Technology in the GAA got its biggest exposure on September, when Lee Keegan elected to hurl a GPS unit at Dean Rock in the final minute of the All-Ireland final. It has stealthily encroached on Gaelic football in the last few years, to the extent that it is today an integral part of every inter-county setup. Given the fact all squads in the game have a very limited amount of time to train together, much of their work - be it analytical, nutritional or anything else - is often done privately.
But how is it done? We had a look at the phones of a few intercounty players to see what apps they frequently use.
(Note: We didn't actually look at their phones, Piers Morgan-style. We just asked them).
Hudl
The Hudl app allows management teams to record matches and training sessions, along with in-game statistics. Sides will frequently use it to tally certain statistics, such as the number of turnovers, or possessions, with the app responding by building reports that can be easily digested at presentations or by individual players.
It is straightforward to isolate and pluck out individual clips of games, which can then be disseminated among as many or as few players as the manager wants.
Meath are among the counties to use Hudl for other purposes, too: their physio uses the tool to send players videos of individual exercises to perform during rehab.
Dartfish
Dartfish is another video analysis app, working in a broadly similar way to Hudl.
MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal is used by many teams for nutrition purposes, and allows players track and log their intake. It has an enormous database, meaning that players need only search what they've just eaten, and add it to the log. It also allows players to scan the barcodes of foods not included in the initial database, so as to include everything. Some counties make it pretty difficult for players to deviate from their recommended diets: their dietitian is given access.
Metrfit
Metrfit gives management teams a greater insight into the health and wellbeing of each of their players. Players are asked to complete a daily questionnaire. This includes information on any sore muscles or pains they are carrying, along with topics like length and quality of sleep and mood state.
The app then utilises a new-fangled algorithm which processes all of this data, and then spits out a Readiness To Perform score, which is also accessible by management teams.
Playertek
You know those black vests many payers wear? They are part of an overall app called Playertek, which tracks a host of stats: distance covered, number of sprints, top speed, energy burned and myriad others. All of the information is downloaded, and then seeded out to players through the app, if that is the wish of the management.
For communication and Ballyragget purposes.
