Club shirts and polos: how to choose the right sizes

Why size is the real issue with a club order

Choosing a model takes five minutes. Distributing twenty jerseys among players of different builds takes much longer, and that's where costly mistakes happen. A unusable jersey in a kit can't be resold and isn't replaced for free.

The difficulty arises from three compounding factors: adult and child sizing charts that don’t overlap, size correspondences that vary from one supplier to another, and player numbers that change between ordering and delivery.

Adult sizing and child sizing

Child sizing is most often expressed in age or centimetres, while adult sizing uses letters. The transition from one to the other rarely occurs where expected: a fourteen-year-old player could fit into either depending on their shape.

For borderline categories, the safest solution is to try on a sample before ordering the entire set. Many clubs keep a set of sample sizes for this purpose.

How many sizes to plan for each category?

A squad of around twenty players generally requires three to four different sizes. For youth categories, size variation is greater than for adults, where two or three sizes often suffice to cover a group.

Planning for one or two additional pieces in the central sizes avoids having to reorder for a player who joins mid-season. This is the cheapest buffer to have.

Check availability before finalising

For a bulk order, availability must be checked size by size and for the chosen colour. A single missing size can halt the entire kit if the club wants uniformity.

Sticking to the same product line from the same supplier makes reordering easier later. A range carried over several seasons allows for adding a few pieces without visible differences from those already in circulation.

The rest of the club’s textiles

The other items complete the outfit: training tops, training trousers, shorts, socks, and jackets and puffers. The page Puma brings together everything from the brand.

Equipping your club on a budget

For a complete kit, the unit discount multiplies with the number of players. The club sale section and the club deals section gather opportunities in this category, and the clearance section covers end-of-line items from the site.

The Black Friday kicks off the season, followed by the end-of-year holidays, the winter sales, and the French Days in spring. Ordering at the end of the season, when player numbers are known, remains the safest time.

Frequently asked questions

How many sizes should be planned for a category?

Three to four sizes for around twenty youth players, two or three for adults where variation is less. One or two extra pieces in central sizes will prevent the need for a reorder.

Do child and adult sizing charts overlap?

No, and the transition from one to the other is more about shape than age. For borderline categories, trying on a sample before ordering remains the safest method.

Are sizes the same from one brand to another?

Not necessarily. Correspondences vary depending on the supplier and sometimes even within the same brand. The size chart displayed on the product page provides actual measurements.

Can a kit be reordered mid-season?

Yes, if the line is still available in the catalogue, which is often the case for ranges continued over several seasons. This is a criterion to consider when making the initial choice.

Where can I find club textiles at reduced prices?

In the club deals section and the club sale section.