Which of the following is an extrinsic risk factor for sports injuries?

• A. Playing surface
• B. Weather
• C. Training load
• D. Coaching quality

Answer: (C)

Extrinsic risk factors are things outside the athlete’s body that can be changed through how training and competition are arranged. Training load fits this because it reflects the total amount, intensity, and frequency of work imposed by the training program, which coaches control. If the load is too high or increases too quickly, fatigue accumulates and tissues are stressed beyond what they can safely handle, raising the risk of injury. By managing load through gradual progression, planned rests, and monitoring workload (like the acute-to-chronic workload ratio), injury risk can be reduced. While playing surface and weather are external factors, and coaching quality is also external, the training load is the most direct, modifiable program-related factor highlighted here that teams actively adjust to prevent injuries.