The positional technical and running performance of sub-elite Gaelic football

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The current research examines the positional technical and running performance of sub-elite Gaelic football match-play and compares technical and running performance between Division 1 and Division 2 teams.

Methods

Sixty eight sub-elite Gaelic football players from two teams were monitored via global positioning system (GPS) microtechnology (GPEXE LT 18 Hz, Exelio, Udine, Italy) and a video camera across 30 competitive matches (n = 336). Comparisons between teams and playing positions were examined for selected technical and running performance variables.

Results

Playing position had large effects on several variables including number of possessions (ES = 0.18), number of shots (ES = 0.45), total m per minute (ES = 0.403), average speed (ES = 0.40), number of power events (ES = 0.3) and recovery time between power events (ES = 0.31). Playing standard had trivial to small effects on all technical performance variables (ES ≤ 0.47) and trivial to small effects (ES ≤ 0.48) on all running performance variables.

Conclusion

The current study demonstrates that there are distinct positional demands in sub-elite Gaelic football. The findings of this research also demonstrate that there is little difference in the technical and running performance of Division 1 and Division 2 sub-elite teams.

KEYWORDS:

• GAA
• GPS
• performance analysis
• activity profile
• amateur sport

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.