Breaking Into The Sports Massage Industry
The American Massage Therapy Association has assembled a resource page for individuals considering careers in massage therapy . AMTA advises would-be sports massage therapists that they need above average anatomy and physiology knowledge. A professional also needs knowledge of the body mechanics involved in the particular sport.
Communication skills and people savvy are also important. Joana Brown, massage therapist for a minor league hockey team, shared some career highlights with AMTA and provided advice to those eyeing a career in sports massage . One of the big lessons behind her list of tips: Massage therapists can do far more than read the job ads. They can create their own opportunities. They may approach sports teams and ask if they have a massage therapist on board. And if there is interest but the service hasnt been included in the current operating budget, they might try bartering or looking for a sponsor.
AMTA teams set varying requirements for training. One may need a little sports massage education just to be part of the state team.
Courses To Get You Started
Apart from college courses and vocational institutions you can become a certified Level 3 Diploma in sports massage therapist simply by appearing online courses. You will be able to achieve practitioner certification just from the comfort of your home. Getting a qualification like this will both save your time and money.
Sports Massage Therapist Hours
When wondering whether to become a sports massage therapist, you should be aware of the hours you would be expected to work.
If you choose to work full-time, youll typically be working a 37 hour week. You should also be prepared to work evenings and weekends, as these are often the most popular times for clients who work during the day themselves.
If you work for a sports team, for example, you may also be expected to join the team on away fixtures, which may take place across a whole weekend. If this sounds like something youre interested in, well outline how to become a massage therapist for a sports team later in this article!
However, working evenings and weekends isnt for everyone. Fortunately, if you work as a freelance sports massage therapist, you can determine your own working hours to some extent, and will ultimately determine your earnings.
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How Sports Massage Works
Sports massage works by applying pressure to the damaged muscles. By applying pressure to the soft tissues subjected to inflammation. By working on the muscle the blood circulation on the muscle increases and tones down the pain and discomfort.Maybe you have played a long game or after a hard day of work in front of your desktop. Your back may mess up and sore for maintaining constant postures. The sports massage therapist navigates the pain.
Rejection Experience Hard Work Discretion
These are all necessary components of making it as a pro sports massage therapist.
Before you consider becoming a pro sports massage therapist, you should prepare yourself to endure some, or a lot, of rejection.
Fresh out of massage school, I knew I wanted to work with pro sports teams. Id always been involved in sports, competed in sports and followed sports, so it was a natural progression to want to work with pro sports teams.
I was very fortunate to attend high school in central New Jersey with one of the winningest public school football coaches in the country, Warren H. Wolf, who allowed me to work with his head athletic trainer both my junior and senior years of high school. I learned how to fix equipment, tape up shin splints and ankle injuries, stretch out athletes, massage out cramps and lift 50-pound jugs of sports drinks.
The head trainer, Bear, told me that Id better work twice as hard as anyone else, and maintain a calm, relaxing smile on my face, because, as a woman aspiring to work in the pro sports arena, I would need to do this every day to prove myself. He was right.
Upon completing massage school, I used my free time to work on first responders. After having hundreds of hours under my belt, I thought I was ready for the pros.
I know, I know, thats laughable now, but being new to massage, I didnt know about paying my dues and honing my craft as a sports massage therapist. So, off to the pros I went.
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How Long Does It Take
In order to become a sports massage therapist, you need to complete a training course. This can be done on a part-time basis, involving both working from home and attending practical sessions, which means that there is a lot of flexibility. You will have a tutor guiding you through the course and tutors are there for weekly video calls and answering questions. You will be expected to complete some of the course from home via solo studying. Its important to attend all practical sessions, as this is where all of what you learn throughout the course is put into practice.
Having a previous relevant qualification is required such as a Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training, a Level 2 Diploma in Beauty or a massage qualification.
Where To Work As A Sports Massage Therapist
Once you are qualified, its time to think about where you will work. This career path is very varied, where no two days are the same. You will have the opportunities to specialise in specific sports, specific injuries and specific players. Some therapists decide to work for a permanent employee, such as a health clinic or sports club, though others choose to work on a self-employed basis with a lot of different people. There are benefits to both of these routes and the route you choose will depend on your personal sporting interests.
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Questions To Ask Massage Therapy Courses
Before you pick a massage therapy program, there are some important questions that you need to ask about the programs you are considering. As previously mentioned, the location of the school is important, particularly if you will be commuting to classes from Mapleville RI. And of course the total cost, including tuition, books and all training materials will also be an important factor. But beyond those basic qualifications, following are some questions you should ask so that you have all of the facts before enrolling in a massage therapist degree program.
