Addressing the physical challenges of the young elite GAA player - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Addressing the physical challenges of the young elite GAA player Marty Loughran Antrim Coaching Conference March 2014

Making Headlines • GAA Injuries: The tipping point • Conor McCarthy, Irish Examiner January 28 th 2012 � • 'Rugby players don't know how they do it' • Marie Crowe, Sunday Independent January 29 th 2012 � • “GAA players pushed beyond breaking point." • Dr Tadhg MacIntyre, Belfast Telegraph February 9 th 2012 � • “Rebel rages that Cork GAA left him with € 7000 medical bill” • Fintan O’Toole, Irish Examiner February 20 th 2012 � • “Cruciate curse crippling GAA” • Irish Examiner February 16 th 2012

Still making headlines…. • “Knee Injuries top list as GAA shell out € 8m in insurance claims” • Irish Independent Feb 2014 • “Please stop this abuse” • Sunday World Jan 2014 • “Are hip injuries just the price we pay for a stronger, faster, more powerful game” • Irish Times Jan 2014 • “Moyna warns of training health risks” • Irish independent Jan 2014

Why are we so injury prone? • Early specialisation • Lack of cross training • Lack of natural strength element to our game • Lack of S and C cultural within our sport • Not enough expertise in our sport/area • Too much Too late!

We are built this way • Kypho-lordotic • Tight hamstrings • Tight groins • Weak core • Weak gluts

We are built this way • Kypho-lordotic • Tight hamstrings • Tight groins • Weak core • Weak gluts

What will this effect? • Recruitment patterns • Overuse injuries • Poor movement patterns • Decreased core strength • Poor running technique • Decreased agility, reactivity • Inefficient functional movement � Decreased Performance

How do we fix this? Make young players stronger and more flexible!! � But when??

When & where to start? Good functional movement is required before strength training Never too early to start addressing poor functional movement

Text Athletic Development Pyramid

Functional Movement Screen. 
 Cook et al 2006. Am J Sp Phy Th 0 Pain during test Scored assessment • of 7 tests: Assessing 1 Unable to mobility, stability assume position for test or and balance. unable to Each test scored as complete test 2 • Completed test with 0-3 compensation Maximum score • 3 Completed 21/21 without • compensation

Videos of good and bad FMS

Results Antrim U 14 Football 12.1 Tyrone U 14 Football 13.5 Antrim U 14 Hurling 13.0 Tyrone U 18 Football 17.46 Antrim U 14 Dual 13.2 Antrim U 17 Football 14.2

You have to start somewhere Tyrone Minor FMS scores 2011 Average 13.35 2012 Average 15.6 2013 Average 17.46

2011-13 • Injury rate per 1000 hours (training & games) • 2011- 6.576 • 2012- 2.724 • 2013- 1.14

Skill Strength Text Movement What we are producing

Components of fitness Flexibility Endurance Strength Speed Agility

The GAA fitness model Flexibility Strength Agility Speed Endurance

Successful Training Overload necessary During heavy training phases athletes may experience short term decrease in their performance With adequate recovery the end result is adaption and improved performance Super-compensation principle

Successful Training Overtraining

County Minor’s Diary Sunday Club Senior Game Monday County U-18 Training Tuesday Club Senior/Minor Training Wednesday Club Minor Game Thursday County U-18 Minor game Friday Club Senior/Minor Training Saturday County U-18 Match/Traiing Sunday Club Senior Match Schools? Other Sports? Dual Players?

Symptoms of Overtraining • Fatigue • Muscle pain(not shaking off DOMS) • Irritable/anxious • Low mood • Unenthusiastic • Decreased weight • Decreased appetite • Decreased sleep (unable to get to sleep/disrupted sleep/ wake feeling unrested/nightmares/vivid dreams) • Repeated infections; colds, sore throat, mouth ulcers DECREASED PERFORMANCE •

Text What else can we do?

GAA Activate http://activategaa.sini.co.uk/training-videos/ �

Activate Live demonstration of phase 2 exercises

Recommendations 1. No more than 4 high intensity sessions per week 2. No player to play more than 38 games per season 3. Avoid high intensity training sessions or large volume of kicking the day before a game 4. Avoidance of long kicking before warm up has been completed 5. Talented young players should have a designated mentor to help them make decisions 6. 2 month off season for all players

What can we do at county level? Medical questionnaires FMS screening Flexibility programmes Running Re-education Long term athletic development programmes Injury prevention warm ups Training load monitoring

What is being done at county level? FMS screening Flexibility programmes Running Re-education Long term athletic development programmes Injury prevention warm ups

What can we do at club level? ATTEND COACHING WORKSHOPS Observe county development squad sessions; S&C sessions and coaching sessions Incorporate injury prevention warm ups into your sessions; Activate, FIFA 11+, GAA 15

What else can we do at club level? Winter circuit training Flexibility programmes Movement breaks in training sessions (5 in 5) Training load monitoring; keep it simple- communicate

Questions?