GAA players now dangerously overworked, warns fitness expert

A LEADING fitness expert has warned that GAA players are dangerously overworked, know little about their nutritional needs and have far too little recovery time after training and matches.

“Having worked with professional athletes in North America I noticed a very certain difference in Ireland soon after I arrived,” Canadian expert Richard Roecker said in Dublin yesterday. “Basically, players are overworked. They have jobs, they have training and they have matches. It’s all too much.”

Roecker, who has also worked extensively with NFL footballers during 15 years in the fitness industry, has lived in Ireland since October and quickly became aware of the poor levels of awareness amongst Irish sports people.