Custom Team Hoodies: How to Order for a Whole Roster

Ordering custom team hoodies for a whole roster is mostly a paperwork problem. The printing is the easy part. The hard part is getting thirty sizes, twentynames and a dozen numbers right the first time, so nobody shows up to the first cold practice with the wrong hoodie.

We print and decorate hoodies for youth leagues, high school programs, club teams and rec squads across Clark County and the Portland metro. Over time we have learned where orders go sideways and how to stop it. This guide covers blanks, decoration methods, names and numbers, sizing, pricing and the order sheet that makes it all painless.

If you already have a logo and a rough head count, you can skip straight to the quote form. Otherwise, read on.

Which hoodie blank should a team pick?

Start with the garment, because it drives both the price and how happy the kids are. There are three broad choices.

• Standard pullover. The classic 8 ounce cotton poly fleece hoodie. Lowest cost, lots of colors, good for youth leagues and fundraisers.
• Heavyweight pullover. Thicker fleece, often 10 ounces or more. Warmer, holds its shape, feels like a hoodie people want to wear off the field. Costs more per piece. Our post on heavyweight hoodies and tees explains the difference you can feel.
• Performance or tech fleece. Poly based, lighter, dries fast. Common for football sideline gear and travel teams. Needs a bit more care when pressing.
• Zip up. Easier to put on over pads and gear. Logo placement is different because of the zipper. See custom zip up hoodies for where the art goes.

Pick a blank that comes in both youth and adult sizes in the same color, so the whole roster matches. Not every style does. We check that before we quote.

How are custom team hoodies decorated?

There are three ways we put art on a hoodie, and most team orders use a mix.

DTF printing. We print the design on film and heat press it onto the fleece. Full color, any number of colors, no setup fee per color, and it works for one hoodie or a hundred. This is how we handle most custom sports hoodies today, especially when the logo has shading or several colors. It also makes individual names and numbers simple, since each one is just a different print.

Screen printing. Ink pushed through a screen, one screen per color. It shines on big orders with one or two colors. Setup costs make it a poor fit for small rosters or for names.

Embroidery. Thread stitched into the fabric. Great for a small left chest logo and for coaches’ gear. We handle embroidery for you, so ask us when you quote. Thread does not work well for big back prints or for player names on a budget.

A common setup for custom team sweatshirts is a DTF or screen printed logo on the front, a DTF name and number on the back, and an embroidered logo for the coaching staff. Mixing methods in one order is normal.

Names and numbers: how to get them right

Names and numbers are where orders break. One wrong spelling and a kid is sad. Here is how we keep it clean.

• Collect names in writing, from the parents, in one spreadsheet. Not from a group text. Not from memory.
• Decide on last name only, first name only, or nickname. Pick one rule for the whole team.
• Check for duplicate numbers before you send the sheet.
• Long names get narrower letters, not smaller letters. We adjust so every name fits the same height.
• Order one or two blanks with a logo but no name. Late adds happen on every team.

We send a proof that lists every name, number and size on one page. Someone from the team signs off on that list before anything prints. That step catches almost everything.

How do you size a roster without trying everything on?

Sizing is the second place orders go wrong. A few rules help.

Send the brand’s size chart with the order form. Parents can measure a hoodie the kid already likes and match the chest width. When someone is between sizes, go up. Hoodies shrink a little and kids grow a lot. Youth large and adult small overlap, and most families would rather have the adult small.

For a bigger program, ask us about a sizing kit. We can often bring a run of sample sizes to a practice so players try them on. It adds a few days up front and saves a pile of swaps later.

What should the order sheet include?

One sheet, one row per player. This is what we need to quote and print without a dozen follow up emails.

Add coaches and parents as extra rows. Parent hoodies are a nice fundraiser and they are the same order to us.

How much do custom team hoodies cost?

Typical industry pricing for a finished team hoodie with a front logo and a back name and number lands somewhere in the range of thirty five to sixty dollars each, depending on the blank. Heavyweight and performance fleece sit at the top. Basic pullovers with a one location print sit at the bottom. Your quote depends on size, quantity and the garment.

Price per piece drops as the roster grows, and it drops again when a program orders for several teams at once. Our post on bulk custom shirts and hoodies explains where the price breaks usually fall and how lead times shift with volume.

Custom football hoodies and custom baseball hoodies follow the same math. The difference is timing. Football gear needs to land before the season turns cold in October. Baseball gear is wanted for early spring practices when it is still wet and grey out, which in Vancouver means March. Plan backward from the first game.

When should a team order?

Earlier than feels necessary. Blanks have to be ordered in, names have to be collected, and a proof has to be approved. Turnaround after approval is usually a few business days, but the weeks before fall and spring seasons are busy for every shop. Ask us for current turnaround and we will confirm when you quote.

A good rule is to start the order about a month before you need hoodies in hand. That leaves room for one round of size fixes and a couple of late roster adds. If the team also wants hats, add them to the same order and read our guide to custom baseball hats for teams.

Ready to order? See our custom hoodies and sweatshirts page for options, what to send us, and how to get a quote.

Questions people ask

Is there a minimum order for team hoodies?

Not for DTF. We can do a single hoodie or a full program. Screen printing and embroidery make more sense at a dozen or more pieces because of setup. We will suggest the method that fits your count.

Can every player have a different name and number?

Yes. That is normal for team orders. Each back print is its own transfer, so there is no setup penalty for making every one unique. Send the roster on one sheet and we will match it on the proof.

Can we mix youth and adult sizes in one order?

Yes, and most teams do. We pick a blank that comes in both ranges in the same color so the whole team matches. The logo is scaled a little smaller on youth sizes so it looks right.

What if a player joins after the order ships?

We keep your art on file, so a single add is easy. It costs a bit more per piece than the main order and depends on the blank being in stock. Ordering one or two extras up front is the cheaper way to cover late adds.

Have a roster to outfit? Send us the idea and a rough quantity and we will send a proof and a price.