massage and bodywork professionals
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Marketing Sports Massage
We have had a few wall posts on marketing sports massage. I thought it would be a good idea to put the ideas in a single discussion thread, to make it easier to find. I will copy & paste the previous wall posts, but please add your own suggestions!
Working with a college or pro sports team:
When contacting any pro team (regardless of sport), I would suggest you contact both the head athletic trainer and the strength and conditioning coach with a letter of introduction & an offer for a free massage.
The athletic trainer is responsible for the day-to-day treatment & rehab of the athletes, while the strength and conditioning coach is responsible for their overall conditioning and workout planning. If possible, see if you have any contacts who could create the introduction for you.
When approaching these people, be sure to communicate that you wish to be a resource to them, to assist with the soft tissue injury, range of motion, and recovery from workouts. I would also advise to avoid making any reference to energy work, as this can put-off many sport-related health care providers.
Quincy Brown wrote:
Like Earl stated you should contact the team or organization first. I am also interested in sports massage field. I have contacted a few local
teams to inquire about assistance needed on a part-time basis to get
some experience and was asked to come in for some interviews. So that
could be a start for you also. Just contact whomever it is you would
like to work with and see if they need some assistance from a massage
therapist.
Larry Warnock wrote:
When I frist started my practice, I volunteered at our local high
school. One coach was familiar with the benefits of sportsmassage so he
advised his team to work with me. The interesting thing was that parents
would call thanking me for helping their son and then would say, "Do
you know anything about bad backs? or ? ? and before I knew it, my
practice was full. So, I would treat a high school athlete free and then
get paid for treating the family, friends, neighbors, etc. of that kid.
When I first started doing sportsmassage 100 years ago, I went directly to the owners of teams and suggested that I could save them lots of
money where the traditional medical community relied heavily on
cortisone, surgeries and other meds...plus lots of ice and stim and
ultrasound (which, by the way, is totally ineffective but a good charge
on the insurance!).
I asked them to give me the chance with one athlete who was currently on
the injured list. A number took me up on my offer and, fortunatately
with my expertise in Trigger Point Therapy, was able to fix the problem.
I remember one Boston-based pro team with a pitcher who was on the
injured list. I found triggers in the subscapular and rhomboids. After
one treatment, he was able to pitch 6 innings of shut out ball. That was
all it took. I still work with this team and many others.
Another great way to jump in is to do the Olympics. I went to Atlanta,
etc...now i have bragging rights about being a sportsmassage to
Olympians.
My practice is 90% athletes from high school, to college, to jr. hockey,
to pros.
Earl Wenk wrote:
I've had similar experiences as Larry just posted working with high schools. The parents of the athletes will often sit in the room with me
as I work on their son/daughter and ask me questions during the session.
They then make an appointment for themselves when we're done.
I found giving away your time at sporting events or to sports groups is a
great way to build your client list and become known as a sports
massage therapist. It's free marketing (just your time) and people
respond well when they can get an introduction. This is especially true
as a male massage therapist.
Lynn Teachworth wrote:
Its not always easy to get in with professional athletes. They are pretty well screened and protected and most of the medical staffs with
pro teams and tours are working with a 70's model of rehab and
treatment.
I now have over 400 professional athletes ranging from LPGA, PGA, pro
wakeboarding, water skiing, soccer, MMA fighting, tennis, etc. I was
lucky and met some trainers who were very tied in with pro athletes and
they set it up. Its just like anything other job. You have to get good
results or they won't come back. Word of mouth is the only way to go in
the sports world. We can have enough tools in our belt to be their main
tool for health if its not a broken bone or a severe tear.
I suggest getting to the athletes support people, trainers, managers,
doctors, etc. Going to apply for a team is often fruitless and if you do
get the job, its often not glamorous, long hours and little pay. I did
it once and will never again. Most pro teams, change staff every few
years so its great for credibility but it can destroy your current
practice as well.
Like Earl said, go volunteer and get some referrals and experience. That
is the best way to build your practice. However, most high schools and
even colleges can't afford to pay a therapist what they are worth. Its a
good place to start and we all have to pay our dues somewhere but just
be mindful of the situation you are working yourself into.
