In early October, the Gaelic Games Performance Analysis Guide for Good Practice was launched in Croke Park to a very receptive GAA community. This guide is first of its kind and as such, will be a vital resource for all who participate in Gaelic games. South East Technological University (SETU) Carlow has long been recognised for its postgraduate programme; Master of Science in Performance Analysis so it is no surprise to see that five of the eight-person Performance Analysis Working Group have ties to SETU.
The SETU connections include Johnny Bradley, Programme Director for Master of Science in Performance Analysis, Colm Clear, lecturer and three SETU graduates; Louise Byrne; Emma Byrne and Kevin McGuigan. The working group led by Dr Denise Martin, Lecturer in Sports Performance Analysis at TU Dublin BN also included Niall Collins, Performance Analyst for Cork GAA, Brian McDonnell, Data Analyst and Alan Swanton, Sports Performance Analyst at Irish Institute of Sport.
With 250 accredited performance analysts in the GAA, the group felt that there was a need to explain what a performance analyst is and how they can help players, coaches and county officials to make better decisions. The six areas where an analyst can offer support are clearly outlined in the guide.
Johnny Bradley, Programme Director for Master of Science in Performance Analysis was enthusiastic in his support for the project, “This is a landmark moment for performance analysis in the GAA. It was a great privilege to be part of this innovative sub-group led by Dr Denise Martin. This resource was created by analysts for analysts to educate coaches, players, and club/county officials to use performance analysis effectively at different levels of the GAA. It was brilliant that current SETU staff and past graduates contributed to the guide for practice and its publication. At SETU, we are incredibly proud to provide the only MSc in Sports Performance Analysis in Ireland. Over the years, many of our graduates now provide performance analysis support to teams competing at the highest level in GAA”.
The strong GAA culture in SETU makes the relationship a natural one, SETU actively supports the GAA in seeking excellence and encouraging its players. This new Gaelic Games Performance Analysis Guide for Good Practice allows teams to refine their skills by providing support and guidance tailored to their team’s specific needs. Clearly written out to benefit the reader, the guide highlights what to expect from an analyst and also what is deemed appropriate or not with recommendations. This document is the first of its kind and will help pave the way for the continued future success of the GAA.
The Gaelic Games Performance Analysis Guide for Good Practice can be downloaded for free Here