Specialized Teamwear Solutions
What the A and C Mean on a Jersey
The two letters worn on the chest in hockey and lacrosse, why football uses an armband instead, and how the letter is actually applied to a garment.
The C stands for captain and the A for alternate captain, sometimes called assistant captain. The letters are worn on the upper chest of the jersey, usually on the wearer's left side, and they identify who speaks to the officials and who takes on the captain's role when the captain is off the ice or unavailable. Most leagues that use the convention allow one captain and up to two alternates in the lineup at a time, which is why a squad can carry more than two A-wearing players across a season but not on the same shift. The letters are a designation, not a rank in the military sense: an alternate does not outrank a teammate, they simply carry the same responsibility when the captain is absent. Football and rugby handle the same role differently. In soccer the captain wears an armband, which is a separate item rather than a garment decoration, and it moves with the player rather than being fixed to a shirt. Basketball has no letter convention at all, and leadership is usually indicated by who wears the captain's mark in a league that requires one. That difference matters for a kit order because it decides whether the lettering is part of the garment decoration or a separate accessory.
Published by POXIOL
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the C mean on a hockey jersey?
Captain. The letter marks the player who speaks to officials and leads the squad on the ice.
What does the A mean on a hockey jersey?
Alternate captain, also called assistant captain. The player carries the captain's responsibilities when the captain is off the ice or unavailable.
Why does soccer use an armband instead of a letter?
Because the captaincy in soccer travels with the player rather than being fixed to a shirt, so an armband can be handed over during a match.