10. Health & Fitness Association

Health & Fitness Association.

The organization long known as the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, or IHRSA, changed its name to the Health & Fitness Association in March 2024.

Students will continue to hear the name IHRSA because it was used for decades and remains associated with the organization’s major convention and industry history.

The association was founded in 1981 as the International Racquet & Sports Association. Its original name reflected the significant role that tennis, racquetball, and athletic clubs played in the commercial club industry.

In 1994, it became the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association as fitness, wellness, and multipurpose health clubs became a larger part of its membership. The 2024 change to the Health & Fitness Association was intended to give the organization a clearer, more easily understood global identity.

The Health & Fitness Association is a trade association for health clubs, gyms, fitness centers, athletic clubs, studios, industry suppliers, and related businesses. Its work focuses on advocacy, education, research, networking, and business development.

It represents the industry in dealings with government officials, regulations, taxes, public health issues, membership laws, employment concerns, and other policies that can affect club operations.

The association also conducts research, publishes industry information, and operates a major convention and trade show. Club owners, executives, vendors, software companies, equipment manufacturers, consultants, and fitness professionals attend the event to learn about trends, evaluate products, build partnerships, and discuss the industry’s future.

RSM students should understand why a health and fitness association belongs in a racquet sports course.

Many tennis and pickleball facilities are part of larger athletic clubs that also offer fitness, aquatics, personal training, group exercise, childcare, food service, recovery programs, and social activities.

A racquet sports director working in one of these facilities must understand the entire club business rather than viewing the tennis department as an isolated operation.