The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric characteristics and fitness levels of elite level under 18 (U-18) Gaelic football players to establish normative centile scores for selected fitness parameters and to compare the physical and fitness characteristics relative to each playing position. A total of 265 male U-18 Gaelic football players (age: 16.96 ± 0.7 years; height: 178.11 ± 6.27 cm; weight: 72.07 ± 8.68 kg) participated in the study. According to positional roles, players were categorized as goalkeepers (n = 13), defenders (n = 113), midfielders (n = 30), and forwards (n = 109). Height and weight were measured, and skinfolds were taken before participants sequentially performed a sit and reach test (S&R), countermovement jump (CMJ), standing long jump (SLJ), 5- and 20-m speed test, and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIRT1). The percentage body fat was higher (p < 0.01) in goalkeepers than the other playing positions. Goalkeepers had a higher body mass index than defenders (p < 0.05) and forwards (p < 0.01). Midfielders and goalkeepers were taller (p < 0.01) and heavier (p < 0.01) than defenders and forwards. The total distance covered in the YYIRT1 was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in goalkeepers than the other playing positions. There was no significant positional difference in the performance scores in the S&R test, CMJ, SLJ, and 5- and 20-m running speed. The study findings indicate minimal differences in the anthropometric and physiological characteristics between playing positions in elite youth level Gaelic football players. The norm-referenced percentile scores will enable conditioning coaches to benchmark elite performance and design training programs.

Over the past decade a rapid increase in research has taken place concerning the role of social support in youth sport. The role of parents, coaches, and peers in creating a climate that promotes and rewards effort and improvement over winning has been shown to predict continued participation in sport (Gardner, Magee, & Vella, 2017). Researchers have highlighted that youth sport participants are most likely to experience positive developmental outcomes when interactions are characterized by positive and informational feedback, appropriate role modelling, and autonomy-supportive engagement styles (Atkins, Johnson, Force, & Petrie, 2015). Moreover, studies have demonstrated how social support dynamically changes over time and has a significant influence on participation patterns in sport (Laird, Fawkner, Kelly, McNamee, & Niven, 2016; Sheridan, Coffee, & Lavallee, 2014). These findings point to a significant role that social support can play in addressing drop-out from youth sport, with rates exceeding 30% in some countries (Crane & Temple, 2015). Research is needed to test the effectiveness of social support interventions in youth sport (Balish, McLaren, Rainham, & Blanchard, h t t p s : / / j o u r n a l s. c o p m a d r i d. o rg / p i

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