SMA Update: Supporting Professional Practice, Education and Excellence

The Sports Massage Association (SMA) is proud to continue its partnership with the Therapy Show, one of the leading events for therapists, educators, suppliers and professional bodies across the industry. For the SMA, the show provides an important opportunity to connect with members, meet practitioners from across the wider profession, and support conversations around standards, education, professional development and best practice.

Events like the Therapy Show play a vital role in strengthening our profession. They offer practitioners the chance to step away from day-to-day clinical work, explore new ideas, discover useful resources, and reflect on the direction of their own practice. For SMA members, our involvement also helps ensure sports massage and soft tissue therapy remains firmly represented within the wider therapy community.

SMA Takes to The Studio

This year, we're especially excited to be part of The Studio – the Therapy Show's new wellness space designed to help attendees recharge throughout the event.

SMA Chair, Yvonne Blake, will be leading an interactive stretching session aimed at easing the aches and stiffness that can build up after a day spent standing, walking and networking at the show. Simple, practical and accessible to all, the session offers a welcome opportunity to pause, move and reset before heading back into the exhibition and education programme.

Celebrating Excellence Across the Profession

The SMA has also recently launched a number of new initiatives designed to recognise and celebrate excellence within our community.

Leading the way is the SMA Excellence in Practice Award, which highlights the thoughtful, skilled and professional work being carried out by our members in practice every day.

Alongside this, we are launching two new awards, recognising the importance of both high-quality education and the next generation of practitioners entering the profession:

• Student of the Year
• Tutor of the Year

These awards reflect a wider commitment within the SMA to champion good practice, support professional development, and acknowledge the individuals who are helping to raise standards across sports massage and soft tissue therapy.

Looking beyond, the SMA is continuing to develop opportunities for learning, networking and professional discussion throughout the year. Further details will be shared soon, including plans for the SMA Conference in November.

Join the Conversation

Whether you're a long-standing member or meeting the SMA for the first time, we look forward to seeing you at the Therapy Show. Come and say hello, take part in the stretching session, and join us as we continue to support, celebrate and advance the profession together.