High chronic training loads and exposure to bouts of maximal velocity running reduce injury risk in elite Gaelic football

To examine the relationship between chronic training loads, number of exposures to maximal velocity, the distance covered at maximal velocity,percentage of maximal velocity in training and match-play and subsequent injury risk in elite Gaelic footballers.

Players who had higher chronic training loads (≥4750 AU) tolerated increased distances and exposures to maximal velocity when compared to players exposed to low chronic training loads (≤4750 AU). Under-and over-exposure of players to maximal velocity events (represented by a U-shaped curve) increased the risk of injury.