How to Order Club Shirts Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Weekend)

Let’s fix that. Here’s how to handle sports team apparel and group uniform printing in a way that feels organised, fair, and not like a full‑time job.

Start With the Purpose, Not the Shirt

Before you look at catalogues, work out what these shirts are actually for.

Are they for game day, training, fundraising, or all three? Are they meant to last one season or a few years? Do you need them to look sharp for photos and presentations, or mainly survive mud, sweat, and the changerooms?

If they’re for games and events, you’ll want better quality fabric, cleaner printing, and a design that photographs well. Training gear can be a bit more relaxed and hard‑wearing. Fundraiser tees might be simpler again, with more focus on getting the club clothing order out at a price people are happy to pay.

Once you know the purpose, decisions about style, fabric, and budget become much easier.

Keep the Design Simple and Proud

Every club has seen at least one over‑designed shirt: ten logos, three gradients, and numbers you can’t read from the sideline.

A good club shirt does three things. It shows who you are. It feels like your colours and culture. And it’s readable from a distance. That means a clear club name or logo, strong colours, and numbers that actually stand out on the field or court.

You don’t need to cram every sponsor onto the front. Spread them sensibly between front, back, and sleeves, and keep them sharp and legible so they look like real partners, not clip‑art stickers. A cleaner design usually prints better, ages better, and people are more likely to actually wear it off the field too.

If your existing logo artwork is a bit rough, it’s worth getting it tidied up before you print. Clean files make a huge difference to how professional your sports team apparel looks.

Choose Fabrics That Suit How You Play

Not all shirts are built for the same job. Cotton feels nice for casual wear, but it can get heavy and clingy when everyone’s sweating through a Saturday game. Performance fabrics breathe better for sport, while heavier cotton or cotton blends can be great for off‑field merch and committee wear.

Think about your climate and your sport. Netball in summer wants breathable, light fabrics. Footy in winter might need something that layers well over thermals. A school music group might be fine in a neat cotton polo that looks smart on stage.

Tell your printer how and where the shirts will be used. That helps them recommend fabrics and printing methods that survive repeated washes, mud, and the occasional “left in the bag for a week” incident.

Get Sizes Right Without Guesswork

Sizing is where a lot of club shirt ordering goes sideways. Guessing sizes for a whole team is a guaranteed way to end up with a pile of unworn shirts and a few disappointed players.

The best approach is to get actual size samples or a clear size chart early, and give people a simple way to choose. If you can, run a quick try‑on at training or a meeting. One night of organised chaos is better than a full season of “this doesn’t fit”.

If in‑person try‑ons aren’t possible, share a proper size chart with measurements, not just “S/M/L”, and remind everyone once or twice before the cut‑off. It’s boring, but it saves you from firefighting later.

For juniors, consider building in a little “growing room” and making that clear in the comms. Parents would rather a slightly roomy shirt than one that’s tight by round three.

Set a Clear Order Process and Deadline

A club clothing order falls apart when it lives in five different inboxes and three committee members’ heads.

Pick one ordering method—an online form, a simple spreadsheet, or physical order slips—and stick to it. Make sure every order captures the key details: name, team, size, quantity, and any customisation like names or numbers.

Set a firm deadline and explain why it matters. Printers work to schedules, and so do seasons. If late orders come in, decide upfront how you’ll handle them: add a second small run later, or let people know they’ll need to wait for the next bulk order. Being clear early saves arguments later.

If possible, collect payment at the time of order, not after. That way you’re not chasing people while also trying to coordinate deliveries.

Order the Right Quantity (Not Just “Heaps”)

Printing in bulk usually brings the per‑shirt price down, but that doesn’t mean “more is always better”.

Think about:

How many confirmed orders you have.

How many spares you realistically need for new members or size swaps.

Whether you’ll reuse the same design next season, or refresh it.

A few extra shirts in common sizes can save headaches, but three boxes of random sizes living in the storage cupboard for years is money you didn’t need to spend. Talk to your printer about sensible minimums and price breaks so you can land in the sweet spot.

If you’re trying a new design or supplier, it can be smarter to start with a slightly smaller group uniform printing run, see how it wears and washes, and then top up once you know people are happy.

Communicate Like a Human, Not a Form Letter

Parents, players, and volunteers are busy. The way you talk about the order can make it feel like a hassle or like a simple way to support the club.

Keep updates short and clear. Explain what’s being ordered, how much it costs, what the deadline is, and how payment works. Add one line about why it matters—team identity, professionalism, supporting the club—and you’re done.

Share a mockup or photo if you can. People are much more likely to commit when they can see what they’re getting, not just read about it.

And once the order’s placed, give a rough timeframe and one or two updates as it moves along. “Order is in, shirts should land mid‑March” is enough to stop the “any news?” messages.

Work With a Printer Who Understands Clubs

Clubs and schools aren’t the same as corporate orders. You’re juggling volunteers, seasons, budgets, and a lot of moving parts.

When you’re choosing a printer for your club clothing order, look for someone who:

Gets how teams and age groups work.

Can handle names and numbers properly.

Is happy to talk through fabric and fit, not just show you a catalogue.

Bring your logo, colours, any sponsor details, and your rough numbers. Talk honestly about your budget and how often you think you’ll reorder. A good local printer will help you design shirts that look good, are practical to produce again next season, and don’t fall apart after a term of hard use.

Ordering for a whole club will probably never be “fun”, but it doesn’t have to be chaos. With a clear design, sensible fabrics, proper sizing, and a simple process, you can get everyone into shirts they’re proud to wear—and save your weekends for actually watching the game rather than chasing sizes.