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Sports Massage Courses and Qualifications
We're setting the benchmark by creating the industry's best sports massage therapists and bodywork experts. Our recognised massage qualifications are delivered by some of the best and most experienced physios and manual therapists in the industry. Launch your massage career and learn from the best with HFE.
Featured Sports Massage Courses
Increase your reach in the fitness industry by adding sports massage to your exercise and fitness training services. Tailor your offering to clients provide a more hollistic training, recovery and performance orientated service.
Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy
£1250.00
Learn how to master a range of tried and tested sports massage therapy techniques to alleviate pain, address soft tissue dysfunction and enhance recovery and performance. This is a great course for anyone starting out in sports massage.
Key Benefits:
5% discount for prompt payment - save £62.50
Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage Therapy
£1250.00
Take your massage therapy skills to the next level with this advanced sports massage programme. Discover how massage, movement, stretching and other soft-tissue interventions can be combined to deliver maximum results to clients.
Key Benefits:
5% discount for prompt payment - save £62.50
Sports Massage Career Packages
Take massage therapy further with our career packages, your direct route to sports massage success. Expertly-delivered sports massage courses, cutting-edge content, interest-free payment plans, hands-on training at a nationwide venue and exclusive job opportunities as standard.
Essentials
£1250.00
A perfect introduction to the world of sports massage and manual therapy techniques
Courses Included:
Extras and Exclusives:
Key benefits:
Interest-free payment plan - £191 per month
5% discount for prompt payment - save £62.50
Professional
£2715.00
Combine sports massage with personal training and expand your client base
Courses Included:
Extras and Exclusives:
Key Benefits:
Interest-free payment plan - £205 per month
5% discount for prompt payment - save £135.75
Where Will Your Massage Career Lead?
Many of our sports massage graduates have gone on to do great things in the sport, leisure and physical activity sector. While some of them have taken a leap of faith and started their own businesses, many of them have also secured employment in some of the UK's leading exercise and physical activity settings.
Expertly Crafted Massage Courses
Our range of sports massage courses and remedial education programmes have been expertly developed with your success in mind by leading clinical and practical specialists to give you the best training experience.
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Investing in You
Much more than a course
Our massage therapy courses are created and by highly experienced clinical and applied experts to ensure you get the training you deserve.
- Medical doctors
- Rehabilitation specialists
- Physiotherapists
- Massage therapists
- Massage educators
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Extensive Materials
Visually and content rich
We'll supply you with all the resources you need to succeed. Our expertly crafted learning materials will simplify the complex to ensure you get a first class sports massage education.
- Print and digital manuals
- On-demand lecture videos
- Detailed study guides
- Coursework templates
- Practice theory exams
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Unlimited Support
We're with you all the way
Our dedicated 5-star support team will be on hand to assist, providing expert guidance and support whenever you need it.
- Subject specialists
- Friendly and supportive
- Highly experienced
- No appointment needed
- Unlimited access
Course Dates & Locations
Our range of sports massage courses are delivered from regional hubs throughout the UK, including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff.
Due to the specialist nature of this programme and the amount of equipment and space that is required to deliver these courses effectively, we don’t have as many venues in our supply chain as other courses, like personal training for example.
To view the specific locations in which we deliver our sports massage courses, use the button below.
View All Locations
Additional Sports Massage Information
If you're serious about a sports massage career and you'd like to know much more about what it takes to succeed, what opportunities are available and how much you can earn, take a look at the range of sports massage career articles featured below.
