Why a checklist pays off
Club orders rarely fail because of money — but almost always because of unclear requirements. Which sizes will actually be needed? Should the logos be embroidered or printed? Who pays in the end? Who picks up the fabric samples? A short checklist before ordering saves a lot of phone calls and complaints later. If you want to dive deeper, our club kit hub is a useful overview.
Step 1 — Clarify requirements
Before you ask for a quote anywhere, settle internally: what are the textiles for? Match shirts need different fabric than t-shirts for the summer party. Functional fabric (polyester, breathable) is mandatory for team sports — cotton is suitable for casual outfits, training jumpers and club hoodies. Note down: purpose of use, occasion, season (summer light, winter with hoodie/jacket), care requirement (60-degree-fast or only 30-degree wash?).
Tip: Ask the board whether the federation has any specifications (DFB, tennis association, shooting federation) — some leagues set minimum standards for player numbers and ad space.
Step 2 — Quantities and sizes
The most common pitfall: sizes get estimated rather than collected. Set up a Google sheet or a Doodle where every member enters their size. Plan for spares — typically 2-3 pieces per 20-shirt order in standard sizes (M, L, XL). For team sports: collect player numbers and double-check them.
Quantity recommendation:
- Football club (one team): 14-16 jerseys + 2 goalkeeper + 4 spares = around 22 pieces
- Tennis club (member polos): 30-50 pieces, all sizes
- Carnival group (parade shirts): 50-200 pieces
From 25 pieces our quantity discount kicks in — see our quantity discount calculator screen printing.
Step 3 — Choose material and brand
For team sports we recommend functional textiles with a polyester share, breathable. For club jumpers and casual wear, Stanley/Stella or B&C are ideal — organic cotton, GOTS certified, soft to the touch. Hakro is the choice for sturdy workwear-style club outfits (shooting clubs, traditional dress, helpers).
Order fabric samples in advance — many clubs avoid nasty surprises this way when the material looks completely different in real life than on screen. More on the brand in our Stanley/Stella brand guide.
Step 4 — Choose finishing (print or embroidery?)
The second-most important decision. Rule of thumb:
- Flex print — perfect for player numbers, names, single-colour logos. Very robust, ideal for sports and functional textiles.
- Screen print — pays off from 50 pieces, brilliant colours, very durable. Top for club t-shirts and carnival.
- Embroidery — high-quality and elegant, perfect for club polos, coach jackets and shooting clubs.
- Digital print/DTF — for small quantities with many colours or photo motifs.
Practical tip: Always go for flex on player numbers, screen print or embroidery for large chest logos — that is the standard professional clubs use.
Step 5 — Prepare logos
Club logos are often pixel files that are decades old. To get a sharp print, you need a vector file (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF). At ShirtStore we usually vectorise free of charge for club orders — just mention it in your enquiry. More in our article preparing logo files properly.
Do not forget: with sponsor logos you need written permission from the sponsor to use the logo on the shirts — easiest is a quick email confirmation.
Step 6 — Lead time and ordering
Plan at least four weeks. For embroidery and large quantities, more like five to six weeks. If your season starts in eight weeks — start now. Express is possible (10-14 days) but with a surcharge.
Before production you receive a digital mock-up for approval — check logos, spellings, player numbers and coach names very carefully. Typos in print are typos on every single shirt.
Use case 1 — Football club, new kit
22 home shirts in functional fabric, club logo on the chest (screen print or embroidery), player numbers on the back (flex), player name below the number (flex). Lead time from mock-up approval: about 14 working days. Budget per shirt incl. finishing: 28-45 euros depending on the fabric.
Use case 2 — Tennis club, polos for all members
50 polos in club colour, logo on the left chest (embroidery, given the polo character), no back print. With Stanley/Stella Stroller polo this looks high-end and lasts for years. Unit price incl. embroidery: 24-32 euros.