Team contact sports in times of the COVID-19 pandemic- a scientific concept for the Austrian football league

Background Since the beginning of the COVID -19 pandemic, many contact sport teams are facing major challenges to safely continue training and competition. Objective We present the design and implementation of a structured monitoring concept for the Austrian national football league Methods 146 professional players from five clubs of the professional Austrian football league were monitored for a period of 12 weeks. Subjective health parameters, PCR- test results and data obtained from a geo-tracking app were collected. Simulations modelling the consequences of a COVID-19 case with increasing reproduction number were computed. Results No COVID-19 infection occurred during the observation period in the players. Infections in the nearer surroundings lead to increased perceived risk of infection. Geo tracking was particularly hindered due to technical problems and reluctance of users. Simulation models suggested a hypothetical shut-down of all training and competition activities. Conclusions A structured monitoring concept can help to continue contact sports safely in times of a pandemic. Cooperation of all involved is essential. Trial registration ID: DRKS00022166 15/6/2020 Key Points ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Clinical Trial DRKS00022166 15/6/2020 https://www.who.int/ictrp/search/en/ ### Funding Statement The Centre for Public Health and Health Services Research of the Paracelsus Medical University received funding from the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre for the scientific accompaniment of the monitoring concept presented in this manuscript. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The need for ethical approval was waived (statement of the ethics board of Salzburg county, ID 415-EP/73/820-2020), informed consent was provided by all participants All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes Original data are stored on the server of the Paracelsus Medical University of Salzburg and are available upon request.