Sports Massage - Diploma course

Achieving the Sports Therapy UK Sports Massage Practitioner Diploma qualification will also gain you the VTCT Sports Massage Level 4 Award and you will be eligible for Level 4 membership with the Sports Massage Association. The skills and knowledge attained to pass this course will allow you to work with a wide range of people from recreational to the elite athlete using comprehensive assessment and advanced treatment techniques. The course is externally approved by University of Bedfordshire and validated by Independent Professional Therapists International for Professional Indemnity insurance.

Course Basics

Duration

The course combines home study with 11 practical training (22 days) over a period of at least 10 months.

We offer a Flexible Award Programme that enables you to develop your professional expertise at a pace to suit you.

Course Fee: £2,175

Your fee includes the Certificate course practical training and full Anatomy & Physiology course. If you have already embarked on these, you will be eligible for full refund of the fees paid; see further details under To Enrol. We will also provide you with of all core textbooks, notes and light refreshments during practical training. This includes provision of all core textbooks, notes and light refreshments during practical training.

Finally, your fee also includes your fee payment for the VTCT Level 4 Award, plus student membership to the Sports Massage Association. Examination and Practical Assessment fees are payable at time of application, at £120 and £60 for resits.

Interim payment terms are available at deposit, plus £190 per weekend (over 10 weekends).

Course Dates and Venues

All Diploma course training is currently delivered at our Luton training centre.

Our Sports Massage Certificate Course comprises the first 3 practical training weekends of the Diploma course. See Flexible Award Programme for full details.

March 2010 . June 2010 . October 2010 .
Mar 20-21 Jun 12-13 Oct 23-24
Apr 17-18 Jul 10-11 Dec 4-5
Jun 5-6 Sept 25-26 2011
Jul 17-18 Oct 16-17 Jan 29-30
Sept 4-5 Nov 6-7 Feb 26-27
Sept 18-19 Dec 12-13 Mar 19-20
Oct 9-10 2011 Apr 9-10
Nov 13-14 Jan 15-16 May 21-22
Dec 18-19 Feb 19-20 Jun 4-5
2011 Mar 5-6 Jun 25-26
Jan 8-9 Apr 2-3 Sept 3-4
Feb 12-13 May 14-15 Oct 1-2

For all course dates, please see course calendar

For our training venue, directions & local accommodation, please see venue information

To Enrol

On Full Diploma
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 £275 to Sports Therapy UK by clicking the button to the right.

The balance will be payable either in full before the first weekend of practical training, or by equal interim payments at £190 for each of the first 10 training weekends.



For those who have completed the Certificate Course
For students who have attended our Sports Therapy UK Certificate in Sports Massage within the past 2 years, the course fee will be £1,430. Please complete the on line booking form as above.

Then return to this page and forward your (non refundable) deposit of £100 to Sports Therapy UK by clicking the button to the right..

The balance will be payable either in full before the first weekend of practical training, or by equal interim payments at £190 for each of the first 7 training weekends.

If you have an equivalent qualification that you were awarded more than 2 years ago and wish to apply for recognition of prior learning, please contact us with full details of the award and experience.


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Course Details

The benefits of sports massage therapy are well established. The physical state of soft tissues including muscles, tendons, and ligaments all have a major influence on the function of the human body, particularly in relation to activity. This balance is often disrupted by trauma, lifestyle and training. With a greater knowledge of soft tissues and their responses to basic and advanced techniques, the experienced sports massage practitioner will be able to provide a wide range of remedial skills. These may help prevent injuries, optimise performance at all levels, and rehabilitate from injury. Massage can be used pre, inter and post competition, as well as to enhance conditioning during training.

We have developed the Sports Massage Practitioner Diploma to meet standards set by The Sports Massage Association (S.M.A.) for those wishing to pursue or further a career as a professional sports massage practitioner. Achieving this qualification will allow you to work with a wide range of people from recreational to the elite athlete and you will be eligible for Level 4 membership with the S.M.A. The course is externally approved by University of Bedfordshire and validated by Independent Professional Therapists International.

