Number (sports)

The back number is attached on the jerseys of athletes in team sports. Thus, the identification of each athlete by referees and spectators easier. In most sports, the size of the numbers is statically defined. Depending on the sport are static numbers on either at every game, every tournament or for an entire season.

In some sports were or are the back numbers for certain positions of the athletes within the team.

Solid back numbers are now common especially among professional athletes popular sports. In addition, the players name is printed above or below the seat number on the jersey often. Many players feel out of superstition with certain numbers particularly well, or dial a number with a personal reference.

• 2.1 Examples of protected shirt numbers in football
• 2.2 Examples of protected back numbers in handball

Sports

American Football

The numbers usually have a fixed assignment to positions, not least to the orientation of the referee. While this assignment is not mandatory according to the rules of the NCAA, but it is strongly recommended to assign the numbers according to the scheme usual in the NFL. For the offensive line numbering, however, is given with numbers 50-79 during normal moves, for example because they catch no balls and otherwise (eg Fumble ) only touch the ball as a free ball or while passing trains of before throwing Balls are not allowed to run forward. In most cases the numbers are assigned according to the following scheme:

An exception in the NFL was the longtime center of the Oakland Raiders, Jim Otto. He was the only player in NFL history to 00th

Basketball

In Europe, basketball jersey numbers were long confined to the numbers 4 to 15, so that players numbers could be displayed by the arbitrators simply by show of hands. ( The hand sign for 1, 2 and 3 are used for other purposes. ) Currently, the numbers 4-25, 30-35, 40-45 and 50-55 are in the German Basketball Bundesliga common because they can be easily displayed by the referees.

In the American professional league NBA players could always choose all single-digit and two-digit numbers.

One of the famous jersey number is number 23, which was made ​​by Michael Jordan popular.

Baseball

A first precursor of the back number was in the U.S. in 1916, a number of the players of the baseball team the Cleveland Indians, which was worn on the sleeve.

There is no mapping of playing position and jersey number, the numbers can be assigned freely within the teams according to different criteria. In addition to the ongoing cardinal numbers from 1-99, there are the series 0-9 with a leading zero (00, 01, 02 etc.) and the single zero "0". The Official Baseball Rules ( OBR ) require, in the rule 1.11.a (1 ) that " has to be the play clothes provided with a different for each player shirt number, which must not be less than 15 cm ".

Hockey

In ice hockey, each player can choose any number between 1 and 99, in accordance with the IIHF rules on the back (25-30 cm high) and ( 10 cm high) to be attached to the sleeves. In addition, the number is often mounted on the front of the player tricots and the nozzle. Furthermore, the players name to be attached at a height of 10 cm above the back number in capital letters at international meetings. A special feature in the NHL: There will wear the number 99 Wayne Gretzky is locked and is no longer awarded.

Football

In football jersey numbers were according to some sources the first time Chelsea used on August 25, 1928 in England in the games against Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday against Swansea City. Other sources suggest the English Cup final in 1933 between Everton and Manchester City as the first football game with back numbers, with the player from Everton numbers 1 to 11 and the player from Manchester, the numbers 12 to 22 were wearing. Other sources postulate the use of shirt numbers in Australia as early as the year 1911 when the teams of Sydney's Leichhardt and HMS Powerful first wore numbers on which duty was performed in all official competitions of the Australian state of New South Wales from 1912.

For international matches, jersey numbers 1-11 were provided from 1939 for all teams, with the numbers provided evidence on the positions of the players in the tactical 2-3 5 system:

. In the current systems, as in 4-1-2-1-2 z.Bsp, the distribution looks more like this:

In the game system 4-2-3-1, which prevailed in the season 2009/2010 in Europe, the numbers are distributed as follows:

Later on, the shirt number was no longer bound to a position. For example, forgave the Dutch ( with the exception of No. 14 for Johan Cruyff ) at the Football World Cup in Germany in 1974 and Argentina in 1974 ( with the exception of sections 1, 12 and 21 of the goalkeeper ) and 1978 and 1982 ( with the exception of 10 for Diego Maradona ), the back numbers alphabetically. 1986 made ​​the Argentines exceptions for Daniel Passarella (No. 6), Diego Maradona (No. 10) and Jorge Valdano (No. 11). 1990 there were still a mixture of alphabetical numbering and exceptions, until 1994, the Argentine turned the usual system of numbering of the regulars at.

