CEASM & CEAASTP Prospectus and General Information
Sports Performance Services Ltd
Sports Performance Services Ltd (SPS Ltd) was founded in 1991 to provide practical sports
massage courses and workshops. Our aim from the outset has been to establish Sports
Massage and Soft Tissue Practice as a profession. To that end we have worked
continuously with Higher Education authorities in order to provide course participants
with the necessary knowledge, training, education and practical skills to establish
themselves as credible Sports Massage Practitioners.
Our courses allow students the opportunity to tailor learning to their individual
circumstances. Students can study part-time from home without additional living expenses
and high tuition fees. Costs can be spread throughout the course and successful completion
of the first module allows students to earn whilst studying for the second. This
qualification provides access to the degree programme Sports Conditioning Rehabilitation
& Sports Massage (SCR&M) at Cardiff Metropolitan university (UWIC) and may also
provide access to further study areas such as Sport, Strength & conditioning, Rehabilitation,
Sport Science, Physiotherapy, Osteopathy and Health/Social care related studies in Higher
Education at other institutions. Graduates from this programme will have increased their
employment potential and gained a number of transferable skills that will enhance their
ability to work as self-employed practitioners.
Course content – overview
Both the CEASM and SPS/OCR Diploma courses are the same in terms of structure and
content. They are only different in terms of venue and awarding body. The CEASM receives
university ‘credits', whereas the OCR Diploma does not however for progression to the
CEAASTP THE SPS/OCR Diploma is recognised as a University access course. Both courses
allow access to the second module leading to the qualification Continuing Education Award
in Advanced Soft Tissue Practice (CEAASTP).
CEAASTP – consists of two modules and covers all fundamental massage skills – Effleurage,
Petrissage, Tapotement, Vibrations, Compressions, Dermal Lifting, Frictions & Stretching in
module 1 and Advanced and combined massage methods Specific Stretch, Soft Tissue
Release, Trigger Point Therapies & Myofascial Release techniques both direct and indirect
in module two. Along side the required underpinning knowledge for safe and effective
practice in Anatomy, Physiology, Health & Safety, Professional Practice and Client
Assessment. This education is studied at levels 4, 5 & 6 Higher Education.
CEASM/OCR Diploma - is one module of CEAASTP and covers the fundamental massage
skills and all aspects of underpinning knowledge to practice as an autonomous Sports
Massage Practitioner.
Additionally we offer tailored education (SPS/OCR Diploma) to healthcare professionals
such as Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Nurses and other regulated health professionals
Student Finance
For courses commencing after 1st September 2013 part time tuition fee loans are available
from the government. The SPS /Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) Continuing
Education Award in Sports Massage (CEASM) & Continuing Education Award in Advanced
Soft Tissue Practice (CEAASTP) allows applicants who meet the government eligibility
criteria to apply for the loan to cover the course fees. These forms are available now from
the Student Loan Company (SLC) for students based in England and Student Finance Wales
for students based in Wales.
This is an opportunity to study without any ‘upfront’ costs and repay the loan only after,
earnings are in excess of £21,000.
NB When applying for this loan the ‘course provider’ and course title details are as follows:
School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) Cardiff
The course code(s) TBC
The course title is Continuing Education Award in Sports Massage (CEASM) & Continuing
Education Award in Advanced Soft Tissue Practice (CEAASTP)
Please ensure that you have also completed and submitted the SPS application form
available from the ‘courses’ section of the web site and forward to SPS in Cardiff at the
address provided. Any queries in relation to finance can be found on the SPS web site or by
contacting the office 029 2048 9999 or email admin@spslearn.co.uk
Massage/Sports Massage
The terms ‘Sports Massage’ & ‘Soft Tissue Practice’ are increasingly used. They are the
terms applied to the discipline of using massage and soft tissue techniques for the specific
benefit of all sports participants and active individuals along with active individuals not
participating in sport but who utilise activity as part of their lifestyle. It covers the
management, manipulation and rehabilitation of the soft tissues of the body. The
programme offered by SPS allows practitioners to broaden their practice to include the
management of clients/patients, who present with a variety of healthcare issues, such as
back pain, postural stress, injury etc.
Accreditation
The sports massage education programme offered by SPS Ltd has been mapped to National
Occupational Standards (NOS) and is listed as an accredited qualification by the Sports
Massage Association (UK).
Awarding Body
The education programme is validated by Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) as two
60 credit modules (1200 hour total) studied at Higher Education levels 4, 5 & 6, leading to
the award(s) of Continuing Education Award in Sports Massage (CEASM) & Continuing
Education Award in Advanced Soft Tissue Practice (CEAASTP)
These qualifications are currently the highest ‘stand alone’ university level sports massage
& soft tissue education programmes in the UK.
