School and sports club apparel: ordering without the headache

Most of the headaches in a school or club order come from three places: a style that doesn't come in every size you need, a club colour that isn't offered in the kids' version, and sizes that trickle in over weeks. The fix is to pick a range that runs from kids to adults in your colours, check it before anyone orders, and collect every size in one go. Here's how that works with ranges we list.

Pick a range that covers every age

A range that's made in men's, women's and kids' versions lets everyone wear the same garment in the same colour. On our Aussie Pacific listings, the style code tells you who each version is cut for: codes starting with 1 are men's, 2 are women's and 3 are kids'. The Hunter polo, for example, is 1312, 2312 and 3312.

The Hunter (men's, women's, kids') is the simplest choice for a club with an unusual colour, because every one of its 17 colours, from Kelly Green to Maroon, comes in all three. The Torquay hoodie (men's 1525, kids' 3525) has matching colours for seniors and juniors; we don't list a women's version. If your club runs on tees, our AS Colour team tee guide covers sizes from kids' 2 to adult 5XL, and our Be Seen team polo guide covers two more matching polo ranges.

What each range is built for

Then match the fabric to how the gear will be worn. Compare them all in our polo range.

• Hunter polo. 210gm 65% polyester, 35% cotton pique, listed as "Soft and breathable" with "Side splits for modern fit and enhanced movement". The listing pitches it for "a day in the office, on the golf course or supporting your favourite team", so it suits coaches, committee members and canteen helpers as much as players. For hard training it's heavier than the polyester options below.
• Tasman and Cottesloe polos. Both are listed as 100% polyester with a "Dri-wear antibacterial finish". The Tasman is a 150gm "Moisture removal micro-knit"; the Cottesloe is a 155gm "New mesh knit" with a jacquard knitted collar and cuff. The lighter, moisture-moving fabric makes sense for summer sport and carnival days, and the Cottesloe's collar looks smarter on officials. Polyester feels less like cotton against the skin, and the Tasman's neon colours carry a colour-matching warning (below).
• Paterson polo. 180gm 80% polyester, 20% cotton "Cotton back pique knit", which the listing says keeps "cotton sitting next to your skin", with contrast panels and piping. It suits a club with a two-colour strip. The kids' 3305 listing doesn't state a fabric weight, so ask before assuming it matches the adults'.
• JB's 210 polo. 210gsm 65/35 pique, "easy care and reduced pilling", with herringbone tape reinforced side splits. A good fit for families washing a uniform every week, but only 10 of its colours run across all three versions.
• Torquay and Paterson hoodies. The Torquay is "340gm 80% Cotton 20% Polyester" brushed fleece, "Ideal for layering in cooler weather", with a plain front the listing calls a "Blank canvas" for your logo. The 300gm 50/50 Paterson hoodie adds contrast panels and a contrast hood lining in its 10 two-colour combinations. Both suit winter training and sideline wear; neither comes in a women's version on our site.

Check the club colours, not just the colour names

• Kids' colour lists can be shorter. The Paterson kids' polo offers 8 colourways on our listing against 18 for the adults' versions, and Black/Gold isn't one of the 8, so a Black/Gold club should check with us before promising its juniors a match.
• Sometimes they're different, not just shorter. The JB's contrast fleecy hoodie (3CFH) lists Bottle/Gold and Navy/Gold for kids, but not for adults.
• Bright colours can vary. The Tasman men's tee listing warns that "NEON COLOURS MAY HAVE A VARIATION TO THE ACTUAL GARMENT DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY IN MATCHING WITH LIGHTING", so don't judge a neon from a screen alone.
• Mixing ranges needs a closer look. The Hunter is a cotton blend, while the Tasman and Cottesloe polos are 100% polyester. The same colour name on two fabrics may not look identical, so compare them side by side before you commit. We keep samples in store and you don't need an appointment, so ask us which of the colours you're comparing we have on hand.

Kids' sizes and small differences

The Aussie Pacific kids' ranges above start at size 4. For younger children, the JB's kids' 210 polo starts at 2, and our AS Colour tees are split into Kids (2 to 6) and Youth (8 to 16) listings. A few details change between versions of the same style, too:

• The Paterson kids' polo has a "2 button placket on kids sizes 4, 6 & 8".
• The Hunter has a "Loose pocket included (men's only)". If your logo goes on the left chest, mention the pocket so the logo position suits every version.

For hats, our bucket hat guide compares fabrics, sizing and brims.

Getting the order through

1. Nominate one person to collect names, garments and sizes on a single list, and set a cut-off date. Late additions can easily turn one order into three.
2. Send your logo early. We prefer EPS or AI files, and our guide to ordering embroidered shirts covers the other formats we accept.
3. Choose the decoration. Our FAQ lists embroidery, digital print, DTF, screen printing and dye sublimation, and the embroidery or printing guide is there to help you choose between them for your garments.
4. Approve the sample. For a new embroidery logo, we text or email a sample, and the order goes ahead once you've approved it.
5. Tell us your date. If the gear is needed for a season opener, a carnival or photo day, mention it in your enquiry and we'll let you know whether it's achievable.

Ready to kit out your school or club? Start with our custom workwear enquiry form. Include the range, your colours, the size list and the logo, and we'll come back to you with the next steps.