISESA is an all-island Irish non-profit and the sole representative body for the sport and exercise sciences community, offering membership tiers, professional accreditation required for Sport Ireland-carded athlete roles, a practitioner directory, and an annual conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Referee, Umpire & Coach Education/Certification Academies (MPAKAJAN)

Keywords

• Professional membership association
• Sport science accreditation
• Exercise science certification
• Continuing professional development
• Sports science education

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Fees: Annual membership subscriptions with tiered pricing based on professional status. Professional membership at €125/year, Graduate at €50/year (for up to 3 years post-graduation), Student at €25/year, and Affiliate membership at no cost.
2. Organisational Membership Fees: Full and Associate organisational memberships for higher educational institutions, sports institutes, national governing bodies, local sports partnerships, private companies, and sports clubs. Includes benefits such as company profile listings, job advertisements, conference discounts, and exhibitor stand options.
3. Conference Revenue: Revenue generated from the annual ISESA conference including registration fees, exhibitor stand fees, sponsorship packages, and social event tickets. The 2026 conference at TUS Athlone features multiple sponsorship tiers and exhibitor opportunities.
4. Accreditation Fees: Fees associated with ISESA professional accreditation programmes including Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist and Accredited Advanced Sport Scientist credentials. Reciprocal accreditation available for practitioners accredited with ICSESP member organisations.
5. Member Discounts Programme: Partner companies provide discounts to ISESA members on sport and exercise science equipment, products and services, including KinetikiQ (10%), OBF Insurance (discounted premiums), DANU (20%), Output Sports (20%), HRIG (10%), TeamOppy (15%), and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association (ISESA) is a Dublin-based non-profit professional association that serves as the national body for sport and exercise science practitioners in Ireland. It offers tiered individual and organizational memberships, professional accreditation, a practitioner directory, an annual conference, a podcast, and a 'where to study' academic program directory. It operates as an associate member of the International Confederation of Sport and Exercise Science Practitioners (ICSESP).

Product overview

ISESA offers a professional membership and accreditation ecosystem for the Irish sport and exercise sciences community. The core offering consists of ISESA Membership (individual tiers: Professional at €125/year, Graduate at €50/year, Student at €25/year, and Affiliate; plus organisational Full and Associate tiers) combined with ISESA Professional Accreditation providing pathways for Accredited Advanced Sport Scientists and Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientists, with an upcoming Accredited Sports Performance Analyst credential. Supporting services include the Find a Practitioner directory connecting users with accredited professionals, the ISESA Podcast series, a Resources library of blogs and webinars, the Annual Conference, and a Where to Study course directory across Irish universities. The products function as an interconnected professional development ecosystem rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Membership Full annual membership priced at €125 for qualified sport and exercise science professionals in Ireland, providing accreditation recognition, listing in the practitioner directory, and access to member benefits.
• Graduate Membership Annual membership priced at €50 for graduates transitioning from study into professional sport and exercise science practice, offering a stepping-stone to full Professional Membership.
• Student Membership Annual membership priced at €25 for students enrolled in sport and exercise science programs, providing early engagement with the professional community and resources.
• Affiliate Membership Free annual membership tier for related professionals and stakeholders, providing entry into the ISESA community without cost barriers.
• Organizational Membership Annual membership tier for organizations (such as sports clubs, gyms, performance centers, and academic institutions) that employ or engage sport and exercise science practitioners, enabling alignment with national professional standards.
• Professional Accreditation Formal accreditation service recognizing qualified sport and exercise science practitioners against national standards, signaling professional credibility to employers and the public.
• Practitioner Directory Public-facing online directory of accredited sport and exercise science practitioners in Ireland, enabling prospective clients and employers to locate qualified practitioners.
• Annual Conference Annual in-person professional conference delivering continuing professional development, networking, and knowledge exchange for sport and exercise science practitioners in Ireland.
• ISESA Podcast Ongoing podcast providing sport and exercise science educational content for practitioners and the broader professional community.
• Where to Study Directory Online directory listing academic programs in sport and exercise sciences, supporting prospective students and continuing learners in identifying study pathways.