In German football shirt numbers were not introduced until the season 1948/49. The 1st FC Nuremberg initially refrained still on jersey numbers and took over this until 1951. Up to and including 1994/95 there were in the German clubs no solid numbers on, so that in the starting eleven on each match the shirt numbers of 1 were represented to 11. Only a few years after the introduction of solid numbers on the clubs have embarked on, in addition to also print the names of the players on the jerseys.

Even in modern football some back numbers are often not assigned with reference to specific locations. The back number one usually gets a goalkeeper, in most cases, the goalkeeper of the team. As a " six " is often a defensive midfielder called, but the rarely wears the number 6. The " 10 " is often assigned to a central midfield player. The numbers "9" and "11" are still often given to striker.

The choice of shirt numbers subject to certain limitations. International are basically only a maximum of two -digit numbers are allowed back. An exception was the FIFA Andreas Herzog in his 100th game he was allowed 100 dispute with the back number. In international tournaments such as the World Championships or European Championships consecutive numbers are obligatory since 2008. The German football league puts the clubs in the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga close in principle to make a continuous numbering of the back numbers, so that the highest shirt number is related to the actual size of the first team. With the start of the Bundesliga season 2011/12, led the DFL a ban for back numbers beyond 40. If a squad over forty players must be numbered consecutively. Did not apply to players who had a higher number back at their club before this season. With the back number " 77 " added Andreas Görlitz in the service of Karlsruher SC during the 2007/2008 season, the highest ever assigned back number in German professional football.

In football, the size and position of the back number is usually precisely controlled. For example, the FIFA decreed for the 2006 World Cup, that the numbers between 25 and 35 inches had to be large, and had color distinct themselves from the jersey color. To check the participating associations patterns jerseys had sent before the tournament. The numbers are no longer limited to the back of the jersey, but first apply to the front of the pants ( at the World Championships in 1974 ) and then worn on the front of the jersey ( in the World Championships starting in 1994 ) for several years. This is to facilitate the work of the referee trailer combination.

Handball

The player must be on the jersey back of at least 20 cm and the jersey-front have at least 10 cm high visible numbers. This must be either numbers from 1 to 99. Players who switch between outfield and goalkeeper positions must wear the same number. The color of the numbers must stand out clearly with the colors and design of the shirt.

Rugby

In Rugby Union, also called Fifteen Rugby, the back numbers are tied to the positions of the players. The 15 players on each team are subdivided into eight forwards (forwards ) and seven back line players ( Backs ). The forwards play in jerseys with the back numbers 1 to 8, the backs with the back numbers 9 to 15

Numbers 1 to 3 form the crowd the first 4-5 and the second 6-8, the third row. The positions 9 to 10 as halfback, 11 to 14 as a three-quarter series and the 15 designated as goalkeeper.

A schematic drawing with all player positions, see the related article.

Fistball

In fistball the back numbers are limited to the number 1-20 on a national and international level. Below the national leagues, higher numbers may be worn. The blocking of numbers is not common here. The German Faust Ball League has determined that in the national leagues numbers are to be worn front and back of the jersey and the front of the pants.

Volleyball

In volleyball, the back numbers from 1 to 18 in the International Volleyball (FIVB ) and from 1 to 99 at the national level (DVV ) are allowed. The number should be deposited on the jersey color. The numbers are often arbitrarily distributed and independent of power, position or age, etc. The numbers must be at least 20 inches tall and 2 inches wide and always be placed in the center.

