GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 33 – September 4, 2015 | Page 29

All the systems shown on the previous page have a place in
Gaelic games; however the amount that each system contributes varies on position and intensity.

Figure 1 shows in general the contribution of each
energy system during a Gaelic football game.

to use it which involves the heart, lungs, blood circulation
and muscles of the body. Gaelic football has a substantial aerobic endurance component with the games being
2 x 35mins = 70mins. The distance covered in a game by
forwards, midfielders and backs are 8490m, 9137m and
8523m respectively…which is close to 10km in 70 minutes… Approximately 2/3 of this distance is standing still,
walking and jogging at lower intensities, but for the other
1/3 the players are sprinting, turning, jumping, etc. which
is for 20 minutes of the game. Midfielders tend to be the
fitter position with aerobic capacities of approx. 65.8ml/
kg/min; backs and forwards fall behind with their capacity below 60ml/kg/min. If the players are not fit, fatigue
and tiredness affect skill and technical skill.
STRENGTH

BODY FAT
Physical components play a role in Gaelic games physical demands; there are two important variables of body
composition that we can manipulate in a positive way for
success in a game like Gaelic football. Percentage body
fat does not contribute to force production and therefore inhibits speed, quickness and fitness which mean
the lower the better for the player, whilst an increase in
muscle mass will increase force generated and improves
posture, stability and movement. Midfielders tend to be
taller, heavier and leaner than other positions with 14.1%
body fat, than 14.5% and 15% body fat found in forwards
and backs respectively. With an increase in muscle mass
and a lowering of the excess fat players can outrun their
opponents, tackle with strength to move past an opponent, and jumper higher and kick further in a game.

Strength is another component and is the core part of any
effective performance in the modern game, e.g. strength
in the tackle, strength in the air, etc… In the literature
midfielders once again come out on top with strength
over their other positional cou8nterparts, then the backs
as they defend and then the forwards who tend to be
lighter and more ‘nippy’ and agile. Having this strength
is important but being able to perform repeated contractions against submaximal resistance is also important in
Gaelic as the game consists of repeated movements when
passing, kicking, catching, tackling etc… This component
is muscular endurance. Last of the general components
is flexibility, without a good range of motion around a
joint; players