Sports Massage - Certificate course
(incorporating certificate in anatomy & physiology)
The Sports Therapy UK Certificate qualification will also gain you the VTCT Level 3 Sports Massage Award and you will be eligible for Level 3 membership with The Sports Massage Association. Upon successfully completing this course you will be able to work either part or full-time; with Professional Indemnity Insurance. This will provide an excellent platform to start your business from, and to progress to more advanced awards such as our Diploma course. Information on this arrangement, unique to Sports Therapy UK, can be found below
Course Basics
Duration
The course combines home study with practical training over 3 weekends.
Course Fee: £775
Your fee includes enrolment on both the Certificate courses in Sports Massage, and Anatomy & Physiology which must be passed to attain your Level 3 VTCT Sports Massage Award. Our fees include provision of all core textbooks, notes and light refreshments during practical training, plus Award fees to VTCT and Student Membership to The Sports Massage Association. Examination fees are payable at the time of applying to sit your exam, at £50. (Exam resit fee where applicable - £30)
Course Dates and Venues
| Venue | Weekend 1 | Weekend 2 | Weekend 3 | Availability on Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luton | Mar 20-21 | Apr 17-18 | Jun 5-6 | FULL |
| Luton | Jun 12-13 | Jul 10-11 | Sept 25-26 | Places still available |
| Luton | Oct 23-24 | Dec 4-5 | Jan 29-30 | Places available |
| Luton | Feb 5-6 | Mar 12-13 | May 7-8 | Places available |
For all course dates, please see course calendar
For our training venue, directions & local accommodation, please see venue information
To Enrol
Please complete the on line booking form whereupon we will confirm receipt and your place on the course.
Then return to this page and forward your (non refundable) deposit of £190 to Sports Therapy UK by clicking the button to the right.
Course Details
You will be able to use your sports massage knowledge and skills in a safe and professional manner for the benefit of people involved in physical activity of all ages for the prevention of injury and enhancement of physical wellbeing.
The Certificate qualification will enable you to work either part or full time; with Professional Indemnity Insurance. It will provide an excellent platform to start your business from, and to progress to more advanced awards such as our Diploma course. The course was written and developed by Tim Paine, and his book The Complete Guide to Sports Massage is included as the core text for this course.
What are the entry requirements?
You must be physically able to do the work, have good communication skills, and be at least 18 years of age. It will also help if you are actively involved in sport or exercise.
Course Syllabus
- The theory of sports massage
- Practice of pre and post competition sports massage
- Injury prevention and safety in sport
- Identification and primary care of common sporting injuries
- Communication skills and record keeping
- Soft tissue trauma and how massage may help
- Assessing imbalances in the musculo-skeletal system
- Principles of injury management and rehabilitation from injury
- Passive and resisted stretching techniques
- Ethics and working alongside other professionals as part of a team
- A guide to starting business in sports therapy
- Full syllabus for Anatomy & Physiology Certificate Course
Information Website
Course Structure
Home Study
Course text books and instructions are provided so that you may progress at a pace to suit you. Some reading of the course text book is required prior to attending the practical training; you may need to allocate approximately 30 study hours to cover the following topics before commencing the practical:
- Anatomy & Physiology.
- Preparation for Sports Massage
- The theory and practice of Sports Massage.
The following are estimates of study and practise hours required after you have completed the practical training. These are based on the assumption that you have no prior knowledge in any of these areas before starting the course. These estimates will also vary between individuals.
Sports Massage: Theory review and application of skills - 75 hours
Anatomy & Physiology: See full course syllabus at Anatomy & Physiology
Typically this might require you to study and practice a total of at least 5 to 6 hours per week to pass this course.
Core Texts
Author of course text, The Complete Guide to Sports Massage. Tim is registrar for Sports Therapy UK, Senior Lecturer and Award Leader at the University of Bedfordshire.