Protected shirt numbers

For North America the trend, comes back numbers of popular athletes after their careers end not forgive ( retired numbers, "protected back numbers "). This was happening for the first time in 1934 in ice hockey. It was the number 3 jersey of Lionel Hitchman, who played for the Boston Bruins. Protecting the number is usually associated with a formal ceremony, during which the player's jersey is hung above the playing field.

A more interesting example is the basketball player Michael Jordan, who first retired in 1993. Then, his number 23 was protected by the Chicago Bulls. And even when he returned three years later, he had to choose a new number, this time the 45th

The first protected back number in baseball was on July 4, 1939, the number 4 team in the New York Yankees in memory of Lou Gehrig. A special case in the MLB is the number 42, which was worn by Jackie Robinson with the Brooklyn Dodgers. This number was protected by his career not only by the Dodgers, but of the entire league, so no player of the MLB 42 may carry more. An exception were the players who wore at the time of closure 42, they were allowed to wear the shirt number to its End of career further. Protecting the number came as an honor that Robinson was the first African American to the exclusion of African-American players broke through 1947 in the MLB, which had existed since 1880.

In addition to the number 42 in the MLB there is yet another league far protected number in the North American sports leagues. These are the 99 that one of the most world's best hockey player, Wayne Gretzky wore. She was detained after his career end for the entire NHL.

In Europe, there are more and more sports teams that have guarded the back numbers in the recent past.

Examples of protected shirt numbers in football

• After the retirement of Diego Maradona, the Argentine Football Association tried to allocate 10 no longer wear the number in international matches. However, the FIFA under tied this plan on the grounds that this is too unusual.
• The back number 10 by Diego Maradona is no longer assigned when Napoli.
• The back number 10 by Ferenc Puskas is no longer awarded for Honved Budapest ( posthumously ).
• In line with this, to refer to the fans as the " twelfth man ", among other things, awarded many clubs in the Bundesliga as well as the Austrian national football team (if possible) will wear the number 12 does not.
• After the retirement of Peter Schöttel 5 from SK Rapid Vienna for ten years has been banned (until 2011 ).
• After the retirement of Franco Baresi has been banned until further 6 from AC Milan. Baresi played 20 seasons long at AC Milan.
• The back number 3 of Paolo Maldini was not awarded after the end of his career after the 2008 /2009 season at AC Milan. You will only be given again when one of Maldini's sons is a professional player at AC Milan.
• The back number 14 by Johan Cruyff is not awarded since April 25, 2007, the 60th birthday of Cruyff at Ajax Amsterdam.
• The number 16 is no longer awarded after the death of Antonio Puerta at Sevilla FC.
• The back number 10 is no longer awarded at Legia Warsaw after the death of Kazimierz Deyna.
• The back number 11 is no longer awarded at Wacker Burghausen after the death of Marek Krejčí.
• The back number 23 is no longer awarded at Manchester City after the death of Marc -Vivien Foe.
• The back number 29 is no longer awarded at Benfica after the sudden death of Miklós Fehér on 25 January 2004 respect.
• The back number 40 is no longer awarded at Swansea City after the death of Besian Idrizaj.
• Out of respect for one of the greatest players who ever wore the blue-black jersey Inter Milan, the club's management Giacinto Facchetti shirt number decided not to assign "3".
• The back number 21 is no longer awarded to FC St. Pauli in honor of Holger Stanislawski.

Examples of protected back numbers in handball

• Wear the number 2 Magnus Wislander THW Kiel,
• Wear the number 6 by László Marosi TBV Lemgo and
• Will wear the number 10 by Oleg Velyky HSV Hamburg after his death
• Will wear the number 11 by Volker Zerbe, also TBV Lemgo (which, however, he himself later recanted in his capacity as Managing Director of the TBV Lemgo and the newcomer Holger Glandorf number 11 zuwies ).