CASES Celebrates World Sport Scientist Day 2026

Today, Thursday 23 July, CASES is celebrating the first ever World Sport Scientist Day in collaboration with the International Confederation of Sport and Exercise Science Practice (ICSESP).

The day is a global initiative to highlight the critical role sport scientists play in advancing human performance, driving sporting success, and improving health. This event will take place each year on 23 July to continue educating the public, collaborating with key stakeholders, and empowering communities.

As the professional body for sport and exercise science in the UK, CASES is dedicated to driving excellence through evidence-based practice and the promotion of the highest professional and ethical standards. Through its membership network, CASES supports professionals, students and organisations by providing access to expert knowledge, professional development opportunities, specialist resources, publications and a thriving community of practitioners and researchers.

CASES helps individuals at every stage of their career to develop their expertise, stay informed about current research and best practice, and connect with the wider profession.

CASES also plays a vital role in safeguarding quality and advancing the profession through accreditation, certification, education endorsement, supervised training pathways and laboratory accreditation. It supports the development of future practitioners through recognised training routes, including sport and exercise psychology accreditation, and promotes continuous learning through conferences, workshops and webinars. Alongside publishing leading research, expert statements and position stands, CASES works closely with key organisations across sport, health and performance environments to ensure sport and exercise science continues to make a meaningful impact on athletic performance, health, wellbeing and society as a whole.

In our recent spotlight campaign featuring CASES Fellows, members with esteemed professional achievement, skills, knowledge and service to CASES and the sport and exercise science community, we’ve highlighted some of their insights into the importance of sport and exercise science and how it has evolved.

Professor Andrew M. Lane, PhD, CPsychol, CSci, FCASES explains how CASES supports career development for sport scientists. He said, “CASES plays a critical role in legitimising career pathways, particularly for students who may not see an obvious route from degree to profession.”

On his own career, “Seeing research inform practice in meaningful ways and then generate new research questions has been the most rewarding and defining feature of my career.”

“Sport and exercise science is, at its best, a discipline built on good ideas, hard work, and good people.”

As Professor of Exercise and Health Sciences and Head of the Centre for Research in Psychology and Sports at the University of Hertfordshire, Professor Lindsay Bottoms’ FCASES career is deeply entwined with personal passion, lived experience, and tireless dedication to advancing her discipline.

Her dual expertise, fencing performance and exercise for chronic disease, showcases the breadth of her impact. In fencing, she has influenced participation, performance, and gender equity on an international scale. In health research, she brings empathy and authenticity, advocating passionately for the role of exercise in improving quality of life.

“This enables me to do research that can have a real impact in the sport and I have a direct pathway to impact. This makes me super passionate about trying to find a way for exercise to improve the quality of life for others living with Chronic disease in particular inflammatory bowel disease.”

Reflecting on his career and the importance of raising the profile of sport and exercise science, Professor Ken Fox FCASES said

“CASES has to showcase what sport and exercise science can offer both high level competitive sport and health-related exercise and leisure. That has to be achieved through good research and professional development, but just as important is that CASES has a critical role in influencing the wider world of sport and health. It's critical to spread the word to wider influential audiences. That will help create and secure job opportunities.”

With a background in sport psychology and education led her naturally toward coach development, an area Dr Jane Lomax FCASES CSci continues to champion passionately.

“Belonging’ to a community of like-minded people who are always happy to share expertise and bounce ideas has always much valued. By continuing to evolve as Sport and Exercise evolves and provide that cornerstone of ‘go to’ expertise and knowledge that can underpin all aspects of involvement in sport and physical activity, whether at participation, performance or elite level of involvement.”

Associate Professor of Sport Psychology and Deputy Head of the Division of Sport at the University of Stirling, Dr Robert Morris FCASES

“Sport and exercise science is at its strongest when it balances scientific rigour with human understanding. As the profession continues to grow, I believe our challenge - and responsibility - is to remain ethical, inclusive, and reflective, while continuing to demonstrate the value of our work in complex, real-world environments.”

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology at Sheffield Hallam University, Dr Chris Kirk CSci FCASES reflects on his role as a Fellow within CASES. “I came to realise that it’s more about demonstrating a lifelong commitment to the sport and exercise sciences as a discipline that provides genuine benefit for society.”

On the importance of raising the profile of sport scientists Chris said, “CASES also lends a voice to sports and exercise scientists on a national and international scale, with inputs to governmental bodies and policy makers.”

“Much of my research, therefore, is aiming to provide more sustainable training and preparation methods for competitive and recreational participants to minimise the amount of trauma and allow sufficient recovery.”

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