Gaelic Football Research Articles

This study analyzes the impact of Gaelic Football on the motivation, participation, and enjoyment of Primary Education students in Physical Education classes, compared to Traditional Football. The research was conducted in a semi-private school in Valladolid, involving students from the final cycle of Primary Education. Two teaching units were designed, each consisting of eight sessions, and a 20-item questionnaire was administered, divided into four dimensions: enjoyment, peer participation, participation towards others, and self-participation. The results showed that in Traditional Football, boys exhibited higher levels of enjoyment and participation in most dimensions. However, in Gaelic Football, gender differences were smaller due to an increase in girls' participation levels. The study concludes that alternative sports, such as Gaelic Football, can help reduce gender inequalities in sports participation, promoting inclusion and enjoyment in Physical Education classes.

Evelyn Hofer’s portrait of Gaelic football players says as much about the setting as it does her subjects. The wide-angle lens on Hofer’s 4 x 5 camera captures four athletes in jewel-toned jerseys and an Ireland in slow transition from colony to nation. Is it too much to think that, 60 years later, something of the reticence captured in this magical picture persists?

ABSTRACT This study explored high-performance team sports coaches’ pedagogical practice in light of Game-Based Approach (GBA) pedagogy. A mixed-methods, longitudinal case study explored two high-performance Gaelic football coaches’ perceptions of their practice through multiple semi-structured and stimulated recall interviews which were supported by systematic observation of practice sessions (n = 52). The coaches’ espoused use of GBA pedagogy strongly aligned with their actual practice incorporating scaffolding principles fundamental to constructivist learning theory. They also displayed a critically reflective rationale for the judicious deviation from highly representative playing form activity considering the needs of the players and the specificities of their context. This study reinforces the importance of critical, adaptable, and context-driven coaching practices that bridge the gap between pedagogical models and real-world applications. Coach developers should facilitate collaborative in-situ support to assist coaches’ critical reflection on the application of GBAs to their specific contexts.

Previous research shows that injuries are prevalent in ladies Gaelic football. However, little is known about how these injuries occur (ie, the mechanism of injury). In addition, there are limited data on injuries sustained during elite-level matches. Concussions are also a key concern, yet research has examined solely self-reported suspected concussions, and it remains unclear how potential concussions are identified and managed during matches. To establish the incidence, characteristics, and management of suspected injuries and concussions in elite ladies Gaelic football matches. Cross-sectional video analysis study. Level 3. A video coding framework was developed based on similar published studies and validated by 5 Gaelic football-specific raters. One research assistant coded all matches from the 2022 season, and an experienced referee also reviewed foul play events. There were 829 suspected injuries (suspected injury rate [IR], 229.0 per 1000 hours; 95% CI, 214.0-245.2; 6.9 suspected injuries per match) and 162 suspected concussions (IR, 44.8 per 1000 hours; 95% CI, 38.4-52.2; 1.4 per match) recorded in 120 matches. Most suspected injuries received onfield medical attention (84.0%); however, just 13.6% of suspected concussions were removed from play. The tackle accounted for the most suspected injuries (40.2%), player-to-player contact (68.2%) was the most common mechanism, and the head/neck (38.1%) was the body location injured most frequently. Foul play concerned 53.2% of suspected injuries, with 76.7% of fouls concerning the tackle. The nonremoval of suspected concussions and the frequency of tackle-related suspected injuries and foul play warrants attention. Developing and implementing injury prevention programs, concussion management strategies, and education for all knowledge users may contribute to a safer playing environment.

