Managing athletic gear across dozens of varsity, JV, and freshman teams is one of the most demanding tasks on an Athletic Director’s plate. Between tight department budgets, strict district deadlines, and high expectations from coaches and parents, ordering school apparel can quickly turn into a logistical headache.
When uniform orders go wrong, the fallout impacts everyone from delayed season openers to frustrated coaching staffs sorting through piles of mixed up sizes.
Avoiding these five common ordering mistakes will keep your department running efficiently and ensure your athletes look sharp on game day.
1. Waiting Too Long to Finalize Roster Sizes and Numbers
The most common cause of delayed uniform delivery is waiting on late roster additions or unconfirmed jersey numbers before placing an order.
High school athletes grow fast, and duplicate numbers between JV and varsity rosters create instant game day conflicts. Establishing a strict cutoff date for roster details well ahead of the season gives your production facility the lead time needed to deliver on schedule.
2. Collecting Cash and Paper Checks Manually
Forcing head coaches or athletic department assistants to collect paper order forms, cash, and personal checks for spirit wear is an outdated waste of time. It introduces tracking errors and creates unnecessary financial liability for your staff.
Switching to a modern online team store platform shifts payment collection entirely off your desk. Parents and supporters order directly online, and fan gear ships straight to their doorstep, keeping your department focused on athletics rather than payment tracking.
3. Accepting Unsorted Bulk Gear Shipments
Receiving fifty cardboard boxes stuffed with loose, unsorted jerseys and shorts turns your athletic office or gymnasium floor into a chaotic sorting facility. Staff and coaches end up spending valuable practice hours matching sizes, checking packing slips, and bundling gear by hand.
Always insist on gear that is manufactured, pre sorted, and bundled directly in house by player name and roster number. Pre sorted player packs mean coaches simply hand a pre packaged bundle directly to the athlete in under five minutes.
4. Mixing Up Decoration Methods Across On-Field and Off-Field Gear
Not all apparel decoration methods are built for the same purpose. Ordering basic screen printed jerseys for a high contact sport like lacrosse leads to cracked numbers and peeling logos halfway through the season. Conversely, using heavy appliqués on lightweight training gear creates stiff, uncomfortable tops that trap heat.
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Use Dye Sublimation for Game Uniforms: Fusing ink directly into performance fibers guarantees vibrant colors that will never peel or fade under tough game conditions.
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Use Quality Screen Printing or Embroidery for Sideline Wear: Reserve classic screen prints and embroidered logos for off field gear, such as performance tees, warmups, and travel hoodies.
5. Overlooking Program Wide Sideline Consistency
When varsity, JV, and freshman teams wear different shades of school colors or mismatched warmup styles, it dilutes your school's brand identity.
Standardizing core training pieces across all levels builds immediate unity. Equipping your athletic programs with cohesive pieces like the Gentry Active Short paired with the Gentry Active T-Shirt for practice, or the Gentry Midweight Hoodie and matching Gentry Midweight Trackpant for travel days establishes a clean, professional aesthetic department wide.
Streamline Your Athletic Department Logistics
Outfitting your high school athletic programs should be a smooth, repeatable process. By moving order management online, choosing custom dye sublimated game kits, and utilizing pre sorted player packs manufactured in our warehouse, you can eliminate administrative chaos and protect valuable practice time.
GOOSEIT delivers premium team wear and custom stores with a reliable 30 day turnaround following order approval.
Ready to simplify your player packs? Launch your online team store with GOOSEIT today.