Join the Sports Massage Association

The SMA membership structure provides a pathway for professional practitioners of sports massage to develop their skills and progress through the membership levels.

The SMA membership structure provides a pathway for professional practitioners of sports massage to develop. The SMA has an Open Membership Structure which is available to people who are interested and supportive of sports massage, and agree with the aims and objectives of the SMA. This structure will aid the industry in gaining official recognition in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics.

 

Level 5 Announcement

We are delighted to announce the SMA's unique endorsement of the new VTCT Level 5 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy (QCF), pending support of Skills for Health and also that Level 5 membership will shortly be available with the Sports Massage Association (SMA)

The catalyst for this initiative has been the development of new National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Massage which were released in November of 2009. Members of the SMA were heavily involved in the development of the standards and have been subsequently similarly involved in developing Sports Massage qualifications with the specialist awarding body VTCT.

This initiative means that for the first time the profession will have a suite of qualifications on an educational framework, specifically the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). Sports massage qualifications can now be obtained at Levels 3 and 4 and soon Level 5 (subject to the final support by Skills for Health) which have been mapped against the relevant NOS and are endorsed by the SMA.

We are also delighted to have been approached by VTCT and to provide the Association's endorsement of the new qualifications and we can assure you that the SMA will be active in the quality control of course providers offering these qualifications.

The SMA will be providing a number of routes to Level 5 SMA membership and more detailed information will be provided in the near future.

Click any SMA Membership Level for more details:

• Level

  • Open to students studying to become full members of the SMA at Levels 3 or 4 and those with no formal sports massage training but with a professional interest in the best practice for the use of sports massage for the prevention, management and treatment of active individuals.

  • SMA Level 1 Application Form October 2009.

• Level

  • Open to professionals who have attended general massage training and may hold qualifications in massage, and who provide general massage to active individuals. Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • Evidence of general massage training.

  • SMA Level 2 Application Form October 2009.

• Level

  • Open to professionals who have achieved a recognised sports massage qualification equivalent to NVQ Level 3. Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • Sports Massage NVQ Level 3 qualification.

  • SMA Level 3 Application Form October 2009.

• Level

  • Open to professionals with a sports massage qualification from an accredited school, or those who have passed the Sports Massage Professional Entry Examination. Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • Evidence of achieving Sports Massage Training Course accredited by the Sports Massage Association or have passed the Sports Massage Professional Entry Examination.
  • Evidence of a First Aid qualification gained through a minimum 6 contact hours with an HSE approved provider. For example any HSE approved 'Appointed Persons' course.
  • Evidence of continuous professional indemnity insurance.
  • NB: Applicants must be a minimum age of 18 years.

  • Applicants other than graduate students (Level 1) applying within 3 months of graduation will also be asked to provide :

  • Evidence of 200 hours practical hands on experience within the past 2 years (pro-rata if qualified for less than 2 years).
  • Portfolio of evidence of continuing professional development equivalent to 40 hours per year or 80 hours every 2 years since graduation.

  • SMA Level 4 Application Form October 2009.

  • Accredited Course Providers

  • Download a list of courses that are accredited at Level 4, providing the route into a level 4 membership.

 

Become an SMA Registered Tutor

The Sports Massage Association is the only independent body in the UK for sports massage practitioners and as such we have the support of leading sports bodies, related healthcare professional associations, the UK education system and major employers in the UK.

The SMA standards and practice are recognised by all major sporting bodies in the UK:

• British Olympic Association
• British Paralympic Association
• UK Sport
• Home Country Institutes of Sport eg English Institute of Sport
• National Governing Bodies Of Sport e.g.; The Football Association

Please click here to download an application form

Join Online Here

Please choose the appropriate membership level and supply us with your name and a contact telephone number. Memberships 1 to 4 are available with 4 quarterly issues of Sportex Dynamics. *Please note that Level 3 and Level 4 membership prices include a one off administration fee of £20.00 and £30.00 respectively.

All applicants should complete and return the appropriate application form complete with any supporting documentation and make payment. Membership cannot be activated until all the required documentation and payment is received by the SMA. Payment can be made online (below) or by posting a cheque payable to The Sports Massage Association.

Choose your Level

Level 1 £15.00 Level 1 with Sportex Dynamics £35.00 Level 2 with Sportex Dynamics £45.00 Level 3 with Sportex Dynamics £75.00 Level 4 with Sportex Dynamics £130.00

Your Name

Your contact number

Only those members who are registered at level 3 and 4, and have therefore demonstrated the skills required, will eligible to be on the National Register of Sports Massage Professionals.

Members will receive the following:

• Open members will receive an SMA Membership Certificate
• Registered Professional Members will receive a Certificate of Professional Registration and a photo-card stating their credentials
• The professional journal sportEX Dynamics
• Access to an archive of previously published articles from sportEX Dynamics
• Access to the SMA members area of Primal Pictures Interactive Anatomy online
• The SMA newsletter
• Access to discounts from SMA approved suppliers for equipment, training and educational resources

Use of the SMA logo and MSMA (Member of Sports Massage Association) The letters MSMA and SMA Logo are subject to trademark owned by the SMA.

Only Registered Professional Members of Level 3 and above are given permission to use MSMA and the logo on their stationery.

The letters MSMA and SMA Logo are subject to trademark owned by the SMA.

© Sports Massage Association 2008 terms and conditions