A complete view of federation excellence.
Seven connected pillars create a common language for assessing capability, comparing progress and building sustainable improvement.
Built around the whole federation.
The framework recognises that sporting success cannot be separated from governance, strategy, people, financial resilience, member experience or public trust.
Each pillar contains 40 evidence-led ISFE Standards, assessed through a six-level maturity model from Absent to World Class.
- 280 standards across seven pillars
- Consistent maturity scoring
- Evidence, confidence and priority captured
- Independent validation and moderation
- Action planning and reassessment over time
1. Governance & Leadership
Structures, board effectiveness, executive leadership, integrity, risk and accountability.
2. Strategic Direction & Performance
Vision, strategic planning, performance management, decision-making and improvement.
3. Sporting Performance & Athlete Development
Pathways, talent, coaching, athlete support, science, welfare and performance learning.
4. Events, Competitions & Member Services
Competition systems, event delivery, member value, workforce, safety and legacy.
5. Commercial & Financial Sustainability
Revenue, rights, budgeting, controls, reserves, procurement and financial resilience.
6. Organisation, People & Operations
Structure, workforce, culture, capability, systems, data and organisational resilience.
7. Reputation, Influence & Innovation
Brand, communications, advocacy, digital engagement, social impact and future readiness.
Apply one framework across an entire federation system.
ISFE can support individual federation assessments or coordinated national programmes covering multiple sports.