2022 Funded Research Projects

Athletics Ireland aims to equip Irish athletes and coaches with specific, objective performance related data on the impact of different brand/models of running “super spikes” on sprint performance so they can make more informed decisions on running spike selection for racing. The specific objectives of this proposed project are to: 1. Determine if super spikes impact on sprint performance (total time, acceleration, maximal velocity); 2. Determine if super spikes impact on sprint biomechanics (stride frequency, ground contact time and kinematics); 3. Determine if super spikes impact muscle activation and spectral frequencies; 4. Understand the relationship between sprint performance in super spikes and biomechanical and neuromuscular variables. Athletics Ireland will partner with Ulster University to complete this research project.

The Camogie Association aims to establish the baseline position with respect to involvement with and engagement in Camogie, and attitudes and perceptions towards Camogie across Ireland. The objectives of this proposed research are to: 1. Develop an improved understanding of the following: Active Participants, Coaches, Match Officials, Volunteers, Facilities and Teams; 2. Undertake an audit of teams from every age group; playing competitively and other forms of involvement in clubs e.g. social camogie, social/honorary memberships, coaching, administration, officiating and other forms of volunteering; 3. Look beyond sport to identify the contribution of Camogie to Irish culture and language as well as the general wellbeing of participants. The Camogie Association will partner with Sheffield Hallam University to complete this research project.

CARA aims to perform an exploration of the lived experience of children and youths with disabilities in Ireland in relation to physical activity participation. The specific objectives of this proposed research are to: 1. Develop an appropriate and accessible survey and interview questionnaire for young people with disabilities in Ireland; 2. Explore key determinants of engagement in physical activity for young people with disabilities in Ireland. 3. Explore barriers to physical activity participation for young people with disabilities in Ireland. 4. Determine how organisations can support young people with disabilities in Ireland to engage in physical activity. 5. Develop a national youth leadership forum to guide national policy and CARA’s new strategy due to be launched in 2023. CARA are planning on engaging with the Munster Technological University, Kerry to complete this research project.

Cork LSP aims to evaluate whether an 8-week, incremental campus-based walking intervention (STEPS), can serve to increase habitual physical activity, improve self-efficacy, and enhance physiological and psychological health metrics amongst samples of HEI students and staff. The specific objectives of this proposed research are to: 1. Formally establish ‘STEPS’ within the sports structures of the HEI and implement and strategize a promotional campaign; 2. Implement the 8-week STEPS intervention and investigate the impact of the intervention. 3. Disseminate a validated, highly replicable ‘STEPS’ protocol, that aligns to the national Get Ireland Walking ethos, suitable for roll out within further HEIs, similar organisational settings, and indeed the wider community. Cork LSP will partner with Munster Technological University to complete this research project.

Cycling Ireland aims to conduct an appraisal of the needs of cyclists along the developmental continuum. The specific objectives of this proposed project are to: 1. Inform and/or align pre-existing models developed by Cycling Ireland with a view to aid in the creation of a new participant development model (should one not already exist); 2: Understand the key transition points and the support structures needed to ensure continued participation at these junctions. Cycling Ireland are partnering with Southeast Technological University, Waterford to complete this research project.

Fingal LSP aims to examine the physical activity (number of sprints, distance covered, heart rate) and cardiovascular demands of pick-up football matches on men (30 years and older) and compare the physical activity and cardiovascular demands of the Football Cooperatives “pick-up” football matches with a 30-minute steady state run. The specific objectives of this proposed project are to: 1. Quantify the physical activity and cardiovascular demands of pick-up football 2. Quantify the physical activity and cardiovascular demands of 30-minute steady-state run; 3. Compare the demands of pick up football and a steady state run in this population and assess whether the physical activity and cardiovascular demands of pick-up football are sufficient to reduce health risk among men. Fingal LSP will partner with Southeast Technological University, Waterford to complete this research project.

The FAI aims to critically evaluate the transfer of learning from formal coach education to UEFA Pro Licence Graduates who are actively working in the League of Ireland (LOI) or Women’s National League (WNL) in Rep. of Ireland (ROI). The specific objectives of this proposed project are to: 1. Evaluate the learnings of graduates of the UEFA Pro Licence who are actively working as head coaches/managers in the LOI/WNL in the ROI; 2. Evaluate the implementation of UEFA Reality Based Learning principles through a learner centred coach education programme in the ROI. 3. Provide evidence-based guidelines to the FAI on the design of a coach educator programme that can be implemented throughout UEFA member associations. The FAI will partner with Dublin City University to complete this research project.

The GAA aims to implement a fundamental movement skill (FMS) intervention in a community sport setting, in this case a GAA club, and to measure its efficacy in increasing FMS proficiency in children between the ages of four and seven. The specific objectives for this proposed project are to: 1. Assess FMS at baseline in participating GAA clubs in order to compare these to normative data from general population; 2.  Implement an FMS based intervention in GAA club nursery programmes and ascertain if significant changes were achieved in FMS proficiency post intervention.  The GAA will partner with Dublin City University to complete this research project.