You will be able to utilise greater knowledge and expertise to assess and treat a wider range of conditions relating to active people. This will enable you to provide a service to clients involved in physical activity of all ages and treat your clients in a safe, confident and professional manner. Tutorials and practical sessions all take place in a well-equipped teaching environment. The course is delivered by highly experienced and qualified tutors and is designed to optimise your learning.

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.

To become a sports massage practitioner demands a comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology and you are therefore required to complete our Certificate in Anatomy & Physiology either prior to, or in conjunction with this course. Further advanced A & P will be studied in specific areas of this course.

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.

Upon completing the training for the Sports Massage Certificate you may then choose to take your exams and course assignments to achieve the Level 3 qualification, or continue training for the Diploma course any time within a two year period.

Therefore if you have completed our Certificate course in Sports Massage within the past 2 years and can show evidence of continued practice you will be exempt from attending the first 3 weekends of this course and will receive a fee reduction to the value of the Certificate course.

If you have an equivalent qualification that you were awarded more than 2 years ago and wish to apply for recognition of prior learning, please contact us with full details of the award and experience.

Course Syllabus

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Course Structure

Home Study

The following are estimates of study and practise hours required to complete the course in addition to the above. These are based on the assumption that you have no prior knowledge in any of these areas before commencing the course. These estimates will also vary between individuals.

Review and study of the science of manual therapy - 100 hours

Certificate in Anatomy and Physiology must be studied either prior to or in conjunction with the Diploma. See separate web page for full A&P course details

Course instructions and, core text books will be provided so that you may plan and implement a system of study at a pace to suit you.

Core Texts

The Complete Guide to Sports Massage textbook

The Science and Practise of Manual Therapy is a comprehensive text giving scientific evidence to support all forms of manual therapy

The Complete Guide to Sports Massage textbook

The Complete Guide to Sports Massage (2nd ed) written by Tim Paine of Sports Therapy UK.

Practical Training

The course comprises 165 contact hours over 11 weekends. The practical training is conducted in a relaxed atmosphere from 9.00am to 5.30pm each training day.

Your practical skills will be reviewed throughout your practical training to help you towards the final assessment and viva. A personal Course Handbook will show details of this and all practical assignments as they are completed. You will be required to practise your sports massage skills and to record your findings on all treatments carried out.

Practise of sports massage skills - minimum 100 hours

Assignments & Examinations

Field Experience

You will be required to attend at least three competitive sporting events to provide pre and post competition sports massage. We ask you to attend at least one of these with a team organised by us. These events provide invaluable experience and a great boost to confidence.

Practical Assessments

You will be required to take a practical assessment and viva lasting approximately 30 minutes in total. These will be set for any of the dates offered in January, May, or September each year.

Theory Examinations

You may apply to sit the theory examinations for Sports Massage and Anatomy and Physiology on any of the dates offered in January, May, or September each year.

Quality Guaranteed

We are so sure you will enjoy and benefit from our training that we guarantee you will be satisfied. If not, any time up to and including 3 weekends of your practical training, all you have to do is claim your money back up to and no later than 48hrs after the final practical training and we will refund your fees in full.


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Course Completion

All elements of the course including the Certificate course in Anatomy and Physiology must be successfully completed no later than 12 months after your practical training. You must also hold a current HSE Approved Emergency First Aid at Work, or First Aid at Work certificate. An HSE Approved Emeregency First Aid at Work Certificate Certificate may be taken in parallel with this course, with Sports Therapy UK.

Diploma

Upon passing the course you will be awarded the Sports Massage Practitioner Diploma by Sports Therapy UK, a Level 4 VTCT Award, and you will be eligible for Level 4 membership with The Sports Massage Association.

When practicing as a Sports Massage Practitioner, Professional Indemnity Insurance may be arranged through The Sports Massage Association or the Independent Professional Therapists International (IPTI)

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.

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