Despite generally positive attitudes towards injury prevention, awareness and implementation of formal IPEPs among Gaelic games coaches remain limited, highlighting the need for targeted coach education and improved dissemination strategies.
Key Findings
Results
The majority of Gaelic games coaches reported using some form of injury prevention exercise programme, but fewer were aware of formal IPEPs.
59.5% (n=165) of coaches reported using any form of an IPEP, including modified or self-developed programmes
Only 44.1% of coaches (n=130) were aware of formal IPEPs
Sample consisted of 342 adult Gaelic games coaches who completed an anonymous online survey
The gap between use and formal awareness suggests many coaches were using self-developed or modified programmes rather than validated formal IPEPs
Results
IPEP use was statistically significantly higher among elite coaches compared to non-elite coaches.
Elite coaches showed higher use than non-elite coaches (p < 0.01, phi = 0.16)
The effect size (phi = 0.16) indicates a small but statistically significant difference
A chi-squared test was used to assess differences in awareness and use of IPEPs between groups
No significant differences in IPEP use were observed by coach gender, team gender, or coaching education level
Results
Many coaches developed their own IPEP or altered an existing IPEP, particularly those coaching female teams.
Coaches coaching female athletes were particularly likely to develop or modify their own IPEP
This finding suggests formal IPEPs may not be perceived as directly applicable to female Gaelic games athletes
Frequencies and descriptive statistics were used to characterise this behaviour
This pattern of modification occurred despite the availability of formal validated programmes
Results
A substantial proportion of coaches reported a lack of knowledge and training availability as barriers to IPEP use.
40.6% of coaches stated a lack of knowledge on how to use an IPEP
34.5% agreed there was no training available to teach them how to use an IPEP
These barriers existed despite coaches reporting generally positive attitudes towards injury prevention
A Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine differences between groups for attitudes to injury prevention
Results
Gaelic games coaches demonstrated generally positive attitudes towards injury prevention overall.
Positive attitudes towards injury prevention were reported across the coaching sample
Positive attitudes did not translate into correspondingly high rates of formal IPEP awareness or implementation
The disconnect between positive attitudes and low formal IPEP use suggests barriers are primarily informational and practical rather than motivational
Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine group differences in attitudes towards injury prevention
Background
Lower extremity injuries are common in Gaelic games, and IPEPs have been shown to effectively reduce injuries and increase neuromuscular performance.
Gaelic games are described as 'multidirectional, evasive sports with unpredictable high-intensity activity'
Injury prevention exercise programmes have been introduced into Gaelic games contexts
IPEPs have been shown to effectively reduce injuries and increase neuromuscular performance
This evidence base provides the rationale for examining coach awareness and uptake of these programmes
What This Means
This research suggests that while most Gaelic games coaches are doing something to try to prevent injuries, relatively few are using formal, validated injury prevention exercise programmes (IPEPs). In a survey of 342 adult coaches, nearly 60% reported using some kind of injury prevention programme, but less than half were aware of formal IPEPs specifically designed and tested for this purpose. Many coaches — especially those working with female athletes — were creating their own programmes or modifying existing ones rather than following established protocols. Elite-level coaches were more likely to use IPEPs than recreational-level coaches, but coaching education level and gender made no difference to uptake.
A key finding is that the problem does not appear to be one of motivation or attitude — coaches generally expressed positive views about injury prevention. Instead, the barriers appear to be practical and informational: over 40% said they lacked the knowledge to use an IPEP, and about a third felt there was no training available to help them learn. This suggests that simply creating good injury prevention programmes is not enough if coaches are not being effectively reached with information and training on how to use them.
This research matters because lower limb injuries are common in Gaelic games, and well-designed IPEPs have been shown to reduce injuries and improve athletic performance. The findings point to a clear need for Gaelic games organisations to invest in targeted coach education and better communication strategies to help coaches adopt and correctly implement these evidence-based programmes, which could meaningfully reduce injury rates among players.
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Teahan C, Whyte E, O'Connor S. (2026). Gaelic games coaches' attitudes towards, awareness of and use of injury prevention exercise programmes.. PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0351253