In the NFL, players who have been chosen as team captains frequently sport a "C" badge on their shirts. The "C" patch is worn on the upper right corner of the players chest and is in the teams colors. The number of stars under the "C" signifies the number of years a player has been a captain, with each star representing one year of service. If a player has been a captain for more than four seasons, the "C" on the patch is gold, and the stars are also gold. The years spent as a captain stay with a player when he changes teams. The NFL began formally acknowledging team captains in 2007, authorizing up to six members per club to wear the captains "C" on their shirts. However, teams are not required to designate captains, and some teams choose captains on a weekly basis, avoiding the "C" patch altogether.