Tracker diary can combat fatigue

Global domination is the ultimate goal but the launch of the Sports Tracker player diary in Croke Park yesterday had to be satisfied with some of the leading figures in the GAA giving the new initiative their seal of approval.

So what are we talking about? It's best if former Irish International Rules and All-Ireland winning Down manager Pete McGrath explains from his role as technical director: "What we are trying to do is put into the GAA arena resources and products that are going to improve performance; that are going to make players better; that are going to provide resources for coaches and managers to ensure that players under their charge are going to realise their maximum potential."

The Tracker diary acts as a log that enables players to record their training activity and performance throughout a season. With player burnout such a concern within the association, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte - one of the group's core members - believes this provides a tool to tackle the problem.

"It is user-friendly. We are into the business of recognising fatigue with the whole idea of rest and recovery; basically good guidelines for improving our performance.

"We've made some suggestions about what the best practice is; about accountability; about the idea of reviewing and learning from our own experience; about attitude and contributing to team ethos. And ultimately about respecting who we are.

"When we do that we are thinking not just about the performance of an athlete in the skills of the game they are performing but of the whole person."

The diary allows a player to keep track of every aspect of their life. That senior figures of the association were crammed into a small corporate box in Croke Park and that it is officially supported by the GAA is testament to the work put in by its managing director and founder, Peter Larkham.

Harte, McGrath, Larkham were joined on the top table by former GAA president Peter Quinn (group chairman) and Kilkenny manager Brian Cody.

The ultimate aim is to create a similar diary for other sports. A rugby version is in the pipeline for next year with former Lion (and All-Ireland winner with Kerry) Mick Galwey involved along with current Leinster player Rob Kearney (who played minor football for Louth).

The tracker diary can be purchased generally for €14.99.

Meanwhile, IT Tralee announced their sports scholarships for the current academic year with four hurlers, three Gaelic footballers, one dual star and one women's football recipient. In total, 17 scholarships were awarded across 10 different sports.

The three Gaelic football recipients are former Kerry minor stars Paddy Curran, Gary O'Driscoll and Eoin Kennedy.

Limerick senior hurler James O'Brien, James Riordan, Eoin Ryan and Paddy Raftice from Kilkenny are the hurling recipients, while dual star Denis Crowley is honoured, as is Cork women's footballer Jenny Luddy.