The IRFU aims to develop and evaluate the use of the SROI tool, developed with the 2021 Research Grant, for strategic and business planning/reporting to optimise social, economic and health impact of rugby within communities. The specific objectives of this proposed research are to: Continue to validate and enhance the adapted ‘Rugby UEFA’ model over a second season and establish a methodology for quarterly reporting of SROI from a Club, Regional, Provincial and National level; 2. Trial the use of monthly/quarterly Social Impact measures to inform operations and strategic planning. 3. Continue to compare SROI evaluations from other sporting organisations (i.e. AFL, NRL, RFL & RA) and by Waterford IT (ongoing SROI analysis of the “Football Cooperative” project). The IRFU are continuing their partnership with Substance Consultancy to complete this research project.

The LGFA aims to identify the rates of suspected injury and concussion in inter-county female Ladies Gaelic footballers and establish the specific characteristics of injury and concussion and the on-field management of these injuries. The specific objectives of this proposed project are to: 1. Identify the rates of suspected injury and suspected concussions in inter-county LGF games; 2. Identify the specific characteristics of injury and concussion in high-risk game events (i.e. mechanism of injury, injured player position, foul play involvement); 3. Determine whether concussions are managed as according to the LGFA concussion guidelines. The LGFA will partner with Dublin City University to complete this research project.

Laois LSP aims to assess the impact of a 6-week multimodal physical activity and health education intervention (MenoWell) on menopausal symptoms and the physical and mental health of women in menopause. The specific objectives of this proposed research are to: 1. Increase the availability of specific evidence-based physical activity programmes for women in menopause to participate in; 2. Quantify improvements in participants strength, balance and cardiovascular fitness in response to the 6-week programme and assess changes in menopausal symptoms post intervention; 3. Measure improvements in participant’s perceived physical health, mental health, quality of life and self-efficacy post intervention. 4. Determine changes in participants health and fitness literacy post intervention. Laois LSP will partner with Dublin City University to complete this research project.

Offaly LSP aims to gain an in-depth understanding of male and female coaches’ experiences working with young female athletes, and the supports they provide (if any) to their female athletes around the menstrual cycle (MC). The specific objectives of this proposed project are to: 1. Identify the coaches’ current level of knowledge around the MC and its impact on sports performance; 2. Explore the experiences of coaches working with female athletes and identify what supports coaches provide to female athletes; 3. Compare and contrast the experiences of and the supports provided by male coaches vs female coaches; 4. Identify the barriers and facilitators to effective delivery of support to athletes regarding the MC. Offaly LSP will partner with Technological University of the Shannon, Midlands Midwest to complete this research project.

Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) aims to understand the perceptions of Irish Olympic coaches regarding athlete social media use and its interaction with performance at major international competitions. The objectives of this proposed project are to: 1. Explore why athletes produce and consume social media content around competition; 2. Examine the aspects of social media use athletes perceive to be distracting around competition; 3. Explore athletes' perceptions of how their social media usage might influence their performance; 4. Investigate coaches' perceptions of the benefits and risks of athletes’ social media use around competition. The OFI will partner with University College Dublin to complete this research project.

Rowing Ireland aims to explore menstrual symptoms, with a specific focus on pain in female rowers. This will improve their understanding of the impact of menstrual symptoms on participation and performance and will help inform further research to address these issues. Dysmenorrhea is very common and has a significant impact on women’s life, but we don’t know how it affects rowers. This novel study will investigate menstrual symptoms in this cohort, specifically as a barrier to participation and performance in sport. Rowing Ireland are collaborating with Trinity College Dublin on this project. 

Student Sport Ireland (SSI) aims to undertake a Sport Self-Assessment Review (SAR) to provide evidence of the environment and provisions post-pandemic and mergers made by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to support student participation in sport and physical activity. It also aims to provide a comparison of findings across the participating ITs, TUs and universities. The overall objective of SAR 2023 is to build on the understanding of the landscape from SAR 2020 by making a direct comparison with the provision in 2023 with a view to assisting the participating HEI sports staff and authorities in the planning, operation and future development of sport and PA, policy, and programmes across the sector. All SSI affiliated institutions (22) will be offered the opportunity to participate in the review.

Swim Ireland aims to improve athlete and coach development within the Swim Ireland performance team by bridging the gap that exists between the research that SwimQuery (a tool that identifies performance gaps for Swim Ireland performance athlete) provides and the coaches and practitioners who need to apply the findings to positively affect performance improvements. The specific objectives of this proposed project are to: 1. Explore coaching interventions for each athlete from the perspective of biomechanical assessment; 2. Evaluate the suitability of performance analysis support, and more specifically, data and video collection methods for effective biomechanical assessment. 3. Evaluate the skill gap in the coaching and service support staff in biomechanical principles, assessment, and coaching interventions to affect required performance improvements. Swim Ireland will partner with Ulster University to complete this research project.

Tipperary LSP aims to investigate whether Virtual Reality (VR) can be used as a tool to coach canoeing skills. This project is the successor of a Sport Ireland funded project though the Innovation for Sports Inclusion Fund which developed a Virtual Reality (VR) canoeing experience, known as Suir Blueway VR, that allows users to virtually canoe down a stretch of river based on the River Suir and the Community Sports Hub’s slalom course in Clonmel. The objective of the research is to use experimental design to assess the effectiveness of VR as a canoeing coaching tool and produce an accessible body of knowledge and practice in relation to the use of VR to encourage novel thinking for coaches. Tipperary LSP will partner with Technological University of the Shannon to complete this research project.