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19th September 2018
10:21am BST

"GAA players can spend up to 31 hours per week on their senior inter-county commitments...Players spent just over six hours per day on these commitments on a pitch-based training day,"And even though the travelling can be a pain, they're enjoying every one of those hours. Indeed, the ESRI research goes a long way to busting the most trodden-out myth in the GAA that the demands have become too much and that professionalism has gone out of control in the GAA.
Most players are revelling in the increased focus and dedication required now.It's all about the connections and the confidence."In spite of the time commitments, very few players cited ‘too demanding’ as their reason for ceasing playing. The research revealed that the vast majority of 2016 players were glad that they made the choice to play senior inter-county," it continued.The pros of being a county player
It's the 18-21-year-olds."The benefits they identified from playing included the opportunities to build leadership skills, self-confidence and professional connections."![]()
The most dedicated bunch
"40 per cent did not have any time off from Gaelic games in 2016. Players aged 18 to 21 had particularly high levels of time commitment because the majority played with four or more teams."
"Players compromised on sleep, with almost half not getting the eight to ten hours recommended for athletes on a pitch-based training day. The injury rate was higher among players getting seven or less hours sleep."
"Players’ mental wellbeing was poorer than that of the general population, especially when compared to those of a similar age. Suboptimal sleep may be contributing to their poorer mental wellbeing."
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