<P> Because zero is neither positive nor negative, the term nonnegative is sometimes used to refer to a number that is either positive or zero, while nonpositive is used to refer to a number that is either negative or zero . Zero is a neutral number . </P> <Ul> <Li> Goal difference in association football and hockey; points difference in rugby football; net run rate in cricket; golf scores relative to par . </Li> <Li> Plus - minus differential in ice hockey: the difference in total goals scored for the team (+) and against the team (−) when a particular player is on the ice is the player's + / − rating . Players can have a negative (+ / −) rating . </Li> <Li> Run differential in baseball: the run differential is negative if the team allows more runs than they scored . </Li> <Li> British football clubs are deducted points if they enter administration, and thus have a negative points total until they have earned at least that many points that season . </Li> <Li> Lap (or sector) times in Formula 1 may be given as the difference compared to a previous lap (or sector) (such as the previous record, or the lap just completed by a driver in front), and will be positive if slower and negative if faster . </Li> <Li> In some athletics events, such as sprint races, the hurdles, the triple jump and the long jump, the wind assistance is measured and recorded, and is positive for a tailwind and negative for a headwind . </Li> </Ul> <Li> Goal difference in association football and hockey; points difference in rugby football; net run rate in cricket; golf scores relative to par . </Li> <Li> Plus - minus differential in ice hockey: the difference in total goals scored for the team (+) and against the team (−) when a particular player is on the ice is the player's + / − rating . Players can have a negative (+ / −) rating . </Li>

Which is an example of a situation where a zero is not considered