Top players in the 16-23 age bracket in all nine Ulster counties will be surveyed over three years.

The research project will seek to uncover factors which contribute to the onset and development of burnout.

There have been fears that young players are being asked to play and train too much.

It is believed that this has led some players becoming totally disillusioned with the sport and walking away from it.

There are also concerns that overexposure to training and matches may lead to injury and possible premature retirement.

The research project has been commissioned by the Ulster Council of the GAA - making it one of the first national sporting bodies in Europe to initiate such expert investigation.

Dr David Hassan, a lecturer in Sports Studies at the university who will lead the research, said: "The issue of burnout is a very contentious one within the GAA.

There also may well be lessons for other sports in our findings Eugene Young

"Clubs, counties and high ranking GAA officials like Liam Mulvihill, director general of the Association, have all expressed concerns that too much pressure is being heaped on the best young players."

He said he hoped to find definitive answers to the causes of burnout and to provide a series of recommendations to the GAA that may serve to alleviate further cases in the future.

Miceal Greenan, president of the Ulster Council of the GAA, welcomed the prospects of working on the issue of burnout with the university.

He said: "Our players are our most valued asset and we want to ensure that their involvement is at the highest level for the longest period."

Research will focus of social and psychological factors which may contribute to burnout.

It will begin in October, last around three years, and there will be formal reports to the Ulster Council of the GAA twice yearly.