Bolger, L, Mooney, R, and Griffin, A. The acute effects of hill sprinting on acceleration kinematics of sub-elite GAA players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2025-Resisted sprint training (RST) is an effective method to improve early acceleration (EA) among team sport athletes (TSA). Uphill sprinting (UH), as a mode of RST for improving EA, has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of UH on EA kinematics and compare with EA on a flat surface. Twenty-two subelite Gaelic football and hurling players (age: 20.2 ± 1.16 years; height: 181.1 ± 6.20 cm; body mass: 76.6 ± 8.51 kg) performed 10 m sprints on 3 inclines: 0°, 5°, and 8°. Sprint times were recorded using VALD SmartSpeed timing gates, and kinematics (step length [SL], step frequency [SF], step velocity [SV], ground contact time [GCT], and flight times [FT]) were recorded using the OptoJump Next system. Differences in kinematics across the inclines were investigated using a repeated-measures analysis of variance, with Bonferroni post hoc comparisons used to identify where differences existed. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. The results indicated significant decreases in SV, SL, SF, and FT, and increases in GCT and sprint times during UH relative to the 0° incline (p < 0.05; large ES for all). The magnitude of change in all kinematics increased with slope, with significant alterations to SL, SV, and sprint times observed (p < 0.05; large ES for all). Kinematics observed during UH seem optimal to facilitate greater force production during ground contacts, consequently increasing SL and improving unresisted EA. The findings suggest that UH has the potential as a form of RST to improve EA among TSA, such as GAA players.

This study assessed the anthropometry and physical conditioning attributes of young male inter-county (national level) Gaelic football players, comparing possible differences according to age categories (under-14 [U14] to under-21 [U21]) and position. In total, 3547 assessments were undertaken in 2588 players across a 10-year period (2013 to 2023). Assessments included anthropometry (stature, body mass, sum of 3 skinfolds), flexibility (sit and reach test), muscular power (countermovement jump and standing long jump), running speed (5-m and 20-m), muscular endurance (maximum push ups) and aerobic capacity (yo-yo intermittent recovery test level 1 [YYIRT1]). Increases were demonstrated when comparing age categories from U14 to U21 for anthropometry (e.g., height [cm] +5.7%), muscular power (e.g., Standing long jump [cm] +16.1%). running speed (e.g., 5 m speed [s] -4.8% from U14 to U20), running momentum (e.g., 20 m momentum [kg.ms-1] +41.5% from U14 to U20), muscular endurance (push-ups [n] +107.7%), flexibility (sit and reach [cm] +36.0%) and aerobic capacity (YYIRT1 [m] +42.3%). When comparing positions, goalkeepers and midfielders were taller and heavier than backs and forwards, respectively. Additionally, midfielders displayed superior aerobic conditioning when compared with other positions, while goalkeepers displayed significantly lower aerobic conditioning. These findings offer comparative data of young Gaelic football players from varying age categories (U14 to U21) which are further classified according to positions. Practitioners may utilize this data to inform player identification processes, characterize position-specific benchmarks and monitor physiological adaptations in young players.

ObjectivesThis study investigates athlete support personnel’s (ASP) perspectives on injury reporting among elite ladies’ Gaelic football and camogie players. ASP refers to individuals in coaching, management, and allied health and performance related practice.MethodsA mixed-methods design was employed, comprising an online survey and follow-up interviews. Forty-two ASP, currently or recently (within two years) involved in elite ladies’ Gaelic games, completed the survey. Eighteen ASP subsequently participated in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative survey data were analysed using frequency analysis, while interview transcripts were subjected to framework analysis.ResultsA significant proportion of ASP (43%, n = 18) believe that players do not report all injuries. Most respondents (95%, n = 40) agreed that players often avoid reporting injuries to prevent losing playing time, while 95% (n = 40) cited player fear of being side-lined as a key factor. Furthermore, 93% (n = 39) agreed that players are more likely to report injuries when immediate access to medical personnel, such as team doctors or physiotherapists, is available. Notably, 66% (n = 28) disagreed with the perception that managers view players as weak for reporting injuries, while 19% (n = 8) agreed with this notion. Qualitative findings corroborated these results and identified three overarching themes influencing injury reporting: player factors, system-driven influences, and environmental conditions. Individual factors included a competitive environment that prioritised maintaining team position over health, with experienced players exhibiting greater confidence in reporting injuries compared to younger players, who often perceived management as hierarchical and less approachable. Immediate, consistent access to physiotherapists and other medical professionals was highlighted as a critical enabler of injury reporting. Trust in ASP, built through visible involvement and positive relationships, emerged as a key determinant. Additionally, a supportive team culture that prioritises player well-being alongside performance outcomes was identified as essential for encouraging open injury reporting.ConclusionInjury underreporting is a significant issue among elite ladies’ Gaelic games players, driven by personal, system-level, and environmental factors. Of critical importance for teams and organisations is to provide education for players and ASP on the importance and value of injury reporting to support early and appropriate intervention. Concurrently providing improved medical access will help to foster stronger, trust-based relationships between players and ASP, considered crucial for improving injury reporting practices.

