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
Average Distance (m)
8000
7249
7000
6311
6000
6057
4828
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Munster
Ulster
UCD
Ulster Minor
Results: Distance / Minute
Average Distance
110.0
100.9
100.1
100.0
96.5
91.3
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
Munster
Ulster
UCD
Ulster Minor
Results: Distance / Minute
Distance / minute
130
120
Axis Title
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
Results: High Intensity Running
High Intensity Running
14.0
12.4
12.0
10.0
9.7
9.6
8.0
7.3
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
Munster
Ulster
UCD
Ulster Minor
Results: Top Speed
Average Top Speed
18.0
17.0
17.1
16.6
16.6
15.9
16.0
15.0
14.0
13.0
12.0
11.0
10.0
Munster
Ulster
UCD
Ulster Minor
Results: Accelerations / Decelerations
Average Accelerations
300.0
250.0
241.9
237.5
202.1
200.0
180.8
150.0
100.0
50.0
Accelerations
Accelerations
Accelerations
Accelerations
Munster
Ulster
UCD
Ulster Minor
Results: Accelerations / Decelerations
Ulster v Munster
183.0
356.0
178.0
154.0
113.0
219.0
292.0
307.0
142.0
150.0
187.0
220.0
200.0
137.0
250.0
203.0
300.0
203.0
228.0
350.0
249.0
254.0
400.0
291.0
322.0
Accelerations
50.0
0.0
0.0
100.0
Full Back Corner Wing Half Centre Midfield Midfield
Back
Back Half Back
8
9
Centre Wing Half Corner
Full
Half
Forward Forward Forward
Forward
Results: Accelerations / Decelerations
Ulster Minor v UCD
352.0
158.0
111.0
130.0
283.0
83.0
100.0
264.0
244.0
180.0
181.0
193.0
182.0
117.0
119.0
150.0
193.0
200.0
234.0
300.0
282.0
350.0
236.0
289.0
352.0
400.0
250.0
Accelerations
50.0
0.0
Full Back Corner Wing Half Centre Midfield Midfield
Back
Back Half Back
8
9
Centre Wing Half Corner
Full
Half
Forward Forward Forward
Forward
Results: Heart Rate Outputs
Average HR (%)
77.4
78.0
76.5
76.0
74.6
74.0
Munster Senior
72.0
70.0
Ulster Senior
69.7
UCD
Ulster Minor
68.0
66.0
64.0
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?