Number (sports)
In team sports, the number, often referred to as the uniform number, squad number, jersey number, shirt number, sweater number, or similar (with such naming differences varying by sport and region) is the number worn on a player's uniform, to identify and distinguish each player (and sometimes others, such as coaches and officials) from others wearing the same or similar uniforms. The number is typically displayed on the rear of the jersey, often accompanied by the surname. Sometimes it is also displayed on the front and/or sleeves, or on the player's shorts or headgear. It is used to identify the player to officials, other players, official scorers, and spectators; in some sports, it is also indicative of the player's position.
The first use of jersey numbers is credited to a football team from New Zealand called the Nelson Football Club, who began wearing numbered jerseys in 1911. The numbers were used to help the spectators identify the players on the field, as well as to help the referee keep track of fouls and other infractions.
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics, an organization of association football historians, traces the origin of numbers to a 1911 association football match in Sydney,[1] although photographic evidence exists of numbers being used in Australia as early as May 1903 in a Fitzroy v Collingwood Australian rules football match.[2] Player numbers were used in a Queensland vs. New Zealand rugby match played on 17 July 1897, in Brisbane, Australia, as reported in the Brisbane Courier.[3]
Handball[edit]
According to the International Handball Federation, numbers from 1 to 99 can be used.[57]
The goalkeeper has often the number 12 or 1. 16 is also common.[58]
The field player has often the other numbers from 1 to 20. Sometimes the players has also the last two digits of the year of their birth.
Field hockey[edit]
In field hockey, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) does not specify a criterion for numbering players.[59] Nevertheless, in the 2018 Men's and Women's World Cup, the 18 players of each squad were numbered 1–32,[60] with number "1" generally given to goalkeepers, with some exceptions such as Canada men's, with forward Floris van Son[61] or India women's with midfielder Navjot Kaur, both wearing that number.[62]
In other hockey competitions controlled by the FIH, a similar numbering system (1–32 for squads made up of 18 players each) has been applied, such as the 2016 Summer Olympics for both, men's and women's squads.[63] This systems kept for the last men's and women's Champions Trophy held in Breda and Changzhou respectively.[64][65]
Other sports which feature players with numbered shirts, but where the number that may be worn is not relevant to the player's position and role are:
In water polo, players wear swim caps bearing a number. Under World Aquatics rules, the starting goalkeeper wears Number 1, the substitute goalkeeper wears Number 13, and remaining players wear numbers 2 though 12. In road bicycle racing, numbers are assigned to cycling teams by race officials, meaning they change from race to race. Each team has numbers in the same group of ten, excluding multiples of ten, for example 11 through 19 or 21 through 29. If a race has squads of smaller than nine, each still uses numbers from the same group of ten, perhaps 31 through 36 where the next squad will have 41 through 46. Usually, but not always, the rider who wears a number ending in 1 is the squad's leader and the one who will try for a high overall placing. If the race's defending champion is in the field, he or she wears number 1.
In floorball, all players are required to have number 1–99 on their jersey, but goalies are the only players who can wear number 1.
In volleyball competitions organised by the FIVB, players must be numbered 1–20.[74]