On demand · Data in the GAA

How Kerry GAA turn data into decisions

Jason McGahan, High Performance Manager with Kerry GAA, shows how Kerry test and monitor players from U14 to senior using RYPT and VALD. He covers what they measure, how they judge injury risk, and why the data never overrides knowing the athlete.

✓Performance profiling ✓Static and dynamic risk ✓Growth and maturation

RECORDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 · 30 MIN

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With Jason McGahan, Conor Tierney, and Cormac O'Beirne

Problem What's covered Speakers Key takeaways FAQ Watch now

01 / The problem

Data that leads to decisions

There are endless data collection methods and devices available to teams. The problem now is how to interpret and use that data effectively.

In this session, Jason McGahan, along with Conor Tierney (VALD) and Cormac O'Beirne (RYPT), goes through how Kerry GAA test and monitor players using VALD and RYPT together, and how that data feeds Jason's decisions.

02 / What's covered

What the session covers

01

Performance profiling

The 6 tests Kerry run: CMJ, flying 20m, mid-thigh pull, NordBord hamstring, 1.2km aerobic, and repeated hop RSI. Each is chosen so players can still train afterwards.

02

Static and dynamic risk

How injury history, age, hamstring strength, strength, conditioning, and explosive profile set a player's static risk, and how GPS, wellness, and load feed a dynamic risk score in RYPT.

03

One passport, U14 to senior

How Kerry phase in growth and maturation, RPE, wellness, GPS, and DEXA as players move through the pathway.

Plus audience Q&A on club testing, wellness, and player buy-in.

03 / Speakers

Speakers

Jason McGahan

High Performance Manager · Kerry GAA

Jason runs the performance programme with Kerry GAA. His work covers testing, monitoring, and programming across the season.

Conor Tierney

Health and Human Performance · VALD

Conor's background is in athletic therapy and clinical practice. He works with sporting organisations and clinicians across Ireland on setting up objective testing.

Cormac O'Beirne

CEO and Co-founder · RYPT

Cormac co-founded RYPT to reduce the administrative load on coaching staff, so more of a coach's week goes on programming.

04 / Key takeaways

Jason's take-home messages

“Data cannot be the driving force over understanding the actual athlete.”

•Know what you are measuring.

•Consider the context when reporting GPS, and keep it simple.

•Optimise loading, not necessarily unloading.

•Don't use more measures than you need.

•Keep asking questions of the data, the player, and the staff.

05 / The setup

What Kerry use

Kerry test on VALD and programme on RYPT. ForceDecks and NordBord results feed directly into RYPT, so a player's testing history sits in the same record as his training, wellness, and availability data. ForceFrame, DynaMo, and SmartSpeed are coming to RYPT soon.

06 / FAQ

Questions?

Who's this for?

Coaches, performance staff, and physiotherapists working with a squad, in county set-ups, clubs, academies, and universities.

Do I need to be using RYPT or VALD already?

No. The session covers how a testing programme informs decisions across a season, which applies regardless of the systems involved.

How long is it?

Around 30 minutes, including questions from the audience.

Is the recording free?

Yes. Enter your details and you can watch it straight away.

Can I share it with my coaching team?

Yes. Send them the link so they can watch it too.

07 / Watch

Watch the recording

Recorded live on Wednesday 30 September 2026. Enter your details to watch the full session.

✓20 minute conversation

✓Audience Q&A included

✓Instant access

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The Athletic Development OS · 2026 Image credits: Kerry GAA and The Examiner.