Strength & Conditioning Society

What Strength & Conditioning Society does

Strength & Conditioning Society (SCS), legally the International Strength & Conditioning Society, is a non-profit organization founded in 2018 in Murcia, Spain, that operates as an international certification and education authority for strength and conditioning practitioners with a specialization in football performance. Its flagship product is the two-level CSCE (Certified Strength & Conditioning Football Specialist) pathway: a 75-hour online evidence-based theoretical program at Level I covering physiology, biomechanics, periodization, and football-specific load management, followed by a hands-on practical assessment at Level II that awards the CSPS designation. The CSCE credential carries a 3-year recertification cycle requiring 36 CEUs. Only candidates with a Bachelor's Degree in Sport Sciences receive full certification; others receive a certificate of attendance.

The Society's technology layer is intentionally lean: a Kajabi-based learning management system delivers the self-paced online curriculum globally in English and Spanish, while its MDPI publishing partnership produces peer-reviewed Books of Abstracts in the MDPI Sports journal annually and offers discounted Article Processing Charges in Sports and Nutrients journals to members. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via self-enrollment on scs.academy, supplemented by limited-cohort live workshops (including the inaugural LATAM Performance Lab in Rosario, Argentina on November 27, 2026) and an annual congress rotating across European and South American cities. A global professional directory of 500+ certified practitioners across 60 countries, plus 20+ partner institutions including the Hellenic and Spanish Olympic Committees, the NSCA, and academic bodies such as ECSS, UCAM, and Universidade do Porto, functions as both credential verification layer and endorsement channel.

The revenue model is multi-stream but small-scale: one-time certification fees for CSCE Levels I and II, live event registration, and (once launched) recurring annual membership dues that bundle educational access, 20% certification discounts, and up to 30% off MDPI APCs. Customer segments are primarily individual practitioners seeking gold-standard credentials, with secondary audiences of sports science researchers and national federations/clubs seeking unified certification standards. SCS operates without external funding or venture investment, governed by an elected board of directors and country delegates, with six employees and a network of volunteer scientific contributors.

Name

Strength & Conditioning Society

Legal name

International Strength & Conditioning Society

Website

https://scs.academy

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Strength & Conditioning Society is a Spain-based non-profit that issues the two-level CSCE football certification, publishes peer-reviewed research via MDPI, and delivers workshops and continuing education to strength and conditioning professionals across 60 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification and Sport Science Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Coach Education, Certification & Clinics (HSADAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Strength & Conditioning / Athletic Performance Training (HSADAEAB), Strength, Conditioning & Speed/Agility Training Facilities (MPAKAJAD)

Keywords

• Strength conditioning certification
• Football specialist training
• Sport science education
• Professional certification programs
• Athletic performance research

Headquarters

HQ city

Murcia

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Certification Fees: Revenue from CSCE Level 1 and Level 2 certification programs. The flagship 75-hour online football certification is available in English and Spanish at enrollment. No specific price point disclosed publicly.
2. Annual Membership Dues: Membership program providing full access to educational materials, discounted certifications (up to 20%), reduced APCs on journal publications (15-30%), and priority registration for live events. Membership described as 'Coming Soon'.
3. Live Event Registration: Revenue from in-person Performance Lab workshops and the annual congress. LATAM Performance Lab Rosario 2026 is a 1-day intensive event with early access pricing. Members receive special rates.
4. Article Processing Charges (APCs): Members receive discounts (15-30%) on MDPI Article Processing Charges for publishing in Sports and Nutrients journals, creating a recurring revenue stream from the research community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Strength & Conditioning Society provides the Certified Strength & Conditioning Football Specialist (CSCE) credential pathway — a two-level certification combining 75 hours of online evidence-based theory (Level I) with hands-on practical assessment (Level II) for practitioners working in football performance environments. Supplementary offerings include short micro-credential courses, in-person workshops and the LATAM Performance Lab event series, an annual congress with peer-reviewed Books of Abstracts published in MDPI's Sports journal, a global certified practitioner directory, and a recurring membership program with discounted certifications and APCs.

Product overview

The Strength and Conditioning Society operates as a certification and education platform offering a unified two-level CSCE (Certified Strength & Conditioning Football Specialist) credential pathway, consisting of Level I (75 hours online theoretical education) and Level II (hands-on practical assessment). The society also provides supplementary short courses, workshops (including the flagship LATAM Performance Lab events), membership programs with access to educational materials and professional directory, and CEU recertification cycles. The core offering is the CSCE certification that awards CSPS designation, with supporting products including live workshops and micro-credential courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSCE: Certified Strength & Conditioning Football Specialist — the society's flagship certification credential for practitioners in professional football environments.
• CSPS
• Performance Lab

