Team jersey

A modern summer, tight-fitting cycling jersey

A team jersey (also sports jersey) is a shirt worn by members of a sports team to identify their affiliation with the team. Jerseys display their wearers' names and/or numbers, and generally show the colours and logo of the team. Numbers are frequently used to identify individual players, since uniforms give players a similar appearance. A jersey may also carry the logo of the team's sponsor.

Jerseys are typically made from knitted fabrics, whose loop structure gives the stretch and recovery needed for athletic movement. Modern sports fabrics are often engineered for moisture transport, breathability and thermal regulation.

The history of team jerseys reflects the evolution of sportswear from simple identification garments into modern performance apparel. Over time, jerseys have become important symbols of team identity, culture, sponsorship, and fan support, combining functional design with visual representation of sporting organisations.

Examples

Cycling jersey

A cycling jersey is a specialised garment designed for road cycling. These jerseys are usually made from lightweight synthetic microfibre materials that wick moisture from the skin to aid evaporation, keeping the rider cool and dry. Key features include a zippered front, an elastic waistband, and rear pockets.

In the Tour de France, jerseys are awarded to the leaders of specific classifications after each stage:

Hockey jersey

The main garment of an ice hockey uniform, traditionally called a sweater, is known as a hockey jersey.[citation needed]

Basketball and baseball jerseys

Basketball jerseys are usually sleeveless. Baseball jerseys are usually button-up.[citation needed]

Guernsey

In Australian rules football, the player's shirt is known as a "guernsey".[citation needed]

Other

Other examples include cricket whites, the basketball uniform, the baseball uniform and the gridiron football uniform.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Shinn, W. E. (1 March 1955). "An Engineering Approach to Jersey Fabric Construction". Textile Research Journal. 25 (3): 270–277. doi:10.1177/004051755502500314. S2CID 137398059.
  2. ↑ Shishoo, Roshan (29 August 2005). Textiles in Sport. Elsevier. ISBN 9781845690885.
  3. ↑ "Team Jersey History". HAMCO Sports. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Tour de France: the jerseys". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 25 August 2026.