The Medical Welfare Committee of the GAA recommends that in the context of cardiac screening all the participants over the age of 14 should complete a cardiac screening questionnaire. The questionnaire can be downloaded from the link below.
Medical Welfare
Concussion in Gaelic Games
1. What is a Concussion? A concussion is the most common form of head injury suffered by players. Concussion can be caused by a direct or indirect hit to the head or body. This causes a change in brain function which results in a variety of symptoms and signs outlined below. With a concussion there are typically no structural brain changes, meaning imaging studies such as CT or MRI scan appear normal.
2. Mechanism of Injury
When a player suffers a concussion injury, the brain suddenly shifts, shakes or rotates inside the skull and can knock against the skull`s bony surface. In the minutes to days following a concussion, brain cells remain in a vulnerable state. Brain function is temporarily impaired and therefore the athlete is at risk of further injury if not removed from play. Further injuries sustained by players who are suffering from concussion can be very serious and can cause long term damage, this has been called the "Second Impact Syndrome".
Playing, celebrating and drinking
The social side of Gaelic Games is very important and celebrating with team members after a match is a tradition in some clubs. However, if your celebrations involve drinking alcohol and especially if you drink to the point where you get drunk, this can seriously affect your fitness. If you take your sport seriously, and like to do the best you can for yourself and your team, it`s worth knowing the facts and what you can do to reduce your risk of poor performance.
Burnout - Know your Limits
What is Burn-Out?
Burn-Out occurs where people who have previously been highly committed to a sport lose interest and motivation. Typically it will occur in hard working, hard training, hard driven people, who become emotionally, psychologically or physically exhausted.
Boost Your Immune System to Beat Winter Colds/Flu
As the weather becomes cooler and the cold and flu season peaks, it is important to look after yourself. Gaelic Football players may be fit, but this does not provide protection against picking up bugs. In fact, athletes are often at a higher risk of developing colds and upper respiratory tract infections. It has been found that the combination of large volumes of training and extremely low body fat levels can increase the tendency to pick up a cold.