Rules and Regulations

Sept 14 & 15th, 2024

**** Please note that this is a condensed version of the rules. Full rules and regulations can be found within the registration form.

Purpose Statement

The VA Massage Championships is a FUN gathering of educated massage therapists who want to showcase their talents, learn new techniques, be inspired by the work of other therapists, and network with like-minded professionals in a friendly atmosphere. We’ve chosen a contest environment to challenge therapists in any chosen modality to do their individual best and as a way of evaluating basics within standard categories that all therapists can excel in.

The Virginia Massage Championships is a recognized member of the U.S. Assoc. of Massage Championships and is supported by the World Massage Festival and the American Massage Championships (licensee of the International Massage Association).

Who Can Enter?

Any state-licensed massage therapist can enter. Only VA and DC state licensed LMTs can win overall medals. Out-of-state LMTs can win categories. Participants will also receive massage. A strong esthetic presentation is highly encouraged. You may promote your style, schools, businesses, etc.

How can one compete in massage?

You must fill out a registration form with VMC . Once VMC determines that you are eligible, you will receive an email with instructions on paying your fee. You are registered once your non-refundable fee is paid in full.

Costs & Entry Fees

Entry fee for LMTs is $200 (Early Bird) March1,2024- May 1,2024

Entry fee for LMTs is $250 (Regular price)

Entry fees are non- refundable. Registration closes 08/16/24

Hotel Options:

This will be a 2-3 day event. Rooms will be blocked off for participants wanting to stay near Event Space. More Info to come.

Meals & Water:

As catered meals** within a commercial venue of this sort are very costly, we encourage participants and their guests to either bring water, snacks and a packed lunch/dinner OR venture out to the many less expensive restaurant options surrounding the event location. A guide of local spots will be provided prior to competition through email .

Participation/Dress Code:

Each Massage Therapist can participate in 1 or 2 categories. Non-English speaking participants can bring their own translator for briefing speeches and general communication.

Participants are allowed to wear personal sponsorship clothing or any other National suit that fits the category. Participants must wear sports shoes, sports pants or yoga pants, T-shirts, etc.

Participants are to bring their own sheets, towels, tools, etc.

The recipient of the massage must wear underwear at all times and have covered their chest (if they are female presenting). Any area which is not being worked on must be covered/draped.

No cameras are allowed during the rounds. Unauthorized use of cameras and recordings can result in expulsion.

There is an absolute zero-tolerance policy concerning inappropriate behavior. Any massage of sensual/sexual nature would result in immediate disqualification and expulsion from the Championship.

All participants are required to receive massage, as well as giving massages. If necessary, VMC will arrange for suitable candidates/massage recipients in particular cases.

No chiropractic and osteopathic manipulations are allowed during the competition.

Insurance:

Your own insurance covers both you and the participant you treat during the competition. LMTs must be fully insured during the competition and list “ Virginia Massage Championships ” as an “additional insured.”

Competition Area and Time:

Competition Area is roughly 3,500 sq. ft.

Massage tables and chairs are not provided. The height of the tables will be adjusted by the participants.

Participants will be divided into groups of two or three – depending on the number of entrants. The location of each participant’s table/chair and receiver will be chosen at random by the judges/organizers.

IMPORTANT NOTE - Floor is not carpet. Tables / Chairs can slide. Please Plan accordingly . Bring a Non-Slip Mat or have Non- Slip accessories for your tables and chair legs.

Spectators are not allowed in preliminary rounds.

Please note, there are no shower facilities.

VMC decides which music will be played during the championship.

The duration of each round is 60 minutes (excluding the 15 min examination).

You will have a maximum of 15 minutes to read your client’s intake and ask them any questions needed to…

Ensure your awareness of their physical condition (looking for any cautions, contraindications, or preferences)
Ensure their understanding of the massage process.

During these 15 minutes, the judges will come around to each contestant and ask what you will be doing for your client in the round (introduce yourself, give category/style, disclose any innovations or new methods, etc.).

The Judges:

The Judges are all highly skilled within their categories and have all taken the IMA Judge’s Course.

Judges will evaluate the participants in the following areas with a point system:

Techniques
Ergonomics
Flow
Innovation and Development of new methods
Client Contact
Recipient feedback

Participants are informed, that the judges at the competition are capable of evaluating the individual treatment and please note, that a treatment can be placed in several categories.

The participants cannot expect score results from the judges either during or after the competition. Judges will give feedback to participants on a case-by-case basis. Final scores will be posted at a time of the judges’ discretion.

All decisions regarding the competition are made collectively within the group of Judges to ensure the competition is as fair as possible. In the event of a disagreement among the judges, the head judge will make the final decision.

Participants cannot be judged by their family/friends, business partners, or instructors. If VMC faces this conflict, the participant will be given a weighted score (average) from remaining eligible judges.

The Winner will be the Massage Therapist who gets the most points during the preliminary rounds, and he/she will be appointed as the Overall Virginia/DC Massage Champion in Massage for that year.

3 Criteria Defined:

“The flow of the massage” means a continuous non-stop movement and variation of techniques performed by the therapist.
“Ergonomics” How do the therapists use their own bodies (work environment) and their remedies (Massage tables etc.)
“Techniques” Different techniques are used in each category. Innovative and effective techniques for both therapist and client.

NOTE! Lectures, the preliminary rounds, the final, and the prize giving will be recorded and possibly on TV and used for future marketing on social media. This goes for pictures as well. By participating in Virginia Massage Championships, you are allowing the VMC to do so.

Categories: Open / Clinical

Swedish Massage : No tools, must be a full body. We are looking for beautiful flow, seamless transitions, combinations, and variations of effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, and range of motion. We are also looking for excellent body mechanics, calm, focused intention, and completeness of strokes.
Freestyle Massage ( Western and Eastern inspired) any tools or combination of tools can be used (for example, bamboo, cupping, MFR, MAT, stretching, barefoot) and can be Asian-inspired or western-inspired. This massage can be a full body or single treatment area. We are looking for confidence, advanced techniques, flow, and ergonomics that make sense for the modality.
Sports massage (Deep-Tissue massage, MFR, MET, neuromuscular techniques, stretching etc.)
Chair massage (both Western and Eastern inspired massage)
Facial

Open : a freestyle category, allowing you to do your best personal style. This allows you to declare any of the accepted IMA/USAMC categories as your main influence and it is understood that you are doing a hybridized style of massage or will blend in other treatments and influence.

Clinical : a category in which , you will be judged on doing an interview and evaluation of your client, the treatment/massage of your client, and a post treatment evaluation of your client. Marion. You must prove some kind of efficacy or improvement in the condition of the client. You will also be interviewed for five minutes after the treatment by your judges, so as to determine why you chose to do what you do and why it was the best choice for the client as well as being able to relate what you found and how you worked on that.

Winners/Prizes**:

Gold, silver, and bronze winners will receive medals & certificates in each of the 4 categories
Best Overall Presentation (attire, massage table/mat/side table set-up) receives a certificate
Overall Finals Champions: gold, silver and bronze medals & certificates*

1st place/Gold Overall Champion gets a FREE entrance into the World Massage Festival ($400 value) and the American Massage Championship ($250 value) held in Las Vegas NV, in July 2025.

*A single double-certificate will be produced for those winning in a category and in the finals. Ex.) Sally Smith: “1st place/Gold in Swedish Massage and 2nd place/Silver Overall in the 2024 Virginia Massage Championship”

**At this time, we are not providing , meals or cash prizes. As we attain sponsors for this event and weigh out our costs, we may be able to do that. We look forward to meeting all of you and cannot wait to share this wonderful event with you.