If Intensity is the key to Hurling Success;How does Ulster Measure Up?

Who are we, and what do we do?

• Micky McCullough (Ulster GAA, Regional Hurling Development Officer);

• Kevin McGuigan (Ulster GAA, Sport Scientist)

The Project

• Who;– Ulster Senior Inter-County Team, Munster Senior Inter-County Team, Leinster Senior

University Team, Ulster Minor Colleges Team;

• What;– Measured physical performance of each team during match play;

• When;– October 2012 – Sunday 20th January 2013;

• Where; – Belfast, Emly, County Tipperary, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, Dr.Cullen Park, Carlow;

• Why;– To either prove or dispel the theory that;

• Southern Hurlers are faster;• Southern Hurlers are fitter;• Southern Hurlers are more skilful.

Understanding Our Title• What do we mean by intensity?

– Physical Intensity;– Mental Intensity;– Emotional Intensity;– Skill execution speed;– Skill execution success;

• What do we mean by Hurling Success;– NHL Division?– Provincial Success?– All Ireland Division (Liam McCarthy, Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard, Lory

Meagher)?– All Ireland Success?– Annual Progression?

Measuring Physical Intensity

• The Sport Science;– GPS Analysis

• Distance;• Speed Thresholds;• High Intensity Distance;• Accelerations / Decelerations;• Number of efforts / average distance;• An endless list;

– Heart Rate Analysis• Maximum Heart Rate (BPM);• Average Heart Rate (BPM);• Average Heart Rate (%)

How did we measure physical outputs?

• We pre-selected 10 players to analyse for each match– Full Back, Left Corner Back, Right Half Back, Centre Back, Midfield x 2, Centre Forward,

Left Half Forward, Right Corner Forward, Full Forward;

• Players wore a GPS & HR monitor throughout a single match;

• Records were only taken of the active game time for each player;

• Real time analysis was observed, with all sessions analysed retrospectively for the purposes of this project.

Video: Is there a difference here?

Audience: What will the difference be?

Results: Distance

Results: Distance / Minute

Results: Distance / Minute

Results: High Intensity Running

Results: Top Speed

Results: Accelerations / Decelerations

Results: Accelerations / DecelerationsUlster v Munster

Results: Accelerations / DecelerationsUlster Minor v UCD

Results: Heart Rate Outputs

Skill Execution Speed

• A small cross section study focused on Antrim & Galway in their respective provincial finals;

• Same 3 Positions;• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship – 0.9 seconds;• What does this tell us?• Ulster Senior Hurling Chamionship – 1.8 seconds;• How does it feel?

• How does this relate to intensity?

How important is BELIEF?

• Which comes first: BELIEF or INTENSITY?• Is belief in our team mates / set up / management / linked to

our intensity of performance?

• If so, which comes first;– The belief in our team and what we are doing; OR– Is it only through seeing everyone’s intensity that we come

to believe in what we’re doing?

What does this mean for Ulster Hurling?

• Do we match Leinster / Munster / Galway teams for intensity?

• Are other factors to blame – mental approach?

• Are there ways that we can improve our intensity?

• How can your training change to improve intensity?

To Summarise

• What do we mean by intensity?– Physical Intensity;

• How do we compare?– Mental Intensity;

• Have we made the step up?– Emotional Intensity;

• We just don’t believe!

– Skill execution speed;• Are we off the mark?

– Skill execution success;• Can this be measured another day?

Finally

– Speed up;– Increase work rate;– Pressurise EVERYTHING;– Raise expectations;– BELIEVE

– All these can be addressed and improved.

– If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we always got!

Questions?