Wexford GAA has taken the initiative on Player Welfare by appointing County and Shelmaliers dual player Brian Malone as Player Welfare Officer for the County.
County Secretary Margaret Doyle said that Wexford GAA would not be found wanting in terms of player well being, a huge issue for players, parents and managers alike, and were happy to adopt this new Croke Park initiative on a pilot basis. Wexford GAA are fortunate she said to have someone the calibre of Brian Malone – hurler, footballer, Club player, County player and teacher to take on the job. `Brian knows what he`s talking about having seen the problems and the pitfalls from all angles` Margaret told the large crowd gathered at Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy on Wednesday 18th Feb for the launch of the new initiative.
Brian went on to say that our young sportsmen and women need to take power into their own hands and be responsible for the food they eat, the training they do and their recovery periods. `Burnout is a myth` he said `over training is the correct term that should be used when players become fatigued and fed up of the sport and part of his remit will be to look at ways to overcome over training. Players he went on to say need to know the difference between being over trained and being fit. He told the young players present that they would be given a new phone App – Smartabase – where U/16 to U/21 players can type in how they feel each day after training and if there are issues that they are reluctant to speak to their Managers about they can phone Brian and he will discuss it with them.
Nutritionist Julie Conran was on hand to give some expert advice on proper diet and food supplements and the benefits of hydration followed by a short presentation on the GAA`s Code of Behaviour by Child Welfare Officer Dermot Howlin.
Maria Nolan artical on word-press