Table 1.
Description of the rules and mathematical outcomes obtained of each team sport, focusing on the substitutions.
| Variables | Soccer | Futsal | Basketball | Handball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| players on field/court | A | 11 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| available substitutes * | B | 12 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| total players available | C (A + B) | 23 | 14 | 12 | 16 |
| substitutions allowed | D | 3 | Unlimited *** | Unlimited *** | Unlimited *** |
| maximum players involved in a game (all substitutions allowed) | E | 14 (A + D) | 14 (C) | 12 (C) | 16 (C) |
| COVID-19: substitutions allowed ** | F | 5 | Unlimited *** | Unlimited *** | Unlimited *** |
| COVID-19: maximum players involved (all substitutions allowed) | G (A + F) | 16 | 14 | 12 | 16 |
| relative substitutions allowed/total players available | H (D/C) | 13% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| relative COVID-19: substitutions allowed/total players available | I (F/C) | 21.7% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| a substituted player can return to the game? | J | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| total game time and [half-time] (min) | K | 90 [15] | 40 [15] | 40 [19] | 60 [10] |
| total time load (A*K; min) | L | 990 | 200 | 200 | 420 |
| L/E (min/player) | M | 70.7 | 14.3 | 16.7 | 26.3 |
| COVID-19: L/G (min/player) | N | 61.9 | 14.3 | 16.7 | 26.3 |
| L/C *** if soccer could use all players available (min/player) | O | 43 | 14.3 | 16.7 | 26.3 |
| mitigation using COVID-19 substitutions allowed (from M to N) | P | −12.4% | −0% | −0% | −0% |
| mitigation using all substitutions allowed (from M to O) | Q | −39.2% | −0% | −0% | −0% |
* international and official competitions—minimum dimensions (for soccer); maximum allowed by rules; ** soccer has changed number of maximum substitutions allowed from 3 to 5, due to postponing the regular calendar caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; *** unlimited, using total players available (C).