Tournament Preparation: Last-Minute Jersey Ordering Tips
Custom jerseys for a tournament are a planning job, not a last-minute one. Rush production adds 25% to the whole order, so starting early is the cheaper way to look sharp on day one.
Count back from the first game
There are three stages between an idea and a box of jerseys:
- Design and proof: 3-4 business days, depending on revisions
- Production: 4-6 weeks after you approve the proof
- Shipping: 5-7 business days, depending on location
Add them up and start at least two months before the tournament. If the event is during a busy time, like the start of the season, start earlier. The proof stage moves as fast as your answers do, so pick one person to approve it.
Short on time? Rush production takes 3-4 weeks instead of 4-6 and adds 25% to the whole order. Contact us before you order.
Have your roster ready
Most delays come from missing information, not production. Before you start, collect:
- Every player's name as it should appear on the back
- Numbers, checked for duplicates
- Sizes, from the size chart on Resources
- Your logo file, ideally AI, EPS, PDF or SVG (a high-resolution PNG or JPG also works)
- Team colours, and any league or tournament rules on colours or numbers
Team Manager, our online roster and order tool, keeps names, numbers and sizes in one place and flags duplicate numbers.
Get sizes right the first time
Custom jerseys can't be returned for fit, and there won't be time to reorder before the event. Measure players against the size chart on Resources rather than going by what they wore last year.
Hockey jerseys come in YS, YM, YL, S, M, L, XL, XXL and GXXL, which has extra room for goalie gear. If a player is between sizes in the Classic or Pro cut, size up so the jersey fits over pads.
Keep the design readable
Tournament games are often watched by people who don't know your team. Clear numbers, strong contrast between the base colour and the lettering, and a logo that reads from the stands matter more than detail.
Your first mockup is free, and the digital proof shows every jersey, name and number before production. Check it line by line. Changes are free until you approve it, but a missed typo after approval will travel to the tournament with you.
Use the tournament package and order spares
The tournament package starts at 10 jerseys. If you order 20 in one design you get 1 free, and 50 in one design gets 3 free.
Order a spare jersey or two in common sizes for late roster changes. There's no minimum order and reorders of one jersey are fine, but a reorder still goes through production, so spares need to be in the first order.
When the jerseys arrive
Open the box as soon as it lands and check every jersey against your roster: name, number, size and colours. Report any defects within 7 days by email. We answer Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm Pacific, usually within 1-3 business days, so don't leave the check until the morning of the first game.
Wash them inside out in cold water and hang them to dry between games. Don't iron the print.