The problem

We wanted to improve our Academy Squads’ athletic development programme by making it more accessible to both coaches and players and by having it data-driven. I wanted our programmes to be individualised if required, but also to allow our coaches to track team progress throughout the year.

The goal was to have a platform where coaches could easily design individual and/or team workouts tailored to age-appropriate groups and seasonal goals. Additionally, we needed a platform to address the need for better communication between coaches and their players, providing real-time updates, feedback, and adaptations to routines based on progress.

By making use of the data, RYPT also solves the problem of tracking long-term performance metrics and health trends, allowing both coaches and players to have a more detailed understanding of how effective the training is and make adjustments as needed.

The solution

Several features have played a significant role in addressing the challenges around individualised coaching, efficiency, and player engagement. These features have directly led to measurable improvements in how we coach and monitor our athletic development programme.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Individualised Training Workouts / RYPT allows us to create tailored training plans that can be adjusted based on individual needs, injury status, fitness levels, and seasonal goals. This feature has been pivotal in helping us deliver personalised and targeted coaching for individual players as required.
2. Performance Tracking & Data Insights / One of the core features of RYPT is its ability to track progress over time and provide real-time data. We can monitor key metrics such as strength, mobility, and endurance. This has led to faster adjustments: Coaches can make immediate updates to training based on real-time data, improving player outcomes.
3. Efficiency / RYPT’s platform has helped us to automate many manual processes, such as updating training plans, tracking individual and team progress, and communicating with players. This has made coaching more efficient.
4. Communication / RYPT allows our coaches to stay in touch with players easily, provide feedback, and adjust training programmes based on feedback. This has significantly improved the relationship between coaches and players.

What we love

Several features of RYPT have not only been highly effective in solving key challenges but have also delighted both us as coaches and our players. These features help to create a more engaging experience and enhance overall satisfaction.

Here are the key features that stand out:

1. Progress Reports / RYPT provides visually appealing and easy-to-understand progress charts and metrics, which have been a huge hit with both players and coaches.
   • For Players: The ability to see their progress in terms of strength, endurance, or specific performance metrics is incredibly motivating. Our players love being able to visually track their improvements over time, which boosts their sense of accomplishment.
   • For Coaches: It allows us to quickly assess where players are excelling or where they need more focus, leading to a smoother coaching process.
2. Exercise Demonstration Videos / The built-in library of exercise videos, showing proper form and technique for each exercise, which has been particularly helpful and well-received.
   • For Players: Many players, especially beginners, find the videos extremely useful for learning the correct form. This helps them feel more confident when completing exercises on their own, reducing the risk of injury and improving their performance.
   • For Coaches: It saves us time from having to create or source separate resources for players, and we can focus more on coaching and feedback rather than explaining basic movements.
3. Goal Setting and Milestones / The ability to set and track specific goals within RYPT is another feature that players love. Whether it’s achieving a personal best, improving mobility, or endurance target, the app helps them stay focused.
   • For Players: The sense of achievement when they hit a milestone, such as running a certain distance or lifting a heavier weight, is rewarding.
   • For Coaches: It provides us with a structured way to guide players, showing them exactly what they’re working toward and making it easier to break larger goals into manageable steps.
4. Flexibility and Adaptability of Programmes / RYPT allows coaches to make real-time adjustments to workout plans, which players have found incredibly useful.
   • For Players: If a player is injured, or has a sudden change in their routine, they love how quickly their workout plan can be adapted.
   • For Coaches: This adaptability allows us to provide better service and adjust programmes in real-time based on players’ needs, which players find highly responsive and personal.

About the coach

Sean Kelly is the Athletic Development Lead for Kilkenny GAA, playing a key role in shaping the physical and athletic growth of young players, particularly those aged between 14 and 19 years. His specialisation spans working with our Academy Squads, where he oversees the development of more than 200 players, and also extends into post-primary schools, where he collaborates with both players and teachers with similar numbers. In addition to direct player development, he is heavily involved in coach education, ensuring that best practices in athletic development training and injury prevention are shared throughout clubs, schools, and squads.

With a B.Sc in Sport Science and an M.Sc by research, his academic background has deeply informed his approach. His research focused on injury prevention in adolescent males playing hurling, where he investigated injury trends over a full GAA calendar year. This specialised knowledge has helped him to implement evidence-based strategies that not only improve performance but also prioritise player safety. His role is one of both leadership and hands-on expertise, impacting hundreds of players and coaches, and helping to elevate the standard of athletic development within the Kilkenny GAA system.