Galway hurling legend Iggy Clarke believes mental fitness is just as important as a player’s physical fitness, and strength and conditioning.

“If we’re mentally well and strong and healthy in ourselves, then we are going to play better,” he said.

Wing back on the senior All-Ireland winning team of 1980, the hurling icon feels modern players are under more pressure now than ever.

“The more we can do the better to relieve that pressure,” he said.

Movember Ahead of the Game is a programme that aims to tackle that stress – by building mental fitness and strengthening resilience of teenagers to deal with challenges in sport and life.

Iggy and Galway camogie star Niamh Hanniffy are two of over 20 facilitators on the programme who deliver workshops to young people about the power of talking and sharing.

Former Galway hurler Justin Campbell, counsellor and psychotherapist, is a supervisor who provides mentoring and support to the facilitators.

The emotional literacy programme is delivered by men’s health organisation Movember, the GAA and GPA (Gaelic Players Association).

Since it started last November, more than 5,000 people have been reached. That includes 3,000 teenage boys and girls in 176 clubs across 32 counties, including 12 clubs in Galway, as well as 2,000 of their parents and coaches.

“Most people know what physical injury is. But when it comes to a mental setback or a mental injury, the answers are not as fluent,” said Iggy, a counsellor and psychotherapist.

“The challenges we focus on in the programme are anxiety and depression – they’re the most prevalent. But there are other pressures, and social media is a huge pressure on young people,” he added.

Caption: Iggy Clarke….mental health as important as physical fitness.

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