Pressure on young people to make the county team

The psychological effects of development squads on the mental health of teenagers was explored by Cavan students at the BT Young Scientist Awards.

Investigating the issue Aoife Kennedy and Kate McCarthy of Coláiste Dún an Rí completed a survey-based project on how development squads affect the mental health of teenagers in Ireland.

“It just gives an insight into the different opinions and experiences of certain individuals around the country and how they’ve been affected by their teams or the sport they are playing.”

The group’s project was inspired by personal experience and witnessing their friends' mental health being affected by the pressure of making development squads.

The survey results revealed development squads can have a negative effect on the mental health of teenagers and the group concluded that more supports need to be put in place to support young people in this regard.