What Is Massage Therapy
As mentioned in the introduction, massage therapy is a holistic form of healthcare in Mapleville RI that helps people feel and function better. The massage therapist manipulates skin, muscles and tissue to reduce stress and relieve tension and pain in their patients. Swedish, or Classic Massage, is the type of massage that most people think of when discussing massage therapy, and most massage therapy schools teach it as their primary form of massage. However, there are many other types of massage that programs may or may not include within their course of instruction. Following are just a few examples.
- Neuromuscular Therapy Massage
- Hot Stone Massage
- Pregnancy Massage
Professionals that work in massage therapy in Mapleville RI should be referred to as massage therapists. From time to time one may hear them called a masseuse or a masseur, which refers to a female or a male massage practitioner. However, these terms generally carry a negative connotation among the general public and professionals alike and should be avoided.
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How The Program Works
To earn the AMTA/NCBTMB Sports Massage Specialty Certificate, you must successfully complete all three components of the 30 credit hour program:
You can take the online courses and hands-on workshop in any order. Once you have successfully completed the education component, find out how to apply for the NCBTMB exam. Log in to AMTA’s website to track your progress using My Transcript in your profile.
Look For Employment Opportunities
Sports massage therapists usually have the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients. You can provide sports massages to elite level athletes, elderly people or everyday gym-goers who want to consolidate their exercise with massage treatment and exercises. Health clubs are one of the most popular environments for sports massage therapists. Since more people become aware of the importance of exercise, they are able to access your services in the same setting.
There is the opportunity to work specifically with professional athletes too. Many sports clubs and teams often hire a massage therapist, since they require their members to remain in top form. Additionally, you could work in a physiotherapy clinic, either alongside professional physiotherapists or as a general massage therapist. You may also choose to work freelance, building up your own client base by offering your services independently.
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How Will This Course Be Delivered
The course will be run as a professional qualification for individuals who wish to pursue a career in the health and fitness industry as a sports massage therapist.
The course required a mixture of theory and practical components. The theory section of the course will delivered in units where the learners will complete a portfolio and submit it for marking. In addition to the portfolio, unit 1 will be externally assessed through an exam.
The practical element of the course will be delivered in lessons using each other as clients.
What Is The Salary Of A Sports Massage Therapist
According to HFE, full-time sports massage therapists classed as employed rather than self-employed can earn between £22,000 and £40,000 per year. However, there are a number of variables influencing these figures
Self-employed sports massage therapists can earn between £35-£50 per hour, but annual salaries depend entirely on how much they work, overheads, other expenses, and tax.
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Sports Massage Training And Careers
Get Sports Massage Therapy Training and Start a Career in Sports
Professional sports stars, amateur athletes, and even those of us aspiring to live more active lifestyles can all benefit from sports massage therapy.
From flexibility to rehabilitation, sports massage training teaches students how to treat a wide range of muscle and performance issues and emphasizes injury prevention as key to boosting the life of a persons sporting career.
How Will I Be Assessed
The majority of the qualification is internally assessed. You are required to create a portfolio of evidence in relation to theory and practical observation. Fifty hours of sports massage practise must be supervised and documented in your portfolio of evidence. You are also required to complete one externally set paper for unit 1 – anatomy and physiology for sports massage.
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Career Opportunities In Sports Massage
As a sports massage therapist, you will have the opportunity to work with athletes in any and every sport.
Men in the massage profession may be more successful focusing their careers on the sports massage track.Men in the massage profession are the minority and often have a difficult time in the relaxation or spa sector as many places prefer to hire women who are more in demand. Here is a short list of some of the possibilities. It does not list every sport out there, but massage can be applied to basically any sport out there by becoming aware of what is needed in that sport and some of the challenges in doing that sport.
- Running joggers, treadmill runners, 5k runners, 10k runners, half marathoners, marathoners, sprinters, relay racers.
- Cycling weekend bike riders, exercise bikers, serious Spinners, mountain bikers, cycling association riders, track competitors, Tour de France riders
- Triathlons- beginners, sprinters, half and long events, full and ultra triathlons.
- Football kids, high school, college, NFL
- Baseball kids, high school, college and professional teams Basketball kids, high school, college and NBA
- Soccer kids, high school, college, professional
- Tennis kids, high school, college, professional
- Badminton
- NY Mets
Interview With The Miami Heats Mt
There is a special comradery among sports massage therapists working with professional teams.
One of my friends is Vinny Aquilino, the long-time neuromuscular therapist for the NBA multi-championship Miami HEAT basketball team. Viinny is in his 11th season with the HEAT.
Before meeting Vinny, I was a fan of his work. One of my favorite pictures of Vinny is of him stretching Shaqille ONeil on the basketball court, with the caption, That moment when you are as tall as Shaqs leg. Im 58 and Vinny is taller than me, so imagine how long Shaqs leg is.