Background:The Gaelic games, specifically Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie, are high-intensity, level 1 field sports. However, there is a lack of data regarding the outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in Gaelic games players.Purpose:To evaluate the rates of return to play (RTP), ACL graft reinjury, contralateral ACL injury, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) in a cohort of Gaelic footballers and hurling/camogie players at 2 years after ACLR.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.Methods:A consecutive cohort of 1891 Gaelic games players who underwent primary ACLR between 2014 and 2018 was included. Patients were contacted at 2 years postoperatively with an overall follow-up rate of 93.4%. The rate of RTP, subsequent ACL injury, and PROMS were recorded. The PROMS evaluated were the Marx score, the ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI), and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score.Results:The mean age was 23 ± 6 years, and 73.3% of athletes were male. RTP rates were 87.8% for Gaelic football and 89.5% for hurling/camogie, with 72.7% and 76.3% of athletes returning to an equivalent or higher level of performance, respectively. Female Gaelic footballers had a slightly lower RTP rate than males (83.8% vs 89.1%; P < .016). The mean time to RTP was 10.8 ± 4 months. The rate of bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft reinjury was 3.3% (51/1547) versus 15.3% (33/216) for hamstring (HT) autografts (P < .001). Senior intercounty (elite) players had the lowest rate of contralateral ACL injury (8.1%, 14/173). Gaelic footballers and hurling/camogie players reported good outcomes with mean IKDC scores of 86.9 ± 9.8 versus 87.9 ± 8.9, (P = .064), mean Marx scores of 11 ± 4.7 versus 11.3 ± 4.6 (P = .309), and mean ACL-RSI scores of 74.1 ± 23.5 versus 75.8 ± 24.2 (P = .321), respectively.Conclusion:RTP rates among Gaelic games players were high, with the majority returning to an equivalent/higher level of performance. The rate of BPTB graft reinjury was low, considering the injury risk associated with returning to level 1 sport. Younger patients and those who underwent HT autograft reconstruction were at the highest risk of ACL graft reinjury. Overall, Gaelic games players reported good knee function and outcomes after ACLR.

Low energy availability (LEA), a feature of the female athlete triad (menstrual dysfunction, LEA and decreased bone mineral density), arises when insufficient calories are consumed to support energy expenditure potentially resulting in reproductive, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, bone health and sports performance compromise. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and awareness of LEA using the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) in female GAA athletes. Adult female GAA club teams in Ireland were invited to participate in this cross-sectional cohort study. A total of 16 clubs participated in an online survey, which captured LEAF-Q and demographic data. Data was available for 122 athletes; 77 (63%) played Gaelic Football alone, 23 (19%) played Camogie alone and 22 (18%) played both. The median age was 22 years (IQR = 9), mean BMI was 24.55 kg/m2 (± 4.94), and mean training duration 5.14 h/week (± 2.67). Forty-seven (38.5%) participants had a LEAF-Q score of ≥ 8 indicating risk of LEA. Younger age and participation in other sports were associated with increased risk of LEA. Forty-two women (34.4%) reported a change in menstruation during intervals of increased exercise intensity. Awareness of LEA and access to multidisciplinary supports were low. The prevalence of increased LEA risk is high in female GAA athletes with poor knowledge of this consequence, emphasising the importance of education, access to resources and prevention and early detection to ensure safe participation for women in these sports.

