Almost two thirds of student inter-county GAA players are 'overwhelmed' by their commitments

63 per cent of student inter-county GAA players are regularly overwhelmed by their commitments, a survey from the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has found.

The survey of 967 GAA players studying at an academic level found that a majority of them are overwhelmed by balancing study and playing commitments, facing serious financial difficulties and under pressure from inter-county managers in particular.

The report points out that these challenges are only a handful of those faced by "student athletes playing an amateur sport at elite level".

These concerning findings are outlined in the Student First Report: Prioritising the Academic Lives of Student Inter-County Players which was launched by the Gaelic Players Association today.

According to the report, 27 per cent of student players are regularly missing class due to their sporting commitments.

84 per cent had to turn down jobs due to their sporting commitments, and over three in five student players do not feel they have time for part-time work. As a result of this, a third of student players are experiencing "serious financial difficulty".

There is some notable positive progress since the GPA’s last student report published in 2019. A vast majority (86 per cent) say they are satisfied with their chosen course. 23 per cent of male players say they have had to repeat an exam, which is down 12 per cent.

The report’s overriding recommendation is that a rebalancing of the identity of these student athletes is needed, with an emphasis on their academic challenges rather than on their sporting commitments required. The report was authored by Dr. Aoife Lane, Head of Department of Sport and Health Sciences at TUS Midlands and Dr. Fiona McHale, Mayo footballer.

Overall, 35 per cent of the GPA’s male and female members are students.

Commenting on the report findings, co-author Dr. Aoife Lane said that the research “provides an up-to-date picture of the experiences of GPA student members and points to a number of areas which need to be considered by Gaelic games, higher education and players themselves.

"While there are similar challenges for the wider student body and student inter-county players, the latter have additional demands on their time due to playing and training commitments, which ultimately impacts on their academic experience and their ability to have a sustainable part-time job.

GPA CEO Tom Parsons added “what is concerning then is that student members of the GPA are more inclined to see themselves as players first to the detriment of their academic lives which will of course in turn impact on their professional lives in the future.

“What is clear is that there needs to be a redrawing of the balance here to allow students the environment to thrive in their chosen course first and foremost.”