ESRI STUDY AN EXAMINATION OF PLAYER WELFARE AMONG SENIOR INTER-COUNTY GAELIC PLAYERS

SAFEGUARDING AMATEUR ATHLETES: AN
EXAMINATION OF PLAYER WELFARE AMONG
SENIOR INTER-COUNTY GAELIC PLAYERS

The executive summary contains all the pertinent findings.

They are very highly educated individuals who in large part choose a career in the educational sector.

The study highlights that inter-county play impacts players’ professional career and
is another area that warrants further attention.
Some players are selecting sectors of employment with lower levels of working
hours,namely those that enter public sector jobs,with ‘education’ being the main
public sector sub-sector in which players are employed.While this may assist
players to meet the demands required to play senior inter-county, the research
revealed that there is a trade-off in terms of earnings.


Whilst studying at third level they have grave difficulty balancing their playing and more importantly educational requirements.

Varying not unsubstantial percentages chose their career path on leaving second-level
education based on their being able to play inter-county,indicated that they would not select the same post second-level career pathway again,more so among players that selected their post-second-level pathway to enable them to play inter-county.

The study highlighted the fact that although their frequency of alcohol consumption was below the general male population both in pre season and off season this was reversed.

The binge drinking brings into question the vexed question re blanket alcohol bans during the playing season.

3 out of 4 of the cohort examined may engage in what is deemed hazardous drinking which is concern in the context of the consequences of alcohol misuse health and society wise.

Gambling is perceived to be common amongst their peers although illicit drug use is low.

It is alarming that many players are sourcing supplements outside the county set up.They may be neither required nor the correct ones.

Only just over 50% of players indicated that their supplement intake was monitored within the county set up.

It is reassuring that almost all players indicated that they saw anti-doping testing and compliance as
important to protecting the integrity of gaelic games in spite of manys dissatisfaction with the information provided about anti-doping testing and
compliance.

Unsurprisingly the study also finds that satisfaction with the way a player’s code (football/hurling)
is treated by their County Board, in terms of access to pitches,meals,gear,etc.,
compared to the other code in their county is lower among teams in the lower
playing levels.This inequality needs to be addressed.

The aspiration of inter county managers for a good balance between their players playing commitments and work/life evidently did not align with the study findings.

Re the issues in relation to the lengthy playing season and travel commitments associated with it Professor Niall Moyna believes collective training could be restricted by up to 40% with little ill effects as one enters in the heat of the championship.He questioned the quality of same.As somebody involved in a successful Dublin set up who he stated train less but train cleverer...

More matches and less training is the plead.It is sad that there appears to be an absence of joy in all such an ultra competitive environment.

In spite of the GPA and increases in advocacy for player welfare there is much room for concern.Players career pathways,earnings potential and promotional prospects must not suffer irrespective of whither they wish to play at inter county level.

There must be a life outside of playing with less likely risky behaviours with shorter playing season.Concerns re burnout and increased risk of injury are the result of excess training and lengthy seasons.

The whole area of supplements IMO is a minefield and player welfare is sacrosanct.Recommendation of supplements by a strength and conditioning coach should be rubber stamped solely by a medical doctor or dietitian/nutritionist.Players should not be taking this decision alone.

Our players at all levels are the association's most precious resource and this excellent study indicates much work needs to be done to optimise player welfare mindful of some of the constraints that are present.