Gaelic football (GF) is a high-impact sport and Sport-Related Concussion (SRC) is an issue within the game. Our aim was to evaluate the characteristics of Potential Concussive Events (PCEs) that occur in the Gaelic Athletic Association National Football League and extrapolate this data to reduce the incidence and severity of SRC. PCEs may or may not lead to a clinical diagnosis of SRC, but represent high-risk events and therefore may be a useful indicator. A video-analysis approach was undertaken to identify PCEs throughout two seasons of play using broadcast footage, and characteristics of each PCE were measured based on previously validated methods. A total of 242 PCEs were identified over 111 matches (2.18 per match, 58.14 per 1000 hours of exposure). PCEs were frequently not anticipated by the player (40.5%, n = 98). The most common impact locations were the mandibular region (33.1%, n = 80) and the temporal region (21.1%, n = 51), and the most frequently observed mechanism was hand/fist to head (27.3%, n = 66). A second-hit was observed in 34 PCEs (14.0%). The findings provide initial guidance for the development of player protection strategies to reduce the incidence and severity of SRC in Gaelic Football.

Background: High-impact sports such as hurling place participants at risk of sport-related concussion (SRC). Aims: This study will evaluate the characteristics of potential concussive events (PCEs) that occur in elite male hurling to acquire an understanding of how they occur. Methods: The authors recorded PCEs and their characteristics throughout two seasons of inter-county GAA competition using broadcast footage based on a previously validated protocol. Results: A total of 183 PCEs were identified over 82 inter-county matches (2.23 per match; 59.5 per 1000 h of exposure). PCEs that occurred in the 4th quarter were significantly more likely to result in signs of SRC. Players most often intended to receive/control the sliotar (36.4%, n = 64) prior to PCEs. The most frequently observed mechanism was shoulder-to-head (20.2%, n = 37). Impacts to the lateral aspect of the head were 2.7 times more likely to result in visible signs than impacts to anteroposterior regions. Conclusions: Players appear to be at a higher risk of SRC later in the match or when receiving the sliotar. Strikes to the lateral aspect of the head and those involving the shoulder appear to produce severe events. These findings provide initial guidance for the development of targeted player protection strategies.