Summary Injury and health registries have become essential tools in all disciplines of sports medicine, particularly in professional football, where player health, availability, and performance are closely linked. These registries serve as a foundation for understanding injury patterns, identifying risk factors, and guiding evidence-based prevention strategies. Drawing from established models such as the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Injury Surveillance Program, OSTRC (Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center) Health Monitoring programme in Norway and the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Injury Study, registries allow for large-scale epidemiological analysis and foster collaboration among medical professionals. In Germany, various registry initiatives have emerged in recent years, including media-based surveillance systems, sport-specific injury databases, and a dedicated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) registry. These have yielded valuable insights into injury burden, return-to-play timelines, and long-term career impacts, especially in high-risk populations such as amateur athletes. The newly introduced `Bundesliga Registry` in Germany`s top professional leagues represents a significant step forward, offering real-time, physician-led data collection and fostering interdisciplinary discussion on injury management. Beyond data analysis, these registries serve as a platform for shared learning and the development of medical guidelines tailored to football-specific challenges. By directly involving team doctors and physiotherapists in the review processes, registry systems help ensure that medical strategies remain both practical and collaborative. As the landscape of football medicine continues to evolve, injury and health registries will play an increasingly central role in optimizing player care, enhancing prevention, and ultimately supporting the long-term sustainability of the sport. Purpose of this narrative review is therefore to summarize advantages of registers in sports but also to discuss its limitations. Autorreferat
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