Practical Training
52 Contact Hours
The practical training is conducted in a relaxed atmosphere from 9.00am to 5.30pm over 6 days (1 weekend per month) and is structured to achieve a balance between demonstrations, practical sessions, and lectures. Particular emphasis is placed upon student participation and tutor guidance.
Numbers attending: 6 to 16 students.
Assignments & Examinations
Practical
An assessment of your practical skills will be made during your practical training. A personal Course Record will show details of this and all practical assignments as they are completed. As soon as you finish your practical training you will be encouraged to practise your sports massage skills on family and friends and to record your findings on all treatments carried out.
Six record cards and a case study relating to treatments you have carried out must be carefully recorded and submitted as part of your course work. Full details of all requirements relating to these assignments will be contained in your course record and discussed further during your practical training. Field Experience
Once you have passed your practical assessment you will be required to attend at least one competitive sporting event to provide pre and post competition sports massage. We organise participation at a range of sporting events and invite our students to attend under supervision and with support. This field experience is invaluable and always provides a great boost to confidence. Theory Examinations
Once you have completed the practical training you may apply to sit the theory examination on any of the dates offered January, May, or September each year. There are two written examinations: Sports Massage - requiring short essay style answers relating to the theory and application of sports massage; Anatomy and Physiology - comprising short answer questions. The pass mark for each exam is 65%. Anatomy & Physiology
See full course and examination details at Anatomy & Physiology
Course Completion
All elements of the course must be successfully completed no later than 12 months after completing your practical training.
Certificate
Upon passing the Sports Massage and Anatomy & Physiology courses, provided you also hold a current HSE Approved Emergency First Aid at Work, or First Aid at Work certificate, you will be awarded the CERTIFICATE IN SPORTS MASSAGE by Sports Therapy UK and the Level 3 VTCT Sports Massage Award. An HSE Approved Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate may be taken in parallel with this course, with Sports Therapy UK.
You will be eligible to practice as a Sports Massage Therapist and Professional Indemnity Insurance may be arranged through Independent Professional Therapists International (IPTI). Full information is available from itiuk.com
Course Guarantee
We are sure you will be completely satisfied with the standards of training and course materials offered by Sports Therapy UK. If, however, after you have attended the first weekend of practical training, you are not satisfied with the content or quality of training we have provided, we will refund your course fee in full.
All you have to do is contact us in writing with your reasons and return your course textbooks within 48 hours of completing your first practical training. We will refund your course fee, without question, within 14 days.
Can I progress further?
Yes!
You may further your training to obtain a Sports Massage Practitioner Diploma qualification.
Flexible Award Programme
Our unique programme offers you the versatility to train for our Level 3 Certificate before deciding if and when to progress with our Level 4 Diploma Award.
You may immediately continue training on the above course, without taking any Certificate level assignments or exams as these will be superceded by those required for the Diploma. Or, you may choose to gain your Certificate in Sports Massage and return to further your Diploma training up to 2 years later.
You may also continue studying for your Anatomy & Physiology Award along with the Diploma; this must be successfully completed to gain either the Certificate or Diploma qualifications in Sports Massage.
How does this work?
The Certificate course is equivalent to the first six days of the longer Diploma course. As the courses start at the same time and run simultaneously, "upgrading" is easy!
Discount
If you wish to progress to the Diploma any time up to 2 years after completing the certificate practical training and you are able to show evidence of continuous practice, you will be eligible for a reduction in course fees equivalent to this (Certificate) course.
Continuing at a later date
If you wish to continue within 2 years, you will not be required to repeat the first 6 days of the Diploma although you are welcome to attend for the purposes of revision, and at no additional cost.
This arrangement is unique to Sports Therapy UK
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
If you choose to belong to The Sports Massage Association at Level 4, you will be required to show evidence of CPD each year. For full details please see Short Courses.
Further dates
Further details and seminar dates will be shown on our website and periodically forwarded by email to all those who have registered their email address on our mailing list