This study aimed to (1)determine if differences exist in female team-sport maximum sprinting speed (MSS) using sprint distances of 30 and 40m and split times over 5- and 10-m intervals, (2)determine the intertrial reliability of MSS using each measurement method, and (3)examine the association between sprint acceleration distance and MSS. Elite and subelite female Gaelic football players (N = 62) performed 40-m sprints with dual-beam timing gates placed every 5m. Four measurement methods were used to determine MSS: 5-m split times over a 40-m sprint distance, 5-m splits over 30m, 10-m split times over 40m, and 10-m splits over 30m. A repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant differences (P < .001) in MSS-derived differences from the different measurement methods with a ηp2 of .494 (large effect). MSS was significantly different between all methods (mean differences: 0.02-0.08m·s-1; Cohen dz: 0.49-1.25). The greatest mean MSS was achieved using 5-m splits over 40m. All MSS measurement methods had high relative and absolute reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: .97-.98; coefficient of variations: 1.0%-1.2%; standard error of measurement: 0.07-0.08m·s-1). There was a significant moderate positive correlation (ρ = .41) between MSS and acceleration distance. The highest estimate of MSS was found using 5-m splits over 40m. All measurement methods displayed high reliability; we recommend the use of 5-m splits over ∼30m when assessing MSS in female team-sport athletes with timing gates.

The processes underpinning half-time (HT) breaks in elite sport and their impact are an aspect of performance that has been under-researched in coaching literature. This study examines how players experience and interpret the HT interval in elite team sport. Specifically, it explored the perceptions and experiences of successful elite Gaelic Football players during HT. A qualitative design was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews with elite male Gaelic football players ( N = 14) who had won the highest accolade in the sport. Interview recordings for each participant (M duration = 71 min) were transcribed verbatim, and reflexive thematic analysis identified three higher-order themes. First, navigating poor HT standards to meet player needs. Players described HT talks as mundane, repetitive, and a missed opportunity to enhance second-half performance. Participants noted insufficient time for recovery and excessive tactical details, interspersed with coaches’ emotional outbursts, which led to player disengagement. Second, players experiencing harmful feedback and player coping strategies. Participants highlighted the negative psychological impact of harsh feedback, citing diminished confidence and self-esteem, as well as potential trauma after recalled instances of humiliation. While some players used these HT coach criticisms as a motivator to increase second half performance, most preferred constructive, solution-focused communication. Finally, optimising HT communication. Players emphasised the importance of a calm and tactically focused environment supported by visual aids that incorporated storytelling when the specific HT situation required inspiration. The findings highlight elite team sport players’ desire for more structured HT communication, higher player involvement, and an appropriate balance to tactical and motivational elements that enhance message clarity and talk impact, respectively. Thus, the above experiences regarding HT talks can serve coaches to understand players’ preferences albeit these might not necessarily match players’ needs during HT.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the prevalence of hormonal contraceptive (HC) use and perceived side-effects, menstrual cycle (MC)-related symptoms and perceived influences on performance, and pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) screening items among female athletes in ladies Gaelic football and camogie. An anonymous online survey was completed by 455 athletes currently competing in these sports in Ireland. Participants provided information on demographics, sport participation, MC characteristics, HC use, perceived symptomatology, and PFD screening items. In this cohort, 51.7% of respondents were current HC users, with the oral contraceptive pill being the most commonly reported HC type (69.2%). Among HC users, 62.0% self-reported negative side effects with fatigue (37.2%) and mood changes (35.0%) the most prevalent. Of the non-HC users, 97.7% self-reported MC-related symptoms, with abdominal cramping (84.0%) and fatigue (82.2%) being the most prevalent. Pelvic floor dysfunction-related symptoms were also common, with urinary urgency (47.8%), genital pain (44.3%) the most experienced. These findings demonstrate a notable prevalence of HC use, MC-related symptoms, and PFD symptoms in this population. This study may provide a rationale for increased education and support for female athletes, coaches, and volunteers in Gaelic games regarding these health issues, as well as the development of individualised strategies for managing symptoms. Future research should focus on PFD in Gaelic Games athletes, incorporating objective measures and exploring interventions to mitigate these issues.

