Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1518204
Objective In this study we looked at injury and the prevalence of injuries with Referees within Ladies Gaelic Football. Referee injury rarely receives attention. The study aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators to injury prevention strategy success and determine Ladies Gaelic Football referees' preferences for injury prevention strategies and education. Injury is a frequent cause of referee drop-out, and the average injury results in a month missed from refereeing. Therefore, some form of injury prevention intervention is critical to help counter current referee shortages, avoid game cancellations and facilitate the continued success of Ladies Football. We interviewed referees to get their preferences for future injury prevention strategies and to determine what factors would impacts a strategy's success. Physical demands of being an LGF Referee The physical demands on referees within Lades Gaelic Football showed: • The total distance covered in games was 9-10 km. • Sprinting accounted for about 10% of total distance • Changes of direction were occurring around 500 times per game. • The average heart rate is 85% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). However, there are major differences between what is required from referees even when refereeing at the same age-level/skill- level. Match intensities and demands depend on the quality of the teams, the teams' tactics and style of play, the environmental conditions (heat, field, etc) and what is at stake (practice/league/ championship). Injuries & Injury factors The majority of injuries occurring within Ladies Gaelic Football Referees were in the lower limbs, accounting for almost 80% of injuries. Within that the location of those injuries were from the lower leg/shin/Achilles, knee, hip/groin, thigh ankle and foot. The nature of injuries were primarily muscle related with the majority occurring whilst running and a larger number during a change of direction, sprinting with a number stating a gradual onset. Other factors involved in the cause of sport injuries includes fitness levels, sports-specific training/warm-up, muscle strength, flexibility, joint stability, biomechanical factors, balance and psychological. Additional factors to consider outside of sport include lack of rest/ inadequate sleep, life stress, incorrect nutrition, incorrect hydration and Body weight/mass. Barriers and facilitators By: John Corrigan REFEREE FOCUS Barriers to injury prevention within LGF were categorised not 3 main areas: 1. Attitudes 2. Accessibility – of resources and time. This includes equipment, support, educational materials, personnel, time and money. 3. Knowledge – education of referees. Awareness lacking around injury and injury prevention. The attitudes towards injury prevention were perceived as one of the biggest barriers to injury prevention success. A lack of accessibility, particularly limited time and resources were also identified as major obstacles. Ladies Gaelic Football referees believed support and promotion from the LGFA is key, and that injury prevention education should be maximised. Developing a strategy that is accessible and can maximise engagement is something to work towards. Conclusion Reducing referee injury is critical to the success of Ladies Gaelic Football and other community sports. There is a need to develop and support injury prevention programmes and education for referees. These should be designed according to referees' preferences and consider the barriers and facilitators identified to maximise adoption. Developing an injury prevention strategy that is accessible to all levels would be a great addition to Lades Gaelic Football. To their credit the LGFA have been providing support to both national and provincial referees through their Winter Referee training hubs. This support is a fantastic step forward by Ladies Football. Injury & Injury Prevention in Ladies Gaelic Football Referees 46 | SPRING 2024 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie