At CalCopa Massage School, we believe in the power of hands-on healing, especially within our local athletic community. We are gearing up for a busy year-end as we head into two major upcoming sporting events: the Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) Fall Games Championships and the Southern Pacific Masters Swimming (SPMS) Short Course Meters Championships.
CalCopa has a long-standing tradition of community involvement, and these events allow our students and staff to give back while gaining invaluable field experience.
SOSC Fall Games Championships (Nov 16-17): Taking place at Fountain Valley Sports Park, this event brings together hundreds of athletes competing in golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.
SPMS Championships (First weekend in December): CalCopa has been a part of this prestigious three-day swimming event for over 15 years. It is an exciting meet where world records are frequently set by swimmers aged 18 and up.
During these championships, CalCopa provides specialized massage therapy to help athletes enhance performance and speed up recovery. Understanding the difference between these two applications is key for any aspiring sports massage therapist.
Given anywhere from two days to minutes before a competition, pre-event massage is designed to activate the sympathetic nervous system. It prepares the body by:
Warming up muscles and increasing blood flow.
Improving flexibility and range of motion.
Reducing immediate muscle tension.
Technique: Specific strokes are used to loosen tissue without oils or lotions, ensuring athletes can sweat naturally during their event.
Performed up to two days after the competition, the goal is to flush out lactic acid and calm the nervous system. Benefits include:
Reducing muscle soreness and fatigue.
Speeding up recovery time.
Promoting the body’s natural healing processes.
Technique: Long, soothing strokes flush blood and lymph from the muscles, bringing in fresh oxygenated blood. Deep pressure may be used, but intensive deep tissue work is avoided to prevent microtrauma.
Do you have a passion for athletics and health? At CalCopa Massage School in Huntington Beach, you can learn the specialized techniques required to work with athletes of all levels, from local legends to world-record holders.
Our curriculum provides the hands-on training necessary to master sports massage and clinical bodywork.
Join our community of professionals today. Visit the CalCopa Homepage to explore our programs or sign up for classes to begin your journey.