The Complete Guide to Custom Team Jerseys

A custom jersey is more than a uniform — it's a team's identity on the field, court, or diamond. The right jersey creates cohesion, projects professionalism, and gives every player a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves. At Precision Graphics in Tempe, Arizona, we've been outfitting Arizona teams and national programs with custom jerseys for over 40 years. This guide walks through everything a coach, athletic director, or team manager needs to know before placing a jersey order.

Choosing the Right Decoration Method for Your Sport

The decoration method you choose directly affects the durability, appearance, and cost of your jerseys. Here's a practical breakdown by sport and use case:

• Screen Printing — The most common method for team jerseys. Durable, vibrant, and cost-effective at quantity. Works on most jersey fabrics for any sport. Best for designs with defined colors and solid fills.
• DTF (Direct-to-Film) Printing — The right choice when your logo or crest has complex gradients, fine detail, or many colors. Full photographic accuracy with a soft hand feel.
• Tackle Twill — Fabric letters and numbers sewn directly onto the jersey. The premium, raised-letter look common in football and professional-grade baseball programs.
• Sublimation — Full all-over dye printing for polyester-blend jerseys. Used most often in soccer, basketball, and volleyball where full-coverage design is standard. Unlimited colors, edge-to-edge results.

Sport-by-Sport Jersey Considerations

Baseball & Softball: Button-front jerseys remain the traditional standard. Look for moisture-wicking, pinstripe, or solid-fabric options. Player number on the back is required by most leagues; name above the number and team name on the chest are standard placements.

Basketball: Reversible mesh jerseys offer the flexibility to use one set of jerseys for both home and away games. Numbers front and back are required by most governing bodies. Sublimation works exceptionally well for complex team designs on basketball cuts.

Football: Mesh body with durable shoulder and sleeve construction. Tackle twill numbers are preferred at the varsity and club level for their durability and professional look. Screen printing is more common at the rec league and youth level for cost efficiency.

Soccer: Lightweight, breathable polyester fabric is essential. Most competitive programs opt for sublimated jerseys to achieve the bold, pattern-based team looks common in modern soccer. Player numbers on the back and team crest on the chest are standard.

Volleyball: Form-fit and semi-fitted cuts in cap-sleeve and sleeveless styles. Lightweight, stretch fabrics with moisture management. Numbers front and back for competitive play; DTF printing handles sponsor logos and complex graphics cleanly on most volleyball jersey fabrics.

Player Names, Numbers, and Rosters

Providing a complete and accurate player roster — with names spelled exactly as they should appear, sizes, and numbers — before your order is finalized prevents delays and reprints. We recommend submitting a spreadsheet with player name, jersey number, size, and any secondary sizing (different top vs. bottom for baseball) for every player. Our team will flag any conflicts or duplicates during artwork review.

Brands We Carry

Our jersey catalog includes performance brands built specifically for sport, including Augusta Sportswear, Sport-Tek, High Five, Alleson Athletic, Holloway, and others. These brands provide the technical fabrics, constructed cuts, and durability that youth and adult competitive leagues demand. Visit our Tempe showroom at 1715 W 4th St to handle the actual fabrics and cuts before committing to a style.

Ordering Quantities and Turnaround

We work with teams and programs of all sizes — from a small recreational squad of 10 players to full school athletic departments ordering across multiple sports. Pricing scales with quantity. Standard production turnaround is 7–14 business days from the date you approve your artwork proof. Rush production is available for teams with tight deadlines — call us at 480-967-7015 to discuss options.

Who We Outfit

Over 40 years in the Valley, Precision Graphics has produced custom jerseys for youth recreational leagues, club and travel teams, middle school and high school athletic programs, college intramural and club sports, adult rec leagues, police athletic associations, church leagues, and corporate sports tournaments. If your team wears jerseys, we can make them yours.