Objectives In Ladies Gaelic football (LGF) there are 5.90 injury claims per 1000 adolescents per year. Injuries to adolescent players can negatively affect well-being, cause drop-out, and lead to the development of chronic conditions later in life. Evidence suggests injury prevention (IP) programmes designed for Gaelic games can reduce injury incidence, however, these programmes are not yet widely adopted. The aims of this study were to (1) determine the barriers and facilitators to IP strategy success in adolescent LGF and (2) identify adolescent LGF players’ preferences for IP strategies and educational interventions. Materials and methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 current adolescent LGF players (aged 14–17). The interviews were transcribed and reflexive thematic analysis was completed. This analysis involved gradually developing sub-themes, themes, and categories around the main concepts discussed in the interviews. Four players compete at both club and county level, and eight players compete at club level only. Results The main barriers to strategy success were negative stakeholder attitudes and issues with accessibility, knowledge, and unsuitable IP strategy characteristics. Players believed an appropriate IP strategy paired with promotional activities, support, strong leadership, improved education, and open communication would facilitate adoption. Players preferred an accessible, sport-specific IP programme containing flexibility, strength, and conditioning exercises. They felt this should be accompanied by guidance in several areas, particularly, load management, plus support from the governing body, clubs, and coaches. Players wanted IP education for players, coaches, and parents that focuses on injury prevention techniques, injury, and general health advice. They believed education would best be delivered in-person by educated coaches, players, or health and fitness professionals and supported by online resources. Conclusions Reducing injury incidence and burden in the community sport of LGF is important. If the success of future IP strategies is to be maximized, the barriers and facilitators highlighted by adolescent players need to be addressed. Additionally, IP programmes and educational interventions designed to fit the preferences of stakeholders must be released and backed by governing bodies to support long-term adoption.

Abstract The current study aimed to examine and compare the impact of a high-intensity interval training intervention during the off-season period to a non-exercising control in sub-elite (club level/Tier 2: Trained/Developmental) male Gaelic football players. Twenty-two players from one sub-elite team underwent anthropometric (body mass, sum of seven skinfolds) and performance (right-hand grip strength, countermovement jump (CMJ), static jump (SJ), sprint tests, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2 (Yo-YoIRT2), repeated sprint ability (RSA) and 1-km time trial (TT)) assessments at two time points (pre- and post-intervention). Players were assigned to a control (detraining) group or an intervention (running) group. There was a significant interaction for the multivariate main effect between time and group (F (12, 8) = 6.849; p = 0.005; pƞ2 = 0.911). A significant interaction was observed for Yo-YoIRT2 (F (1, 19) = 15.761; p ≤ 0.001; pƞ2 = 0.453), RSA average (F (1, 19) = 39.199; p ≤ 0.001; pƞ2 = 0.674) and TT (F (1, 19) = 29.356; p ≤ 0.001; pƞ2 = 0.607), with a marginal interaction observed for both 10-m sprint time (F (1, 19) = 6.863; p = 0.017; pƞ2 = 0.265) and RSA decrement (F (1, 19) = 6.54; p = 0.019; pƞ2 = 0.256). There was no significant interaction for body mass, the sum of seven skinfolds, right-hand grip strength, CMJ, SJ, 5-m sprint time and 20-m sprint time (p &gt; 0.05). The data obtained highlight the negative impact detraining may have on physical performance within Gaelic football and suggest that the inclusion of a moderate, off-season high-intensity interval training can limit many of the physiological declines. The findings may aid coaches in developing training regimes to better manage the off-season period while preparing players for the upcoming pre-season.

Concussions are frequent in Gaelic games and risky behaviours following a concussion are common. With the imminent integration of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Camogie Association, the development of a standardised concussion education initiative for all Gaelic games members is warranted. Thus, we aimed to develop a standardised concussion education workshop and evaluate if it improves concussion knowledge and attitudes in the Gaelic games community. A once-off concussion education workshop was developed in collaboration with the Gaelic games governing bodies and was delivered to 95 participants. Participants completed a survey (demographics, ROCKaS and the Perceptions of Concussion Inventory for Athletes [PCI-A]) pre-workshop and 1-month post-workshop (n = 55). Wilcoxon signed rank tests examined the differences pre- and 1-month post-workshop. One-month post-workshop, most participants strongly agreed/agreed that they can recognise concussion signs and symptoms (98.2%), know what to do in the event of a potential concussion (98.2%) and understand return to play guidelines (96.3%). Concussion knowledge (r = 0.34, p < 0.001), clarity (r = 0.45, p < 0.001) and control (r = 0.25, p = 0.01) significantly improved following the workshop. While concussion attitudes improved, the difference was not significant. No significant differences in anxiety, effects, treatment and symptom variability were noted from the PCI-A. A once-off time-efficient standardised concussion education workshop can enhance participants’ concussion knowledge, clarity of concussion and beliefs of how much control they have over the outcomes of a concussion. A national rollout of the standardised concussion education workshop across the Gaelic games community, implemented as part of a wider concussion initiative, is recommended.