Working with a college or pro sports team:
When contacting any pro team (regardless of sport), I would suggest you contact both the head athletic trainer and the strength and conditioning coach with a letter of introduction & an offer for a free massage.
The athletic trainer is responsible for the day-to-day treatment & rehab of the athletes, while the strength and conditioning coach is responsible for their overall conditioning and workout planning. If possible, see if you have any contacts who could create the introduction for you.
When approaching these people, be sure to communicate that you wish to be a resource to them, to assist with the soft tissue injury, range of motion, and recovery from workouts. I would also advise to avoid making any reference to energy work, as this can put-off many sport-related health care providers.
Quincy Brown wrote:
Like Earl stated you should contact the team or organization first. I am also interested in sports massage field. I have contacted a few local
teams to inquire about assistance needed on a part-time basis to get
some experience and was asked to come in for some interviews. So that
could be a start for you also. Just contact whomever it is you would
like to work with and see if they need some assistance from a massage
therapist.
Larry Warnock wrote:
When I frist started my practice, I volunteered at our local high
school. One coach was familiar with the benefits of sportsmassage so he
advised his team to work with me. The interesting thing was that parents
would call thanking me for helping their son and then would say, "Do
you know anything about bad backs? or ? ? and before I knew it, my
practice was full. So, I would treat a high school athlete free and then
get paid for treating the family, friends, neighbors, etc. of that kid.
When I first started doing sportsmassage 100 years ago, I went directly to the owners of teams and suggested that I could save them lots of
money where the traditional medical community relied heavily on
cortisone, surgeries and other meds...plus lots of ice and stim and
ultrasound (which, by the way, is totally ineffective but a good charge
on the insurance!).
I asked them to give me the chance with one athlete who was currently on
the injured list. A number took me up on my offer and, fortunatately
with my expertise in Trigger Point Therapy, was able to fix the problem.
I remember one Boston-based pro team with a pitcher who was on the
injured list. I found triggers in the subscapular and rhomboids. After
one treatment, he was able to pitch 6 innings of shut out ball. That was
all it took. I still work with this team and many others.
Another great way to jump in is to do the Olympics. I went to Atlanta,
etc...now i have bragging rights about being a sportsmassage to
Olympians.
My practice is 90% athletes from high school, to college, to jr. hockey,
to pros.
Earl Wenk wrote:
I've had similar experiences as Larry just posted working with high schools. The parents of the athletes will often sit in the room with me
as I work on their son/daughter and ask me questions during the session.
They then make an appointment for themselves when we're done.
I found giving away your time at sporting events or to sports groups is a
great way to build your client list and become known as a sports
massage therapist. It's free marketing (just your time) and people
respond well when they can get an introduction. This is especially true
as a male massage therapist.
Lynn Teachworth wrote:
Its not always easy to get in with professional athletes. They are pretty well screened and protected and most of the medical staffs with
pro teams and tours are working with a 70's model of rehab and
treatment.
I now have over 400 professional athletes ranging from LPGA, PGA, pro
wakeboarding, water skiing, soccer, MMA fighting, tennis, etc. I was
lucky and met some trainers who were very tied in with pro athletes and
they set it up. Its just like anything other job. You have to get good
results or they won't come back. Word of mouth is the only way to go in
the sports world. We can have enough tools in our belt to be their main
tool for health if its not a broken bone or a severe tear.
I suggest getting to the athletes support people, trainers, managers,
doctors, etc. Going to apply for a team is often fruitless and if you do
get the job, its often not glamorous, long hours and little pay. I did
it once and will never again. Most pro teams, change staff every few
years so its great for credibility but it can destroy your current
practice as well.
Like Earl said, go volunteer and get some referrals and experience. That
is the best way to build your practice. However, most high schools and
even colleges can't afford to pay a therapist what they are worth. Its a
good place to start and we all have to pay our dues somewhere but just
be mindful of the situation you are working yourself into.
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