More People, More Active, More Often
More People, More Active, More Often

Sports Conferences and Workshops

Meath Local Sports Partnership supports the continuous development of clubs that are located within the County by providing information in relevant areas, offering education and training programmes; and facilitating sports seminars

In 2010, Meath LSP launched their “Club Development Series” an annual hosting of workshops designed to educate coaches, parents, player/athletes and volunteers which can all help the clubs grow and develop.

Sports seminars included:

  • Sports Psychology – Mind over Matter
  • Strength & Conditioning for Team & Individual Sports
  • Pre Season training – A guide to planning the training season
  • Fitness Testing – A Practical Approach
  • Nutrition for Sporting Success
  • Concussion in Sport Awareness Workshop

Fitness Testing

Click the button below to download our Fitness Testing Presentation

Nutrition for Sporting Success Workshop

One in three Irish adults is classed as overweight according to Daniel Davey Performance Nutritionist with Leinster Rugby and Dubin GAA as he addressed a large audience at Meath Local Sports Partnerships recent Sports Nutrition workshop.

Sports coaches, players, athletes and those with a general interest in sport and physical activity attended this workshop to get practical information on nutrition from both a health and sports performance point of view.

“We should all, regardless of our ability eat the same and eat consistently” was the message. “The only difference with players or athletes such as Leinster rugby and Dublin footballers is the volume of food as their game or training intensities are likely to be much higher” Daniel explained that it’s about calorie management – getting the balance right between the amount taken in and the amount expended “weight loss is calorie deficit and weight gain could equate to a calorie surplus”.

Nutrition for Sporting Success Workshop
Daniel Davey –Performance Nutritionist with Leinster Rugby & Dublin GAA presented to a large audience at the recent Nutrition for Sporting Success Workshop.

Within the sporting context according to Daniel the modern GAA player is covering greater distances- up to 10k per game and the intensity level is higher; with 1000-2000 calories expended per game. Put simply “if you are not eating correctly you will struggle to cover these distances and sustain the intensity required”.

He added that eating does not have to be expensive; all meals can be supplemented with fresh produce using eggs, vegetables and fruit. Having said that, he maintains “if you are not willing to cook then it is very difficult to consistently eat well, you have to take responsibility for what goes into your mouth”.

Game Preparation

“If you do not plan you eating habits around training or games then no matter how well you eat on the day of the event, it simply will not be as effective”. The same applies for sleeping and drinking water.  Athletes are best advised to eat the foods they are familiar with and eat well 24 hours to 36 hours before a game or big performance. Foods such as porridge, fruit and vegetables are usually a good source of storing slow burning carbohydrates.

“Our bodies are designed to burn fat” if we digest high carbohydrate foods such as bread, cereals, or foods with high sugar content before sport, then the body is burning these carbs first and this can lead to early fatigue, and hunger pangs within 60-90 minutes leaving us wanting to eat more. Daniel advised that food with a long shelf life is not as nutritious as fresh food.

Alcohol

When asked his opinion on an alcohol ban for players Daniel believes moderation is key. “You have to have a positive attitude towards food and alcohol. An outright ban or negativity towards a player having a drink or glass of wine can be counter –productive” He has never enforced such a ban with any of the teams he has worked with.

Hydration

Another question from the floor was around the intake of fluids, Daniel states that there is no substitute for water. The daily recommended intake of water is between 2.5 and 3 litres. On coffee “If you don’t drink coffee then taking it before a game can lead to dehydration depending on the intensity and duration” but if you are a habitual coffee drinker then you are less prone to dehydration.

Sports journalist with the Irish Independent and local resident to Simonstown, Colm Keys was the MC on the night. ‘Having a guest with the extensive profile of Daniel Davey, involved with two of the best teams in the modern era of Irish sport, made this a compelling and insightful presentation on nutrition that served to benefit, not just those involved in sport and with teams, but anyone with a passing interest or concern about what they consume. The audience participation was exceptional.’

To view this workshops key points please click the button below.

Concussion in Sport Awareness Workshop

Concussion is described as a mild brain injury and may occur in any sport. Meath Local Sports Partnership teamed up with the Irish Rugby Football Union and Meath GAA to highlight concussion in sport. The workshop was designed to educate coaches, players, referees and parents on how to recognise concussion and the guidelines on return to play.

Shane Mooney, First Aid and Injury Prevention Coordinator with the IRFU addressed an audience representing GAA, soccer, rugby, cycling and martial arts. The message throughout the presentation was clear, concussion needs to be recognised, player removed from the game and a return to play protocol in place no matter the sport. “If in doubt sit them out” approach should be taken.

Concussion in Sport Awareness Workshop

Concussion in Sports

In a recent international Concussion Rate per 1000 Player Hours Scale – horse racing at 95.2 is a distant first with boxing at 13.2 followed by rugby at 3.9 and soccer at 0.4. There were no stats collected for Gaelic Games.

Why Concussion should be taken seriously

Concussion must be taken seriously not only from the obvious danger to life; concussion if undiagnosed can lead to decreased on field performance, prolonged recovery periods, and a shorter playing career. Currently, the IRFU operate a traffic light system when it comes to concussion. Red – stop and inform medical staff or parents. Amber is rest and Green is return to play.

Visible clues of concussion are:

  • Loss of consciousness – lying motionless on the ground
  • Slow to get up/Unsteady on feet or falling over
  • Confused, blank or vacant look
  • Nausea or vomiting

Off-field Signs and Symptoms of Concussion include:

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Memory problems
  • Sleeping more/less

Rest & Return to Play

Shane explained that all suspected concussion be referred to a medical practitioner for treatment. Rest periods in rugby at adult level is 14 days with a further 7 days back training before a return to play is agreed and children at underage level up to  one month.  However, he stated that a national policy for all sports should be adopted by the Irish Government similar to what Scotland has recently agreed.

In addition to training coaches, medical staff and referees- Shane stated that players and parents in particular are the “key to recognising concussion so they can assist or support in the player or child’s recovery”. “Always err on the side of caution” if you suspect concussion no return to play on the same day should be adhered too, seek medical advice to be sure.

Questions & Answers

Asked from the floor if there were different types of concussion, Shane said that “A concussion is a concussion” the length of time to recover or the symptoms may differ from mild to severe.

If you were to “group children together by age, size or weight in any given activity” would this help to decrease the levels of concussion reported? According to Shane Mooney, this was tried in New Zealand and no evidence that grouping them by age, size or weight worked.

To view this presentation, please click the button below.