The CEAASTP Programme
The CEAASTP programme comprises two 60 credit modules (total 1200 hours) – Levels 4,
5 & 6 and are offered at several venues. The programme runs over a minimum 15 month
period, (minimum 17 weekends), and includes classroom study, coursework, essays,
assignments, records of practice, experience of a professional working environment and
completion of a student portfolio. The programme comprises two modules. At the end of
the first module, successful students will receive a ‘working’ qualification (Continuing
Education Award in Sports Massage (CEASM)- level 4/5) and become eligible for
Professional Indemnity Insurance and membership of the Professional Body. Module 2 –
level 5/6 continues over a further 7 weekends and includes experience of a placement in
elite/professional sport, classroom work (theory & practical), recorded practice, reflection
and completion of a Personal Development Portfolio. Module 2 builds and combines skills
previously learned and includes Specific Stretch™ / STR, Trigger Point Therapies and
Myofascial Release methods. The module concludes with a practical examination.
Successful completion results in the qualification Continuing Education Award in Advanced
Soft Tissue Practice (CEAASTP) and is representative of a 1200 hour university education
Levels 4, 5 & 6.
Student Status
Candidates will be registered as students of Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) School
of Sport (SS). As such, students will be governed by University processes and policies e.g.
Mitigating Circumstances, Plagiarism, Professional Conduct etc. As students of the SS you
will have access to University texts and electronic learning facilities including ‘Blackboard’.
In addition, as an SS CMU student you MAY be subject to a check by Criminal Records
Bureau (CRB).
Coursework
All submitted coursework must be word processed. As a minimum requirement, you
should have the following IT skills:
 Ability to use a word processing programme, preferably Microsoft Word.
 Abilty to log onto the internet
 Abilty to use email, including attaching documents to emails
Examination
Module 1
A written theory paper is scheduled at the end of the module at each course venue.
Following successful completion of the theory exam, students will be eligible to sit a
practical exam, comprising a scenario and viva. Following successful completion of both
examinations, exam scripts together with completed portfolios will be externally validated
by the University of Teesside. Successful validation will result in the interim award –
Continuing Education in Sports Massage (CEASM). Award of CEASM will allow access to
full Professional Indemnity and membership of the Professional Body.
Module 2
The examination will include a practical scenario and reflective exercise based on
experience of a 70 hour professional placement. Certification follows successful validation.
It should be noted that formal certification and issue of CEAASTP will only take place once
per year.
Course Dates
Course dates, costs and contacts can all be viewed at the ‘Find a Course’ section of our website – http://www.spslearn.co.uk/courses/
Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirements are:
 Aged 18 years or over at course commencement

5 GCSE’s to include English, Maths & Science
Mature applicants (<21 years of age) who are not in possession of formal qualifications,
may have relevant work experience or work related experience which may be considered
as a basis for entry onto the programme. For example:
 Evidence of recent study or employment
 Evidence of a commitment to study in this area
 Evidence of practical/academic potential
English Language Requirements
All courses are delivered and assessed in English. You must have sufficient command of the
English language to complete your studies satisfactorily. The minimum entry level is as
follows:
IELTS
TOEFL
TOEFL
TOEFL
6.0-7.0
550-600
213-250
79-100
paper based test
computer based test
internet based
NB. Applicants who have successfully completed either the CEASM or UCAPD-massage
(awarded by Teesside University) or SPS/OCR Diploma within the previous 5 years and
who can demonstrate that they have maintained their skills and are working in a relevant
area, may join the programme at the start of Module 2 (Weekend 11). Applicants for
Module 2 will be required to have professional indemnity insurance.
Additional Costs
Applicants should note that they will be required to purchase insurance for the practical
work they undertake outside the classroom. We recommend the student insurance
package provided by LFC Graybrook - http://www.lfcgraybrook.co.uk/non-sma.php
Plinths, massage medium and laundry are provided at our venues. Students will be
required to provide their own materials for work outside the classroom.
Purchase of a suitable massage plinth will cost in the region of £200.00.
Purchase of a suitable, hypoallergenic massage medium will cost in the region of £5 for 8 fl
oz.
Laundry in the form of bath towels and hand towels can be purchased from many outlets.
A recommended reading list will be provided at course start. Purchase of these or other
publications will be at the discretion of the individual.
SPS Ltd will help arrange the professional placement experience during Module 2,
however, all travel and subsistence incurred during placement will be met by the
individual.