IntroductionAthlete performance monitoring is effective for optimizing training strategies and preventing injuries. However, applying machine learning (ML) frameworks to this domain remains challenging due to data scarcity limitations. This study extends previous research by evaluating Tabular Variational Autoencoders (TVAE) for generating synthetic data to predict performance attenuation in Gaelic football athletes.MethodsThis study assesses synthetic data quality through a comprehensive evaluation framework combining column shape similarity metrics and Hellinger distance analysis, quantifying distributional fidelity across individual variables. Our ML implementation follows a two-phase approach. In the first phase, we evaluated models trained on hybrid datasets with varying synthetic proportions (10%–100%). In the second phase, we examined models trained exclusively on synthetic data and tested them on real data to analyze the utility of the synthetic data.ResultsOur results demonstrate that TVAE-generated synthetic data closely replicates original distribution patterns, achieving 85.53% column shape similarity and a Hellinger distance of 0.169. Models trained with additional synthetic data or exclusively on synthetic data outperformed real-data baselines across multiple metrics, particularly for neuromuscular parameters. Our findings emphasize that this approach increased data availability and improved model performance in specific scenarios.DiscussionSeveral limitations remain: (1) there is limited framework transferability to sports with different physiological demands; (2) the Synthetic Data Generation (SDG) does not currently enforce feature constraints, and future implementations must ensure the procedure respects domain-specific feature limits; and (3) TVAE faced data fidelity challenges with certain variables, such as VO2max. These findings demonstrate the utility of synthetic data for predicting performance attenuation in Gaelic Football athletes. They address the challenge of data scarcity and highlight how synthetic data can be effectively integrated across physiological, neuromuscular, and perceptual metrics in athlete monitoring. This opens new possibilities for exploring similar classification tasks in sports performance analysis.

This study investigated coaching practices in female Gaelic football in Ireland, with specific emphasis on coaches’ perception of the role of strength and speed training on performance. A questionnaire comprising of five sections (i.e., coaching demographic, strength and speed training, programming, strength and speed testing, and menstrual cycle) was developed and subsequently circulated to female Gaelic football clubs (i.e., senior, intermediate, junior level, and age specific categories) and all 32 county boards in Ireland. Sixty-six coaches completed the survey (43 ± 10 years). Seventy-nine percent of coaches reported including strength and speed training as part of their programming. Additionally, 79% and 90% of coaches indicated that they strongly agree that strength and speed training can positively influence match-play performance, respectively. In the context of programming for strength qualities, practitioners primarily orientated towards the development of strength endurance. Free sprinting was the most popular ‘specific’ method of speed development. Additionally, strength training was a popular ‘general’ method of enhancing speed, with 95% of coaches reporting that they believe strength training has a positive effect on overall sprint performance. Strength and speed testing was implemented by approximately half of the surveyed coaches. Fifty-nine percent of coaches surveyed reported that they do not take the menstrual cycle into consideration when programming for their players. Overall, this study highlights some theory-practice gaps, particularly in relation to the programming of strength qualities and knowledge surrounding the impact of the menstrual cycle in performance. Consequently, coaches should interpret this practice-based information with caution when prescribing strength and speed training with their athletes.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the impact of a Game-Based Approach (GBA) intervention on practice session characteristics, player performance outcomes, and perceptions within Gaelic football. Employing a mixed-methods multiple baseline design, two squads (Under 14 and Under 15) from a Gaelic football academy underwent the intervention, one after 4 weeks and the other after 9 weeks of baseline. Framed by Complex Learning Theory (CLT), the intervention comprised systematic observations of coaching sessions, quantitative assessment of skill execution and decision-making in assessment games, and qualitative interviews and focus groups with players. The GBA intervention positively influenced practice session characteristics, promoting playing form and non-linear sequencing of activities. The evaluation of players’ game performance showed significant improvement across all decision-making variables for both squads. In skill execution, there was limited support, with improvements observed only in the Under 14 squad. Systematic tracking of practice activity sequencing, supported by player data, revealed players’ awareness of purposeful organization, with the explicit connection between tasks fostering knowledge development and reflection, potentially enhancing decision-making. While players appreciated conditioned games and the tactical curriculum, they were less receptive to the player-centered strategy of “player huddles.” The comprehensive data collection approach of this study fills gaps in sports coaching research, offering insights into the design and efficacy of GBA interventions. GBA interventions are suggested to enhance player performance and session quality, providing guidance for coaches in optimizing training methodologies. Integration of GBA pedagogy with CLT offers a promising framework for coaches seeking tangible changes in their practice.

