By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

IT'S fast approaching what could be one of the most stressful times in the life of any student footballer. With exams on the horizon, demands from lecturers on the rise and the pressure being cranked up by the club manager, it can be a very difficult period to cope with, and the health of young footballers can often suffer as a result.

High levels of stress, low levels of energy and a seemingly mountainous set of obstacles in front of the young student footballer or hurler are common occurrances at this time of the year, so any advice to them at such a crisis point in their lives is more than welcome.

Aileen Tohill is the Lifestyle Manager with the Ulster Council, and as a player who has performed at the highest level in her sport she can very much relate to the sort of difficulties students can face at this time of year. Her key message is not to panic, to manage their time, and that will help them to achieve to the best of their abilities.

"From an Ulster Council perspective we use the development squad system and elite summer camps to give our players a good grounding in lifestyle management. The idea is that from the age of 14/15 we begin to equip players with the skills to maintain a focus on their sport while still fulfilling other commitments in life.

"Many top players have excelled in both areas of life but others may need some help. It's easy for studies to slip when you're focusing on sporting goals but this shouldn't be the case. It does however require effective time management, high motivation and discipline – not all of which the average student possesses!"

It can be tempting to skip meals for the sake of an extra half hour in the library, or racing from class straight down the road to training sessions and missing out on dinner, or breakfast in the mornings. That's something to avoid though says Aileen, and it's also very important to avoid wasting time and energy on worry. Don't bury your head in the sand and hope the problems disappear, she says, and instead go with the 'problem shared is a problem halved' approach.

"If you have you have left things a bit late it's important not to panic. Wasting time and energy on worry won't change things. You still need to plan and prioritise the demands you're under.

"Don't be tempted to miss sleep or food to use as study time. Eating regular meals will keep you mentally alert, help improve concentration and avoid energy slumps. Drinking water will prevent headaches, tiredness and dehydration, while alcohol should be avoided at all costs as it will only add to your problems!"

Sport can be a great way of relieving stress and for getting fresh air. It's a way of escaping from the pressures of study for a while, doing something you enjoy and mixing with friends. It should not though be something which adds further to the levels of stress.

"Poor sleep will lead to poor performance (sport or studies) so it's important to get adequate rest. Do make time to clear your head though, and keeping involved in your sport is a great way of releasing stress. It shouldn't be a further cause of stress though, and if you really are struggling, talk to your coach to see if you can miss a couple of team sessions, offering do a couple of sessions in your own time when it suits."

As soon as the exam timetables are published, students should be starting to put their plans in place for the months ahead. Likewise, submission dates for coursework and assignments should be taken into account and worked around as best possible. The same is true of sporting commitments, matches, training sessions or other events. Once you can identify critical pressure periods you can begin to plan around them.

There's the guilt thinking you should be studying when you're at training, and vice versa when your head's in the books, but it's important to not lose sight of your overall aims, and the key is organising yourself before things get hectic.

"The best advice is to make a note of where the pressure points exist and try to do some work in advance of them. Get an assignment in early for a change, or catch up on some study notes. Have a plan of how you're going to cope, but keep it flexible as things will inevitably change. By not putting things off you will be better organised and able to make training, matches and classes!

"It may not seem that appealing in the weeks that are traditionally used for taking things easy but is a better alternative to cramming, pulling 'all nighters' and avoiding sleeping or eating etc when the proverbial hits the fan!"

Armagh College launches Gaelic Football Academy

Southern Regional College, Armagh Campus have taken a bold step in its decision to provide Ireland's first Gaelic Football Academy. The College, Armagh County Board and the Ulster Council have joined forces to develop and enhance the opportunities for potential elite performers in all Gaelic games.

The Academy will combine full time education with a training package, which allows students to play the sport they love to an excellent standard, whilst gaining academic or vocational qualifications.

The programme embraces the development of sporting, leadership, personal and social skills which prepare students for a possible future in coaching or playing Gaelic sports.

As well as your full-time course of study the academy programme covers the development of young referees, coaching qualifications at foundation level, child protection and code of best practice and first aid.

Personal development courses for coaches such as planning for a season, strength and conditioning defending workshop, goalkeeping and place kicking, player development, performance analysis, and working towards Armagh county teams are also areas covered by the programme.

In order to be eligible to enter the academy students must be at least 16 years of age and must be enrolled on a full time programme within the college. Academic programmes are monitored carefully and training and playing will depend on the students commitments to their academic studies. Experience of playing Gaelic sports at school is desirable although not essential as students who apply to the academy will be invited to attend trials and selections panels.

Further information is available from Lee Rooney at Southern Regional College, Armagh Campus on 028 3752 2205 or email rooneyla@src.ac.uk