Products and services

• CSCE Football Certification Level I The Certified Strength & Conditioning Football Specialist Level I is a 75-hour online evidence-based theoretical education program covering physiology, biomechanics, periodization, and football-specific load management. Available in English and Spanish, it prepares practitioners to advance into Level II practical assessment and is designed for coaches and sports scientists working in or aspiring to work in professional football performance environments.
• CSCE Football Certification Level II The hands-on practical assessment component of the CSCE credential pathway, completed after Level I. Level II is designed for coaches working or aiming to work inside professional football environments and awards the CSPS (Certified Strength & Conditioning Professional Specialist) designation upon successful completion. Certification is valid for 3 years with a CEU recertification cycle of 36 units per 3-year cycle.
• Short Courses Self-paced micro-credentials covering specific performance topics such as periodization and application of technology in sport. Each short course carries CEU credits toward CSCE certification maintenance. Listed as 'Coming Soon' at the time of source publication.
• Workshops Hands-on instructor-led practical training sessions conducted in global performance hubs with limited cohorts and on-site access. Includes the VBT Lab in London and the LATAM Performance Lab in Rosario, Argentina. Members receive priority registration and special pricing.
• Membership Program Annual membership providing full access to SCS educational materials, 20% off all certifications and programs, first access to workshop cohorts, priority registration for live events, and 15-30% discounts on Article Processing Charges for MDPI Sports and Nutrients journals. Status listed as 'Coming Soon'.
• Global Professional Directory Searchable professional directory of CSCE-certified practitioners worldwide, enabling credential verification and professional networking. Listed over 500+ certified specialists as of 2026.
• LATAM Performance Lab Rosario 2026 An intensive 1-day international sports science and high-performance event combining academic exchange, hands-on practical experience, and technology innovation across individual and team sports. Held at Hotel Plaza Real, Santa Fe 1632, Rosario, Argentina. Features researchers, coaches, physicians, S&C coaches, performance analysts, coordinators, and students.
• Annual Congress and Peer-Reviewed Books of Abstracts Annual scientific congresses held since 2019, with proceedings published as peer-reviewed Books of Abstracts in MDPI's Sports journal. Seven conferences have been held (2019-2024), rotating through locations including Rome (2019), Athens, Brasil, Porto (2021), Madrid, and Murcia. Awards presented include the SCS Young Investigator Award, SCS Applied Science Award, and Emerging Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75 hours of evidence-based theoretical education online per certification level
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• SportBirdsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Event collaborator for LATAM Performance Lab Rosario 2026, providing operational support for the flagship Latin America event.
• MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCS partners with MDPI on two international peer-reviewed open-access journals - Sports (ISSN 2075-4663) and Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). Members receive 15% off APCs for Nutrients, 20% off for Sports, and 30% off for SCS Special Issues. Every annual conference is published as a peer-reviewed Book of Abstracts in MDPI Sports journal.
• Hellenic Olympic CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation partner in the SCS global network, adopting the SCS standard for strength and conditioning certification recognition across borders.
• Spanish Olympic CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation partner in the SCS global network, adopting the SCS standard for strength and conditioning certification recognition.
• National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner federation in the SCS global network representing the USA, contributing to unified certification recognition standards worldwide.
• Consejo Superior de Deportes (Spanish Sports Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sports authority partner in the SCS network, aligning with SCS standards for professional certification in Spain.
• Spanish Association of Sport SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to research standards and scientific rigor in the SCS certification and congress ecosystem.
• European College of Sport Science (ECSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partner supporting the scientific standards and research component of SCS certifications and events.
• Universidade do PortocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partner hosting the Fourth Annual Conference (2021) and contributing to research standards.
• UCAM (Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner contributing to academic credibility and research standards for SCS certifications and events.
• INEFC BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational institute of physical education partner contributing to academic and certification standards.
• NikeminorOthersEquipment and apparel partner supporting SCS events and programs.
• AdidasminorOthersEquipment and apparel partner supporting SCS events and programs.
• JomaminorOthersSports apparel partner supporting SCS events and programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute): MDPI is both SCS's flagship publishing partner (Sports and Nutrients journals) and a broad open-access academic publisher with its own editorial services. Comparable as an enabler of the peer-reviewed publication pipeline rather than a direct certification competitor.
• Catapult Sports: Catapult is an athlete-monitoring technology vendor listed as an SCS partner. Comparable as a participant in the sports-tech demonstration ecosystem at SCS workshops — adjacent rather than direct certification competition.
• VALD Performance: VALD Performance sells human-measurement hardware (ForceDecks, NordBord) used in elite sport S&C and is a partner featured at SCS Performance Labs. It is adjacent ecosystem infrastructure for the same audience but does not sell certification.

Direct peers

• UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA): UKSCA accredits S&C coaches in the UK and Ireland with a comparable credentialing pathway and runs its own annual conference. It competes with SCS in the same practitioner training market and is also a reference standard for football performance roles.
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA): NSCA is the largest US-based S&C certification body (CSCS credential) and is explicitly listed as an SCS partner federation. Both organizations sell coach certification, continuing education, and conference programming to the same practitioner persona across overlapping sport disciplines.
• Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA): ASCA delivers the ASCA Coach accreditation pathway and continuing education events for S&C practitioners in Australia and the Asia-Pacific. It operates a directly comparable model — credentialed certification plus practitioner conferences — targeting the same global audience as SCS.
• NSCA-CSCS Certification Program: NSCA's CSCS is the most globally recognized S&C credential and serves as the incumbent standard SCS is positioning CSCE against. Both target the same football and team-sport S&C practitioner buyer.

Emerging players

• International Universities' Strength and Conditioning Network: University-based S&C education pathways (e.g., Bangor, Edith Cowan, Salford) serve a comparable practitioner learner. They compete indirectly by offering degree-credentialed alternatives to SCS's certification-only pathway.
• SimpliFaster: SimpliFaster runs online S&C education, certification, and continuing-ed courses for coaches. It is comparable to SCS as a digital-first S&C education platform but operates without the Olympic-committee federation endorsement layer.

Broad incumbents

• European College of Sport Science (ECSS): ECSS is a pan-European scientific body that runs its own annual congress and publishes peer-reviewed sport science research. It is an SCS partner and competes for the same conference-goer and researcher mindshare across Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scs-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/s_c_society

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Strength & Conditioning Society