Burn out of young players and lip service to player welfare

I am writing this blog as a young Gaelic footballer. I was born into a family that eat, sleep and drink the sport. My Father and uncles represented Clare at adult level and I am currently following in their footsteps. However, Things have changed drastically in the meantime and the role of a county footballer no longer involves turning up to training two or three nights a week. It involves five training sessions a week along with a recovery session. This training load makes players stronger, fitter, faster and more powerful. It can’t be denied though that this is coming at a severe cost. Every few weeks we hear of young players as young as fifteen undergoing surgery. The G.A.A high powers are implementing rules to deal with the issue but talk is cheap and the issue of burnout is growing rapidly. Students in college who represent there county are being asked to play two games a week while also training five nights a week. It is physically impossible and our bodies are unable to cope with the demands expected of us. The seasons are practically never ending. You begin playing with the college in September. In November, the county pre-season starts up. Your club will begin training in February and can run right through to October. With teams demanding a certain level of commitment, it is next to impossible to go through a season without picking up knocks, muscular or serious injuries. Not to mention the impact it has on the lives of young people. How do you make and maintain friendships while having to train every evening after a day of study and work. Where does one get time for family, friends and other hobbies?  What impact will this have on our bodies in later life? How does one maintain a desire to perform each day he or she goes out? As aforementioned burnout leads to serious injury, mental stress and ultimately people leaving the sport they once loved. This is not sustainable and the high powers need to stop talking about it and take action. Fixtures are becoming more and more clumped and the demands are becoming higher and higher. Unless serious and radical action is taken from the people at the very top you would have to wonder when and where this will all stop!