Become a Sports Massage Therapist
Our in-depth massage therapist career guide covers everything you need to know about courses and qualifications, employment opportunities, salary and pay, and more
7 Minute Read Read article
Sports Massage Qualifications
When it comes to recognised sports massage qualifications, it's important to remember that they're not all created equally. Our in-depth guide will help you avoid any potential pitfalls
9 Minute Read Read article
Sports Massage Pay and Salaries
Our comprehensive review of sports massage pay and salaries reveal the wealth of opportunities available for qualified massage therapists
10 Minute Read Read article
Sports Massage Jobs
If you're a newly qualified sports massage therapist, our in-depth guide explores the various jobs and employment opportunities available to you
6 Minute Read Read article
Career Opportunities Beyond Sports Massage
From personal training to Pilates, we explore the ways in which qualified sports massage therapists can upskill and greatly expand their client base
8 Minute Read Read article
Here's What They Have To Say...
Over the years, we've trained tens of thousands of exercise professionals, nutrition coaches and sports massage therapists and we've met some fantastic people who have gone on to do amazing things. Here's a few faces you just might recognise and what they had to say about their HFE training experience.
"HFE is the ultimate fitness training provider, without a doubt their personal training courses are the best in the industry."
- James Crossley
(Hunter from Gladiators)
"The course has really helped me to better understand yoga so that I can improve my performance and remain World No. 1."
- Laura Massaro
(World No. 1 Squash Player - 2016)
"HFE have produced some of the best materials I have seen in education."
- Holly Bradshaw
(Team GB Olympic Bronze Medalist Pole Vaulter, 2020 Olympic Games)
"HFE were understanding and the course is really flexible. I knew this would be the perfect thing for me."
- Louise Fiddes
(Team GB World Champion Paralympic Swimmer)
FAQs
From venues to practical skills, we've answered the most frequently asked questions about our sports massage courses.
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How do I become a sports massage therapist?
This is the all-important question that current or aspiring fitness professionals should ask and the first step would be to enrol on to a sports massage course. For those at the entry-level, you’ll need the Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage in order to be fully qualified and practise as a massage therapist. If you’re already Level 3 qualified then the Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage is a great way to expand your knowledge, increase your client base and tackle more advanced injuries and conditions.
With HFE you’re free to take a step by step approach and do these massage courses individually. We also offer the option of our sports massage career packages and this is how you truly set yourself up for success in the industry. Not only will you get the qualifications you need but you’ll also benefit from a range of extras and exclusives including job opportunities via CV Connect, 12 month’s worth of career support and discounts on Songbird massage to help you get started.
To give you a greater sense of the exciting world of sports massage therapy, we’ve created an in-depth article exploring massage qualification, employment opportunities, and salary and pay. Learn more with our become a sports massage therapist guide.
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Do you run sports massage courses near me?
We certainly do and this means nothing will stand of the way of you achieving your sports massage qualification. In order to offer the most flexibility and choice possible, our sports massage courses utilise the blended learning model.
This involves a period of home study which incorporates access to our online student platform LES (the Learner Engagement System), revising from your bespoke manuals and access via phone and email to your personal support tutor.
During this time, you’ll also experience practical training at a leading health and fitness facility in the UK. Our current flagship venues are in Manchester, Birmingham, London and Cardiff.
A full list of venues, information about facilities and accessibility, as well as travel directions, can be found on our sports massage venues and locations page.
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Who can you treat with sports massage?
Sports massage is highly effective at treating soft tissue injuries and dysfunction at a low-level. It’s also really great for prehabilitation, keeping tissues soft, pliable and nourished when undertaking lots of exercise. It’s also really great for promoting recovery and healing following a workout.
The broad application of sports massage keeps therapists well employed and allows them to help a wide variety of people in a range of situations.
A few commonly occurring injuries that sports massage therapists might assist with include shin splints, tennis elbow, rotator cuff impingement, plantar fasciitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Aside from low-level soft tissue conditions like these, clients should generally be fit and well. If they aren’t, then you’ll need to get medical clearance from a doctor before delivering any massage services to them.
Our Level 3 sports massage course is designed to educate you about these various conditions and most importantly, will empower you to diagnose the condition and deliver an effective plan of action for treatment.
With the Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage, you’ll take your sports massage training literally to the next level and learn a broader range of techniques including how to assess posture, improve joint alignment and recognise muscle imbalances.
