Facts and data on pictograms
Synonyms / Other Terms Used
Soccer, Football Field, Football Ground, Soccer Ground, Football Pitch, Football Stadium
Category
Sports, Ball Sports, Team Sports, Sporting Activities, Activities, Recreation, Tourism
Message / Function
For notice in general and to indicate the possibility of playing football (soccer)
| Source | Description | |
|---|---|---|
 |
González | Two human figures in movement plus a ball close to their legs/feet |
 |
SSRS | Human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 *) |
ON Testdesign | Side view of human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 |
SIS | Side view of human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 |
Bolivia | Side view of human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 |
Eco-Mo Foundation |
Human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 |
CNIS | Front view of human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 *) |
ÖNORM A 3011 | Human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 |
O'21 | Human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 |
O'88 | Human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 |
BS 8501:2002 | Human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 |
Erco | Human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 |
O'64 | Human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet |
 |
SVI | Football |
 |
SN 640 827 | Football |
 |
UKDT | Football |
 |
O'68 | Football |
 |
Klipartz | Football in front of goal |
 |
BS 8501:2002 | Human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet, grandstand in top left corner |
 |
O'24 | Football, top view of details of a football pitch behind |
Discussion
Among the plethora of pictograms signifying football/soccer, most show a human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet. Some just show a typical football. Displaying a second player or a football plus goal seems like adding unnecessary details, as the simpler concepts already convey the message well enough.
When Gehringer (1976) examined three variants for the referent Football in an Appropriateness Ranking Tests, a variant showing a just a football was ranked best, but the pictogram variant labelled SSRS (Swedish Standard Recreation Symbols, from Modley & Myers, Handbook of Pictorial Symbols) depicting a human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs/feet was very close.
In a follow up Comprehension Test conducted in Austria (Brugger, 1983) the two pictograms marked with *) were examined, and both variants revealed excellent comprehensibility. The pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation also proved to be remarkably comprehensable with a comprehension score of 92.7 in a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001). Fiori (2008) examined a map symbol similar to the pictogram from Erco, where 87.4 % of the responses were classified as correct. All these studies indicate that renderings of a human figure in movement plus a ball close to the figure's legs or feet usually result in good comprehensability concerning the message Football.
Recommendations
Based on test results available we recommend the use of an image like symbol No 91 of ÖNORM A 3011 part 4, as it is highly comprehensable and contrasts well to ball-games not intended. Showing just a typical football may work in many cases, but is inferior concerning differentiation from games like handball.
Tests of pictograms of referent Football
Brugger, Ch. (1983): Abschlußbericht über den Erkennungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated May 1983, Vienna.
Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.
Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.
Gehringer, J. (1976): Reihungstest über 18 Begriffe aus dem Sportwesen - Priorität I. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated January 1976, Vienna.
Updated 2023-07-29 by Ch.Brugger