Rules and Regulations

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Insurance:
​All participants must be fully insured with ABMP, AMTA, Massage Magazine, etc.

Your own insurance covers both you and the participants you treat during the competition. All participants must be fully insured during the competition and list “New Jersey Massage Championship” as an “additional insured.”

Licensure:

All participants are required to possess and uphold an active massage therapy license in their respective home state.  Additionally, participants enrolled in the student category are required to submit a letter of good standing from their current instructor, demonstrate completion of at least 250 hours of education, and have an instructor and/or school director present during the competition.

The NJ Massage Competition is an inclusive event that welcomes competitors from all 50 states. Out-of-state participants are eligible for category medals; however, the NJ Massage Championship finals will be open exclusively to residents holding a valid New Jersey massage therapy license.

Participant Expectations and Dress Code:

• Each Massage Therapist will participate in 1 category of their choice. Each participant will provide 1 massage to a fellow competitor and then receive 1 massage from a fellow competitor.
• Non-English speaking participants can bring their own translator for briefing speeches and general communication.
• Dress Code: Personal sponsorship clothing is permitted. Participants are recommended to wear sports shoes, sports pants or yoga pants, T-shirts, etc.
• The participants are expected to use their own tools and oils. The participants are obliged to bring their own materials for covering the table, mat, and massage chair, as well as the client.
• The recipient of the massage must always wear underwear and have covered their chest (if female presenting). Any area that is not being worked on must be covered/draped.
• No cameras are allowed during the rounds and the final. Unauthorized use of cameras and recordings can result in expulsion.
• There is an absolute zero-tolerance policy concerning inappropriate behavior. Any massage of a sensual/sexual nature will result in immediate disqualification and expulsion from the Championship.
• All participants are required to receive massages, as well as give massages. If necessary, the NJMC will arrange for suitable candidates/massage recipients in particular cases.
• No chiropractic and osteopathic manipulations are allowed during the competition.
   

Competition Area and Time:

• There will be two participants per table (a giver and a receiver). This may change depending on the number of entrants. Massage tables will NOT be provided. Please bring your own massage table, chairs, sheets/tools/supplies needed to perform your massage.
• The location of each participant’s table/chair and receiver will be chosen at random by judges/organizers. Participants will be given placards with their table numbers, names, and categories.
• Judges who may be instructors or employers will not be allowed to judge their own students/employees, etc.
• Spectators are allowed in preliminary and final rounds. Please note there are no shower facilities. Championship coordinators decide which music will be played during the championship.
• The duration of each round is 75 minutes (This includes a 60-minute treatment and 15 minutes for a quick assessment of your partner).
• The winner of each category is the participant with the highest points.

The Judges:

The Judges are all highly skilled in their categories and have either taken the IMA Judges Course or been coached by the New Jersey Massage Championship Director, who has taken the IMA Judges Course.

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

• Techniques: Innovative and effective techniques for both therapist and client.
• Ergonomics: How do the therapists use their own bodies (work environment) and their remedies
• Flow: means a continuous, non-stop movement and variation of techniques performed by the therapist.
• Innovation and Development of new methods
• Recipient feedback
• Participants are informed that the judges at the competition are capable of evaluating the individual treatment.
  
  

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 the end of the competition.

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 NJMC faces this conflict, the participant will be given a weighted score (average) from the remaining eligible judges.

The Final:

The Duration of the Final is 75 minutes, which includes 15 minutes to meet and assess your client.

Spectators will not be allowed on the competition floor. They may remain in the spectator area, either seated or standing.

The Winner of the final will be the licensed NJ Massage Therapist who gets the most points during the final round, and they will be appointed as the Overall NJ Massage Champion for that year.

Winners and Prizes:

Each category will award:

• Gold, silver, and bronze winners.
• Winners will receive medals and certificates
   

Overall Finals Champions:

• Gold, silver, and bronze winners.
• Winners will receive medals and certificates
   

1st place/Gold Overall Champion will receive:

• Free entrance into the World Massage Festival *($400 value)
• Free entrance into the American Massage Championship *($250 value)

Media Release:

Participation in the NJ Massage Championship implies consent for the recording of lectures/classes, preliminary rounds, the final event, and the prize-giving ceremony. These recordings may be used for prospective marketing on social media, and you acknowledge that your image may be featured in these videos or photos.