The introduction for an experimental two years of an intercounty under-19 All-Ireland championship to replace the current minor and under-21 grades is the most significant proposal of the GAA's Task Force on Player Burnout. This and other recommendations were launched at Croke Park yesterday.

Although the under-19 proposal is the most dramatic the most enduring message of the launch, which featured a presentation by the task force chair, Dr Pat O'Neill, was the extent of the problem, as illustrated by the data that formed the basis of the task force's deliberations.

"There is accumulating anecdotal and empirical evidence," according to the report, "to suggest that 'burnout' in talented young GAA players is a serious issue that needs to be urgently addressed by the association.

"The most common cause in talented adolescent and young adult players is excessive and inappropriate schedules of training and games. Many young players are participating in excessive training sessions and matches, usually with numerous teams, in multiple competitions.

"Over-use injuries, and to a lesser extent acute traumatic injuries, are also more likely during the period of peak skeletal growth prevalent in this age group.

"The mindset and attitudes of coaches, trainers, managers and parents in pressurising young and particularly talented players to participate in extraordinary numbers of training sessions and games is also contributing to the problem."

The recommendations of the task force, said O'Neill, were designed to: "significantly reduce the number of players suffering from 'burnout', reduce the pressure on Leaving Certificate students, reduce travel, inconvenience, cost and fatigue, reduce medical and treatment cost/expenses, improve physical and psychological wellbeing and pre-empt future litigation due to chronic-injury disability."

The task force heard a number of critical submissions, the launch was told. Lynette Hughes's three-year research into player burnout, part-funded by the GAA and as part of a PhD, involved the study of 534 players between the ages of 16 and 24 (divided into three categories: 16-18, 19-21 and 22-24).

One third of those surveyed played with at least five teams in one competitive season; of those 26 per cent played with at least seven. Ten per cent of the youngsters in the 16-18 age bracket were beginning to question their participation in Gaelic games. Nearly as many, 9.7 per cent (mostly in the 22-24 age bracket) were in the final stages of burnout and deriving little satisfaction from their involvement.

Dr Phil Glasgow, Head Physiotherapist with the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland, has catalogued the treatment of elite sportsmen and found a greater overall injury rate among Gaelic footballers than in other sports.

Former Meath footballer Gerry McEntee in his presentation informed the task force that "in the past 10 years the number of referrals to medical sports specialists, referrals for surgical opinion and the number of operations for chronic groin injuries has increased dramatically. Referrals are almost exclusively male, typically in the 15-21 age-group, and most commonly involve Gaelic footballers."

Páraic Duffy, the GAA's Player Welfare Manager, said: "The prevailing culture should be that you can't over-use or abuse players. This is the beginning, not the end, of a process."

"A big issue in our deliberations," he said, "was the impact of this on exams. Colm O'Rourke (task force member), who is a principal, was very strong on this.

"The amalgam of academic pressure and the pressure of team managers (created) an impact on players that in some cases was quite shocking. We believe this will give players a chance to make the best of their education, to develop their potential academically and enjoy their years in education without being pulled from pillar to post by managers of various teams."

He also said that he believed players would be in favour of the proposals, which were broadly in line with a submission made to the task force by the Gaelic Players Association.

GAA president Nickey Brennan said that it "would be disappointing" were media coverage of the report to confine itself to the proposed suspension of the minor and under-21 grades, inaugurated in 1929 and '64 respectively. He also expressed the hope that any opposition to the proposal would be based on the "appropriate data and not emotion".

He added: "This is a serious attempt to address the burnout issue in our association, which is about the over-use and abuse of players.

"We will be encouraging everyone to take it seriously and debate it."

Player burnout report: Main proposals

That minor and under-21 championships at intercounty level be replaced by an under-19 championship. This will be introduced as a two-year experiment for 2009 and 2010.

No under-17 player will be eligible to play at under-19 level.

No under-19 player will be eligible to play in senior intercounty competition.

The under-19 championship will be played from late June to September.

In preparation for the under-19 championship, no intercounty under-19 challenge games or collective training will be allowed between November 1st and March 31st.

Extra time should be played at the knockout stage of all post-primary competitions.

All senior post-primary school finals must be completed by the second weekend in April.

No player will be allowed to play in both the Freshers competitions and in the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups and other third-level championships (and equivalent league competitions).

November and December will be closed months for all intercounty games and collective training for intercounty panels.