Over the past decade, participation in female team sports has increased significantly, leading to greater interest in monitoring their training and competition load using wearable technology. Despite this, there is currently no systematic review or meta-analysis that has specifically focused on quantifying and comparing high-speed running (HSR) and sprinting thresholds in female team sports. This systematic review aimed (1) to summarize and describe the evidence on absolute speed thresholds used to classify HSR and sprinting in female team sports and (2) to compare HSR and sprinting thresholds between female team sports. A total of 82 studies were included, encompassing a range of female team sports such as Australian football, basketball, field hockey, soccer, Gaelic football, handball, lacrosse, and different codes of rugby (league, sevens, and union). This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. This review found that to date, there is no consensus on defining high-speed and sprint running thresholds in female team sports, showing considerable variability in the thresholds used to define HSR (ranging from 11.1 to 21.6 km·h⁻1) and sprinting (from 15.0 to 30.0 km·h⁻1). Our results showed that the mean velocity for the HSR threshold was 16 km·h⁻1, although the most frequently used velocity was 18.0 km·h⁻1. In relation to the sprint threshold, the mean and the mode were similar: 21 km·h⁻1 and 20.0 km·h⁻1, respectively. The lack of standardized thresholds highlights the need for personalized approaches when monitoring training loads in female athletes. Despite apparent variability, these findings provide valuable insights for practitioners in designing evidence-based training programs aimed at optimizing high-speed exposure in female team sports. Further research is needed to establish sport-specific and standardized velocity thresholds for women’s team sports.

Dental injuries contribute to 57% of reported maxillofacial injuries in Gaelic Football, with associated psychological and economic impacts on the affected athletes. Mouthguards have been developed in efforts to mitigate the incidence and severity of dental injuries, and use is mandatory in Gaelic Football. Dental claims have reduced by over 50% since mouthguards became mandatory, but costs of dental injuries are still prevalent. The aim of this study was to determine the mouthguard compliance rates in adult Gaelic Football players, as well as the motivations and barriers to compliance. This cross-sectional study utilised an online survey to determine the self-reported compliance of adult Gaelic Footballers with mouthguard use, the perceived peer compliance, and the motivations and barriers to compliance. Chi-square tests were used to examine differences between sex and between elite and sub-elite players. A total of 545 Gaelic Footballers completed the survey. During training, 22% of players reported to always wear a mouthguard, with 48% never wearing it, and 30% occasionally wearing it. For games, 48% of players reported to wear a mouthguard, with 11% never wearing it and 41% occasionally wearing it. Motivating factors included teeth protection, gum protection and the rules of the game. The main barriers were discomfort, difficulty breathing and difficulty speaking. Females had significantly poorer compliance in training, but had significantly better compliance in games when compared to males. Mouthguard compliance is relatively poor amongst adult Gaelic Football players. Although compliance improves for games compared to training, there are still 1 in 2 players not wearing a mouthguard for games. Discomfort and challenges with breathing and speaking suggest that players may benefit from having a custom-fit mouthguard. Coaches, refereeing officials and governing bodies should strive to implement the rules more often and improve education around the benefits of mouthguard use within the sport.