Major step forward for GAA
GAA STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING At the launch of the G.A.A. strength and conditioning fitness programme in Ferrycarrig Hotel on Wednesday last were (from left): Dr. David Ryan (Institute Of Technology Carlow), Mick Kinsella (Coaching Games Manager),...
Wednesday February 24 2010
INSTITUTE OF Technology Carlow, in collaboration with Wexford G.A.A., have launched a Strength and Conditioning DVD and booklet of conditioning programmes.
Paul Byrne, Strength and Conditioning Specialist at Institute of Technology Carlow, and Paul Carty from Wexford G.A.A., who is also an I.T. Carlow graduate of the Honours Degree in Sports Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy, worked together to produce two DVDs.
The DVDs focus on body resistance exercises such as squats and press-ups and a combination of body resistance and weight training exercises. The booklet was designed to implement the exercises through conditioning programmes designed for specific periods of the season.
The instructional DVDs and the booklet of conditioning programmes is a major step forward for Wexford G.A.A. in the pursuit of success. According to Paul Carty, the original idea behind the project was to have a conditioning plan for all county teams starting at Under-14 straight through to Senior level. The conditioning is progressive so that the Under-14s and -15s will use their own body weight as resistance while the Under-16s to Minors will start specialised weight-training programmes.
Paul Byrne said it is expected that these programmes will enhance performance while decreasing the rate of injury in players. This is a step forward in terms of collaborative work in the application of sport science to improve and enhance players' physical conditioning.
The Institute of Technology Carlow offers a higher national certificate in Physiology and Health Science as well as honours degree programmes in Sport Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy and Sport Science. Part of these programmes aim to teach students how to instruct people in correct resistance training techniques and in the ability to design suitable programmes.
Dr. David Ryan, Head of the Department of Science and Health at I.T. Carlow, said: 'We are delighted to have worked so closely with Wexford G.A.A. and are particularly pleased that one of our own graduate students, Paul Carty, initiated this project. I would also like to thank both Paul Byrne and Maura Bolger from I.T. Carlow for their hard work on this excellent publication and look forward to working with other sporting organisations throughout Leinster in the whole area of improving performance through fitness training, strength and conditioning programmes.
For more information, Paul Byrne can be contacted on 05991-75571 or e-mail paul.byrne@itcarlow.ie
