Overtraining ???

[Zulu]

Id agree with the first part of that Zulu, you need to relax and enjoy life now and again.
However you might think that the at club level, the GAA need to lighten up as regards players drinking etc. I think its the players themselves that have chosen the lifestyle of training and keeping fit and looking after their body. Not that much pressure is put on players these days to get off the drink, its more a players choice.

The game has changed like that in recent years. Things at club level have moved on from the time where you went on the piss after every championship match. Club players at all levels are making that conscious decision. I see it myself at even junior level. I see junior teams in the gym, on diets and training hard. I head a man say; "God be with the days when you played a Junior game on a Saturday across the county and didnt come home until the Monday morning". That day is gone. The game has moved on. Its at a much more professional level nowadays and players individually are always looking for ways to get fitter, eat better and look after their bodys. The pressure is not coming from the hierarchy as players know, to compete at the standard today you need to make certain sacrifices. Sessions of beer and drinking most weekends are part of that sacrifice.

I'd agree with all of that AB and I rarely drink myself so lads who make a consious decision not to drink for their sport is fine by me and to be lauded. All I was saying is that some coaches can make demands on players social lives that aren't needed and are of little benefit. If a player is happy to adstain from drinking then more power to him.

you should not be condoning binge drinking

2-3 pints is more than enough for someone to help enjoy themselves and not impact too much on fitness levels.

I wouldn't regard 6 pints as binge drinking but I only used a random figure that I think most men could drink without being grossly hungover the following day. If you drink 2-3 pints on a night out then it would have no impact on your fitness levels at all. And that really is the point I was trying to make.

[Davitt Man]

As far as i can see the commitment at club level is nearly as bad as county level. Club players now are probably putting in as much commitment as some county teams. Players have really changed their attitude towards training methods, diets, drinking. But its true what Zulu and Abbeysider say, you cant live a monk, you need to blow off some steam every now and then, its good for you.