###### Abstract  
Training load monitoring is employed to quantify training demands, to determine individual physiological adaptations and to examine the dose-response relationship, ultimately reducing the likelihood of injury and making a meaningful impact on performance. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between training load and injury in competitive swimmers, using the session rate of perceived exertion (sRPE) method. Data were collected using a prospective, longitudinal study design across 104 weeks. Data were collected from 34 athletes centralised in two of Swim Ireland's National Centres. Bayesian mixed effects logistic regression models were used to analyse the relationship between sRPE-TL and medical attention injuries. The average weekly swim volume was \(33.5\pm 12.9\) km. The weekly total training load (AU) averaged \(3838\pm 1616.1\). A total of 58 medical attention injury events were recorded. The probability of an association between training load and injury ranged from 70% to 98%; however, evidence for these relationships was deemed weak or highly uncertain. The findings suggest that using a single training load metric in isolation cannot decisively inform when an injury will occur. Instead, coaches should utilise monitoring tools to ensure that the athletes are exposed to an appropriate training load to optimise physiological adaptation. Future research should strive to investigate the relationship between additional risk factors (e.g., wellbeing, lifestyle factors or previous injury history), in combination with training load and injury, in competitive swimmers. swimming; monitoring; training load; injury surveillance +
Footnote †: journal: Applied sciences  
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Footnote 0: _Applied sciences_  
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Footnote 0: _Applied sciences_  
Monitoring training loads is essential for quantifying demands, informing coaches about individual physiological responses and ultimately reducing injury risks [7]. While preventing injuries involves multiple factors [8], research indicates that training load-related injuries are often preventable [9]. Common practises in competitive swimming include tracking swim volume, heart rate and the session rate of perceived exertion (sRPE) [10; 11]. Despite evidence linking poor training load management to increased injury risks [12], existing studies have primarily overlooked the swimming context. In a review, [PERSON] and [PERSON] [13] found moderate evidence indicating a dose-response relationship between training load and injury. However, this review only examined one study with a swimming population, leaving the results less pertinent to coaches and practitioners working in the sport. More specifically, in competitive swimming, a systematic review by [PERSON] et al. [14] also found some evidence of a relationship between training load and injury, but no evidence of a relationship between training load and pain. Injuries included within the review had a variety of definitions including medical attention (where a qualified clinician has assessed the athlete's medical condition [15]) and/or time loss (defined as one which led to the athlete being unable to participate in full FINA activities [15]). An international survey [11] examining the training load monitoring practises in competitive swimming highlighted that 92% of responders utilised the sRPE method. However, this popular practical application is not reflected in the research being conducted in the sport. The review determined that, due to a host of methodological limitations and a clear lack of consistency in definitions and reporting, more rigorous investigations into the relationship between training load and injury in a competitive swimming population are needed. Given the methodological limitations of previous studies, there is a clear need for more rigorous, longitudinal research focusing on sRPE monitoring. The purpose of this research is to build on these previous recommendations and explore the relationship between training load and medical attention-requiring injuries.