This afternoon.

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) has published the latest insights into the lives of over a third of its members, who are third-level students.

To wit:

35% had to repeat a college exam; 11% had to repeat an entire academic year
65% feel their training load negatively affects their academic performance
54% don’t receive supports from their college if they are under pressure
48% felt more like an inter-county player than a student trying to earn a degree.

35% had to repeat a college exam; 11% had to repeat an entire academic year
65% feel their training load negatively affects their academic performance
54% don’t receive supports from their college if they are under pressure
48% felt more like an inter-county player than a student trying to earn a degree.

83% are playing with at least three teams
81% take part in social activities less than most other people their age
70% travel home for training 3 or more times per week
48% felt confident to talk to their county manager about a reduced training load.

78% report feeling stressed at least once a month (up 24%)
73% would like to spend more time with family and friends (up 12%)
69% travel from college to training at least three times a week (up 17%)
69% would like more time to devote to their studies (up 13%)

Gulp.

Via GPA:

63% of the GPA’s student-members are 21 – 24 years of age and 93% are full-time students, and all of them face the specific challenge of managing the demands of being an inter-county player alongside their academic commitments and personal lives.

The GPA Student Report 2019 highlights the challenges experienced by GPA student-members, some of which were also highlighted in the most recent ESRI study published in 2018 on the demands on all senior, inter-county players. This report also provides actionable GPA recommendations to help student-members achieve better-balanced lifestyles so they can thrive on and off the field….

Gaelic Players Association

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3 thoughts on “Balls in The Air

  1. Termagant

    SO it turns out if you do extra curricular activities it leaves less time for study, and if you don’t study you don’t pass exams no matter how kick ball you are

    I don’t understand what the purpose here is

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