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• International Confederation of Sport and Exercise Science Practice (ICSESP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISESA is an associate member of ICSESP, the international confederation for sport and exercise science practice. This partnership provides a framework for international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and reciprocal accreditation recognition for practitioners accredited with ICSESP member organisations.
• REPs IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISESA and Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) Ireland have partnered to operationalise the Competency, Qualification and Accreditation Framework for Long-term Conditions (LTC) Exercise Instructors. The partnership aims to create and develop a workforce of LTC Exercise Instructors in Ireland through a joint community forum and resources.
• The Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Understanding with CASES, the UK-based chartered association for sport and exercise sciences, facilitating international knowledge exchange, expertise sharing, and professional collaboration between the Irish and UK sport and exercise science communities.
• ATU - Atlantic Technological UniversitysupportingOthersOrganisational member institution with campuses in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, and Galway. Offers undergraduate and postgraduate sport and exercise science programmes to over 26,000 students.
• Dublin City UniversitysupportingOthersSchool of Health and Human Performance organisational member, offering programmes to approximately 635 students. Home to ISESA Vice-Chair Dr SarahJane Cullen.
• University of LimericksupportingOthersPhysical Education and Sport Sciences organisational member. Home to ISESA Chair Prof Tom Comyns. Offers BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences, BSc in Exercise and Health Fitness Management, and multiple postgraduate programmes.
• University College DublinsupportingOthersSchool of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science organisational member. QS Top 100 world ranking for sports-related subjects. Home to ISESA Board Member Prof Kate Pumpa.
• Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerConference exhibitor and professional body partnership. ARTI is the professional body for Certified Athletic Therapists in Ireland, promoting highest standards of professional conduct, care, and education.
• STATSportsminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Conference sponsor and GPS/GNSS athlete performance monitoring technology provider. Trusted by PSG, Arsenal, All Blacks, and over 80% of inter-county teams in Ireland.
• Output SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember discount partner (20% discount) and conference exhibitor. Wearable sensor technology for fitness testing and performance tracking, trusted by elite sports teams worldwide.
• DANUminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember discount partner (20% discount) and conference sponsor. Performance and biomechanics company delivering real-world movement analysis through sensor-integrated smart sock system.
• RYPTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor and member discount partner (10% discount). Athletic development software platform trusted by over 5,000 coaches worldwide from grassroots to Olympic level.
• VALDminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Conference sponsor. Global leader in musculoskeletal health and human performance technology, measuring strength, power, movement, balance, and asymmetry.
• UPMCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor and Official Healthcare Partner of the GAA and GPA. Provides sports medicine clinics and healthcare services across Ireland.
• Paralympics IrelandsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerConference sponsor. National Paralympic committee working in partnership with sport governing bodies to develop high-performance pathways. Home to ISESA Board Member Neasa Russell.
• Radisson Blu Hotel AthloneminorOthersPartner hotel for 2026 conference with promotional code CORP10 for attendees. Located in Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM): Global professional society offering exercise science certifications, continuing education, and conferences. Comparable in mission to ISESA but operates at much larger scale across multiple credentials and international markets.
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA): International not-for-profit association for strength and conditioning professionals. Overlaps with ISESA in serving sport scientists, particularly in the strength and conditioning discipline, but operates at much larger global scale.

Others

• International Confederation of Sport and Exercise Sciences Practice (ICSESP): International confederation of which ISESA is an associate member. Not a direct peer as it operates as an umbrella body coordinating national associations rather than providing individual accreditation or membership.
• Sport Ireland Institute: State body providing high-performance support services to Irish athletes. ISESA's largest customer and a board-represented institution, but not a peer as it delivers applied sport science services rather than accreditation or membership.
• Register of Exercise Professionals Ireland (REPs Ireland): Ireland's national register for exercise professionals, focused on fitness instructors and instructors for long-term conditions. ISESA has a formal operational partnership with REPs Ireland and the two collaborate on workforce frameworks, but REPs targets a different (fitness/exercise) practitioner segment.

Direct peers

• Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP): Canadian organisation that certifies exercise physiologists and personal trainers and supports sport science research. Direct peer to ISESA in offering tiered professional certification and continuing education in a national market.
• Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA): Australia's peak professional body for exercise and sports science, offering accreditation of exercise scientists, sports scientists, and exercise physiologists. Closely comparable to ISESA in scope, accreditation-led model, and reliance on university partnerships.
• British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES): The long-standing UK professional association for sport and exercise sciences offering accredited support-grade and chartered status. Directly comparable to ISESA in mission, structure, and services, but serving the larger UK market.
• The Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES): UK chartered body for sport and exercise sciences providing accreditation, membership, and continuing professional development. Direct peer because ISESA holds an MoU with CASES and operates a parallel credentialing and membership model for an adjacent national market.

Regional players

• Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI): Ireland's professional body for Certified Athletic Therapists. Adjacent rather than overlapping in scope, since ARTI accredits therapists while ISESA accredits sport and exercise scientists, but both serve high-performance sport in Ireland and partner on ISESA's annual conference.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irishsesa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association