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What options are available after I complete the course?
As soon as you complete one of our sports massage courses, you’ll unlock CV Connect within LES. This game-changing platform directly connects you with the country’s biggest active leisure employers including Pure Gym, David Lloyd, JD Gyms, Life Fitness, Nuffield Health and hundreds more.
All you need to do is polish and upload your CV, select the employers you’d like to work with and that’s it. We’ll pass your CV along and if employers like what they see, they’ll contact you directly.
The freelance, self-employed route is also incredibly viable. As a qualified therapist, you could set up your own practice or clinic or work for an existing establishment. There’s also a great demand for therapists to assist with competitive athletic events, such as marathons, triathlons and even Ironman.
If you’d like a comprehensive round-up of the opportunities available to you once you’ve completed your sports massage training, we’ve created this guide to sports massage jobs that’s well worth a read.
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Do I need any prior qualifications?
One of the many appealing aspects of a career in massage therapy is that there are no formal entry requirements for our Level 3 sports massage course. Essentially, everything you need to set you up for a successful career will be taught to you on course and provided in our learning materials.
It would be desirable if you did possess a Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification (either Gym or Exercise to Music), but it’s by no means a deal-breaker.
To enrol on to the Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage, you’ll need to have already completed sports massage at Level 3.
Our team of expert support tutors are here to help you, regardless of your prior experience or knowledge.
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What support can I expect while studying sports massage?
We pride ourselves on delivering learner support without limits for our sports massage courses. Firstly, our Learner Engagement System has been built from the ground up with you in mind. You’ll find a wealth of practice quizzes and innovative video lectures to guide you. This system is available 24 hours a day, 7-days a week and it can be accessed from any browser or device.
When you enrol you’ll be assigned a dedicated support tutor. From Monday to Friday, they’ll be available via email or phone to answer questions, guide your learning and hone your sports massage knowledge. This support is flexible, so it can be on an ad hoc basis or you’ll be able to book in regular calls.
The important thing to remember is that you’re never on your own when you’re studying with HFE.
Sports Massage Training With HFE
From its ancient origins dating back to Ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilisations to its advancement and refinement in the 20th century, massage therapy has a rich and fascinating history. In today’s world, sports massage is one of the most well-recognised and widely used forms of manual therapy. Typically, it involves manipulating the body’s soft tissues to reduce inflammation, promote recovery and restore normal tissue function.
Sports massage isn’t solely resolved for, as the name may suggest, sportspeople. Yes, athletes, footballers, golfers and alike can all benefit but so can anyone with aches, pains or reoccurring injuries. This means that if you’re looking to become a sports massage therapist, your potential client base is already there and it’s sizeable, to say the least. So where do you start if you’re looking to launch a career in manual therapy?
Simply put, it’s with our CIMSPA approved sports massage courses. Whether you have your sights set on getting involved with mass-participation events like Tough Mudder, endurance events like Ironman, or treating gym-goers and office workers, you need the right qualification to get you started. In this case, it’s the Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage. You’ll be taught the fundamentals of sports massage treatment and the contexts in which it is appropriate to use various methods and techniques including petrissage, tapotement and effleurage. All the while being able to effectively evaluate any treatment delivered to your clients. From here there’s the opportunity to advance your knowledge with the Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage.
Once you’re qualified as a massage therapist a variety of sports massage jobs and opportunities open up, including operating your own clinic or practice. With this comes the ability to work with a variety of clients and patients from a range of ages and backgrounds. To help you find your footing when you’ve completed your sports massage training, we also have CV Connect. This exclusive and innovative platform means that once you’re qualified you’re only a few clicks away from getting your CV in front of 1000s of health and fitness employers.
Sports massage therapy also provides a fantastic opportunity for those who already have fitness qualifications. Personal trainers, yoga teachers, Pilates instructors and other fitness professionals can all benefit from sports massage courses.
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