Vinny has contributed to three NBA championship teams with the HEAT, been invited to the White House three times, and worked with some of the top athletes in their prime. Its a pretty impressive résumé.
I wanted to add the perspective of working as a sports massage therapist by someone who is employed full time by a pro team, so I asked my friend Vinny to share his story about how he became a professional sports massage therapist.
BJ Dowlen: Did you always want to be a pro sports massage therapist?
Vinny Aquilino: Yes. My intent in going to massage school was to be sports massage therapist, working with a pro team. I attended a seminar led by Benny Vaughn, and I was so impressed with his presentation that I approached him after it was over and asked if he offered any kind of apprentice or internship programs. He said yes.
BJ: How did you break in to the field of becoming a pro sports massage therapist?
About the Author
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About The Amta/ncbtmb Sports Massage Certificate Program
A specialty certificate symbolizes advanced education and training in a particular massage approach or for working with a specific population. The AMTA/NCBTMB Sports Massage Specialty Certificate Program provides a solid foundational overview on the science of sports massage and settings for sports massage through online classes and is enhanced by a workshop featuring techniques and applications. The program culminates in the NCBTMB Sports Massage Specialty Certificate exam.
The program provides newer massage therapy practitioners an overview of sports massage, while still being detailed enough to give veteran massage therapists a refresher on current science. Earn your full sports massage certificate or take individual courses to help you reach your career goals.
Why Athletes Choose Sports Massage Therapy
Recently experts have recognized the importance and effectiveness of massage therapy. Sports massage therapy is Swedish massage that uses techniques such as hydrotherapy and strength training to achieve specific goals. This method involves targeted pressure used to reach the deeper tissues of the spinal and other joints.
Massage can improve people from athletes to common people. Athletes suffering from strain damage in their soft tissue will get a lot of benefits and improve their performance. It may even help
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Job Growth Outlook: High
Within the next ten years, the career outlook for Massage Therapists is projected to rise 22 percent.
This is much higher than many other careers, including ones that are not in the same field.
More states are adopting the licensing requirements and standards that many Massage Therapists must deal with.
This means that more massage therapy facilities will open, and more jobs will need to be filled.
Also, healthcare providers and insurance companies are realizing that there are benefits to massage therapy and are beginning to offer massage services.
Massage Therapy Is One Of The Oldest Medical Traditions In The World
Massage therapy is one of the oldest medical traditions in the world China, India, Japan, Korea, Egypt, Rome, Greece and Mesopotamia all present evidence of massage being used thousands of years ago for health purposes, with each using massage in a slightly different way.
In China, for example, acupuncture massage uses extremely thin needles to hit pressure points on your body to release pain and tension. And one of Indias most famous massage techniques, the head massage, is used not only to reduce stress but to improve joint mobility as relaxing muscles in the head, neck and shoulders has a positive impact on the rest of your body.
These treatments are often still used today and will likely be on the lesson plan as you learn how to become a massage therapist. Keep reading to find out all the necessary steps to launch your massage therapy career.
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Successfully Complete A Massage Therapy Program
So, how long does it take to become a licensed massage therapist? Well, regarded massage therapists will receive a one- or two-year diploma in a regulated massage therapy program.
During your massage therapy training, you will learn research and evidence-based information that meets national standards. Topics you might encounter include anatomy, pathophysiology, physiology, pharmacology, general principles and techniques, first aid, orthopaedic assessment and clinical massage treatments.
Another aspect of a massage therapy career many dont take into account is the business side of things. Many massage therapists are self-employed and take jobs from numerous different companies and clients. So, your massage therapy program will also likely go over the basics of owning your own business and what comes along with that, including learning management concepts, how to deal with any legal issues you may encounter and how to document your ingoing and outgoing finances to help you when tax time rolls around.
Depending on which province you are in, you may have to take an entry-to-practice examination, which tests competency, knowledge, skill, safety and professionalism in the practice of massage therapy. Exams have both written and practical components.
How Much Does A Sports Massage Therapist Earn
While there is no salary information available regarding specific sports massage therapists, the average salary for massage therapists is £17.32 per hour. This value could increase in sports settings, for example, if you work for an elite sports team. Additionally, this value can differ based on your level of experience, where you work, your specialisation and what qualifications you possess. Freelance sports massage therapists may also have different earning opportunities, as they do not receive a salary, but instead receive direct payments from their clients.
Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salariesâ âmayâ ââvaryââ âdependingâ âonâ âtheâ âhiringâ âorganisationâ âandâ âaâ âcandidate’sâ âexperience,â âacademicâ backgroundâ âandâ âlocation.â
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