Managing Alcohol in the Club Teams - The hidden challenge for the coach

1. Managing Alcohol in the Club Teams - The hidden challenge for the coach John Leahy, Tipperary Hurler and Aileen Tohill, Ulster GAA

2. Contents • Relationship between alcohol and sport • New GAA research • Role of the Coach • Challenges • Identifying signs • Offering help

3. Alcohol and Sport • Traditionally there has been a strong association between alcohol and sport • Sport can have a positive influence on adolescents on their use of alcohol and drugs compared to peers • However, being involved in sport as an adult may encourage greater intake of alcohol • Athletes involved in team sports may be at greater risk of excessive drinking than individual athletes

4. Alcohol and Sport • Research has identified that alcohol is: • Commonly associated with team bonding behaviours • Frequently consumed in binges • Heavily associated with both win and lose scenarios • Used as a relief from stress

5. Alcohol and Sport

6. New Research Team Problems Caused by Alcohol & Other Drugs for GAA Coaches Brendan Murphy & Mark Gottsche, November 2010 • 347 GAA coaches questioned • Responses sought around their opinions, experiences and attitudes • Looks at the extent of the problem

7. Main findings • 81% of coaches felt the use of alcohol and other drugs to be a ‘serious’ or ‘very serious’ problem in Ireland • 52% felt a team they coached had been affected by a players use of alcohol or other drugs What do you think were the main ways teams had been affected?

8. Alcohol and Sport • Missing training • Under performing • Missing matches • Arriving under the influence • Disruptive • Injury as a result

9. Coach’s Influence • Coaches can have a positive influence over their players by: • Being approachable/supportive • Building a sense of collective responsibility • Setting challenges • Educating around nutrition and hydration • Placing importance on rest and recovery • Playing attention to/supporting to injured players • Providing/acting as role models

10. Effects of Alcohol and Sporting Performance Reduced Endurance - Alcohol reduces the body’s ability to produce glucose, leading to less energy and less endurance capacity. Greater risk of cramp - Alcohol left in your system after a few drinks the night before contributes to a bigger build up of lactic acid. Dehydration - Alcohol is a diuretic, making you use extra fluid on top of the normal during exercise – putting you a greater risk of dehydration

11. Challenges for the Coach Effect on sports injuries - Alcohol increases the bleeding and swelling around soft tissue injuries (sprains, bruises and cuts) so they take longer to recover. Loss of B vitamins - Alcohol robs the body of B-group vitamins which help repair body tissue after injury Slower reaction times - The relaxant properties of alcohol affect the central nervous system and slow down information processing – affecting reactions, co-ordination, accuracy and balance.

12. Awareness of Alcohol & Substance Use Among Players Starting to argue with referee during games Starting to give back chat when are given instructions during games Making excuses when missing training & games Being injured more regularly

13. Early Intervention ‘Team Managerment / Coaches can play an important part in minimising the damage alcohol / substance use can have on players’ Highlighting the problem regarding players drinking should never be completed in front of other team members

14. Preparing for Brief Intervention • Seek professional guidance • Arrange a good time to meet • Never meet on your own • Have facts written down • Show empathy

15. Early Intervention Focus on the following: Ask how his/her feels about the training? Ask how his/her own performance is going? Discuss his/her training attendance Discuss his/her training & playing performance

16. Early Intervention Discuss his/her attitude towards training, games, etc Here you can point out how you see his/hers attitude has changed Before they may have been encouraging & supportive of team mates All management attended the meeting & support each other

17. Early Intervention Ask the Question: Is there anything we can do, to support you? They may tell you themselves at this stage that alcohol / substance use is an issue

18. Early Intervention • If they do – you can reassure them you are here to offer support and if there is anything you want us to do we will support you? • You can suggest do you want us to contact Treatment Services, Counsellor etc...

19. Early Intervention • If they don’t say anything – you may have to suggest to them, ‘Do they think their drinking or substance use is causing them any concern?’ • If they agree you can offer to support them.

20. Early Intervention • If they don't agree with your views or not seeing their substance / alcohol as a problem – You cant do much more • Just reassure them you are there if they ever need anything • and you will be continuing to pick your team on training / game performance

21. Early Intervention • But what you have done is pointed out to them how you see their life is planning out due to there use. • This type of intervention will always be remembered

22. Early Intervention • Having worked with people who end up with problems, they will always speak about how others tried to point out to them, that substance / alcohol use was a problem in there earlier days of use. • If they had only listen then – is more often the line you will get

23. Challenges • Drinking Culture • Team Management acceptance to alcohol consumption • Motivational circumstances of player • Professional demands on Players • Lack of Enjoyment from training & games • Lack of expertise in the alcohol & Substance area • GAA association with alcohol Companies