3 (number) - in Sports

In Sports

• In association football:
  • The squad number 3 is assigned in most cases to the starting left defender or fullback.
  • In almost all leagues, and in the group phases of most international competitions, 3 competition points are awarded for a win.
• In bowling, 3 strikes in a row is called a turkey.
• In Gaelic football, hurling and camogie, a "goal", with a scoring value of 3, is awarded when the attacking team legally sends the ball into the opponent's goal.
• In ice hockey, a game consists of 3 periods of twenty minutes each.
• In rugby union, 3 is the jersey number of the starting tighthead prop. It is also the number of points received for a successful drop goal or penalty kick.
• In rugby league, 3 is the jersey number of the starting right centre threequarter (except in the European Super League, which uses static squad numbering).
• In baseball, 3 is the number of strikes before the batter is out and the number of outs per side per inning. It also represents the first baseman's position.
• In basketball:
  • A shot made from behind the three-point arc is worth 3 points (except in the 3x3 variant, in which it is worth 2 points).
  • 3 is used to represent the small forward position.
  • A potential "three-point play" exists when a player is fouled while successfully completing a two-point field goal, thus being awarded one additional free throw attempt.
  • On offense, the "3-second rule" states that an offensive player cannot remain in the opponent's free throw lane for more than 3 seconds while his team is in possession of the ball and the clock is running.
  • In the NBA only, the defensive 3-second violation, also known as "illegal defense", states that a defensive player cannot remain in his own free throw lane for more than 3 seconds unless he is actively guarding an offensive player.
• The number of the famous NASCAR stock car that Dale Earnhardt drove for nearly 20 years before his death in 2001. In IROC, Hélio Castroneves had his car number changed from his standard 3 (which he drives in the Indy Racing League) to number 03. In NASCAR's Nationwide Series, the #3 car is currently driven by Austin Dillon, grandson of Earnhardt's friend and former employer Richard Childress.
• A hat-trick in sports is associated with succeeding at anything three times in three consecutive attempts, as well as when any player in ice hockey or soccer scores three goals in one game (whether or not in succession). In cricket, if a bowler takes 3 wickets in a row it is called a hat trick.
• In volleyball, 3 is the number of sets needed to be won to win the whole match. The number is also important because of the "3-metre line", a line on either side of the court 3 metres from the net, which restricts certain attacking plays by back-row players.
• In both American football and Canadian football, the number of points received for a successful field goal. (An exception is in six-man football where the field goal is worth four points.)
• In Canadian football, the last down before a team loses possession on downs. Usually, a team faced with a third down will punt (if far from the opponent's goal line) or attempt a field goal (if relatively close).
• A triathlon consists of three events: swimming, bicycling, and running.
• The jersey number 3 has been retired by several North American sports teams in honor of past playing greats or other key figures:
  • In Major League Baseball:
    • The Atlanta Braves, for Dale Murphy.
    • The Chicago White Sox, for Harold Baines.
    • The Cleveland Indians, for Hall of Famer Earl Averill.
    • The Minnesota Twins, for Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.
    • The New York Yankees, for Hall of Famer Babe Ruth.
    • The San Francisco Giants, for Hall of Famer Bill Terry, who played for the team when it was based in New York City.
  • In the NFL:
    • The Chicago Bears, for Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski.
    • The Green Bay Packers, for Hall of Famer Tony Canadeo.
    • The Kansas City Chiefs, for Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud.
  • In the NBA:
    • The Boston Celtics, for Hall of Famer Dennis Johnson.
    • The New Jersey Nets, for Hall of Famer Dražen Petrović.
  • In the NHL:
    • The Boston Bruins, for Lionel Hitchman.
    • The Chicago Blackhawks, for Keith Magnuson and Hall of Famer Pierre Pilote.
    • The Edmonton Oilers, for Al Hamilton.
    • The Montreal Canadiens, for Hall of Famer Émile Bouchard.
    • The New Jersey Devils, for Ken Daneyko.
    • The New York Rangers, for Hall of Famer Harry Howell.
    • The St. Louis Blues, for Bob Gassoff.
    • The Quebec Nordiques retired the number for J. C. Tremblay. However, the team moved to Denver as the Colorado Avalanche after the 1994–95 season, and the Avalanche placed all of the Nordiques' retired numbers back into circulation.
• Five association football clubs are also known to have retired the number 3:
  • Al-Ahly of Egypt, for defender Mohamed Abdelwahab, who died in 2006 during a club training session.
  • A.C. Milan of Italy, for longtime defender Paolo Maldini. He stipulated that if either of his two sons ever makes Milan's first team, they can choose to wear the number.
  • Atlante of Mexico, for longtime goalkeeper Federico Vilar.
  • Internazionale of Italy, for longtime defender Giacinto Facchetti, who went on to serve as club president and died in that office.
  • Sturm Graz of Austria, for longtime defender Günther Neukirchner.
• In cricket, each wicket, located on each each of the pitch, is made of 3 stumps.