The unknown mystery behind sports players’ jersey numbers
There’s actually a reason why sports players take time to pick their jersey numbers! It’s not just about their favorite numbers: it has been scientifically proven that our brains tend to see these numbers in different ways. A study conducted by University of California, Los Angeles UCLA revealed that the number on a player’s jersey affects spectators’ perception of the player's body size.
Even though two same-body-shaped players wear different numbers, one with 59 and another with 1, the one with the 1 would look slimmer than the other. This can be explained rather simply: When you look at bigger numbers, you think of a bigger size or length. For example, when you see the text “10000m”, you would think of a long distance; the same goes for the jerseys on a player’s back. When your brain sees a big number, it will realize its degree of size: this is because our brain naturally expects a bigger number to be big.
A player’s number could also represent someone else. When a player has the same jersey number as another amazingly good player, you would naturally be inclined to think that they look good as well. The number’s meaning could similarly affect the player: for example, a player with a jersey number of 7 may lead people to assume that they are a lucky player. This is often the case in many schools: Students love the number 7 simply because Son Heung Min, a very famous Korean soccer player, wears the number. At school, they tend to all fight for the number, making it one of the most popular jersey options.
The visibility that the jersey number provides on the uniform is another factor that affects a player’s wise and careful choice. A larger number can be seen far in the distance, as larger numbers take up a lot of space, allowing us to recognize the players more easily. As quick identification of players is crucial within sports games, this would allow the audience to see the player clearly, also influencing their gameplay.
In conclusion, sports players tend to take a long time to choose their jersey numbers. Though they could choose their numbers based on their favorite preferences, such as their birthday or special dates, it actually could mean a lot more to the audience as it affects our perspectives of the player. The numbers, although seemingly insignificant, will exhibit something different to us from what many players might expect.
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