Mayo hope player welfare scheme will reduce injuries

Mayo GAA are hoping a pioneering player welfare initiative will reduce injuries throughout the county over the coming years.

The creation of the scheme, which will be launched in Castlebar’s An Sportlann today, is aimed at helping inter-county managers, medical personnel and clubs by tracking and recording injuries. This information will be fed back to the team managements to help limit the risk of injuries which in turn will reduce the costs of funding teams at all levels.

“For the last two years at senior level the injuries were tracked and the management was able to tailor the warm-up specifically to avoid injuries. We saw an overall reduction of injuries by 20%,” said county board PRO Aiden McLoughlin.

“We realised this type of information should be made available to other teams to help managements and medical personnel in our inter-county and club teams.”

Dr Sean Moffatt, who served on the GAA’s national Medical, Scientific and Player Welfare committee in the past, will take up the role of medical director while his colleague Liam Moffatt has been named as lead physio.

“Sean and Liam have been working with the senior team for the past four years. Their work has been invaluable and they will help us track and relay injury prevention methods throughout the county.”

The county has also extended its sponsorship deal with Elverys until 2020. The Mayo-based company have sponsored the senior team since 2003 but entered receivership last February before a management buyout in April.

The county will unveil its new jersey, picked by supporters in conjunction with the players, today and announce new details of its season ticket scheme which is the largest in the country.

“People will be able to get their tickets online now and every member who signs up will get a jacket, umbrella and a hat.”