How the GAA Games Intelligence Unit Uses Nacsport Elite to Shape the Future of Gaelic Games
- Ollie Seymour
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Shaping the Game: Behind the Scenes with the GAA Games Intelligence Unit
Effective policy development is a primary function of the GAA. As the sporting environment becomes more complex, the Association has moved toward a model where every decision is based on sound evidence.
At the heart of this movement is the Games Intelligence Unit (GIU). Headed by Johnny Bradley, the unit serves to meet the demand for accurate information across Gaelic Games to help decision-makers understand patterns and trends.
Large-Scale Analysis
The GIU was established following approval at the Special Congress in November 2024. Their mission for the 2025 season was a significant undertaking: establish a protocol for large-scale, in-competition analysis of inter-county Gaelic Football.
To provide meaningful insights, the team needed to:
Examine over 1,000 events per game.
Analyse 47 games from the first three rounds of the Allianz National Football League (NFL).
Provide coded event data back to inter-county teams on a weekly basis.
Scalability with Nacsport Elite
Johnny Bradley, a long-time Nacsport user, recognised that the unit required powerful tools suited to Gaelic Football available to meet these deadlines.
Last year, the department operated with 5 Nacsport Elite licences, focusing primarily on football. To meet the expanding needs of the Association and include Hurling in their remit, the department increased its capacity to 8 Nacsport Elite licences this year.
Nacsport Elite provides professional advanced features required for this level of work. The ability to rapidly collect data with professional tools like Cluster Buttons, Panel Flows, Dashboard calculations and advanced search tools allows the GIU analysts to process huge volumes of data without sacrificing accuracy in the quickest time possible.
From Coded Video to Strategic Policy
The GIU uses Nacsport to build a "proof of concept" for in-house analysis. By using operational definitions approved by the Football Review Committee (FRC), the team ensures that every turnover, kickout, and pass is recorded with total reliability.
The software allows the unit to produce public Game Intelligence reports that compare game characteristics before and after rule enhancements. For example, the unit recently tracked the shift in kickout strategies, noting that long kickouts rose to 79% in the early rounds of the 2025 NFL.
"The Games Intelligence Unit is focused on embedding evidence-informed practice across Gaelic games and strengthening how insight informs decision-making at every level. Our collaboration with Nacsport has significantly advanced our ability to capture, analyse and translate performance data into clear, actionable insights for coaches and analysts. This is also about more than analysis. It is about providing opportunities for learning, enhancing coaching practice, and supporting the long-term development of Gaelic games." - Peter Horgan - Gaelic Athletic Association
A New Era of Data-Informed Decisions
By providing ongoing access to coded match video for stakeholder groups like the FRC and Referees Units, the GIU has become a central pillar of GAA strategy.
The transition from 5 to 8 Nacsport Elite licences has allowed the unit to:
Track Trends: Monitor participation and performance across the Player and Coach Development Pathways.
Assess Impact: Evaluate the physical demands on players following rule changes.
Evidence-Based Decisions: Reinforce the value of Gaelic Games initiatives through hard data.
"Nacsport has enabled the GIU to accurately and systematically analyse all the games in 2025 for the FRC. The support from AnalysisPro was incredible, and they were always on hand to lend support to the GIU. Nacsport was the foundation that allowed the GIU to undertake the most comprehensive analysis of a Senior Inter-County season ever conducted by the GAA" - Johnny Bradley - GIU Project Lead
As Johnny Bradley and his team continue to build capacity, Nacsport remains the engine behind the data that is helping to promote the uniqueness of Gaelic Games to a modern audience.
Book a call with our team to see how Nacsport Elite can support your organisation’s analysis goals.
Comments