It’s easy to see that a great team deserves a great kit. If only it were just as easy to order the perfect kit for your team! The truth is that, as a teacher, coach, captain or manager, there are lots of things you need to think about before making a decision, especially when you consider that the type of kit your team wears can not only affect motivation, but performance, too.

Here are some of the most important factors to take into account:

Colour

It’s often said that teams wearing red are the most successful of all. But this is just a bit of superstition, right? Perhaps not. In fact, there is some truth to this, but it’s not about the colour itself but more the visibility of the colour against the pitch. For example, research shows that teams wearing white typically perform better than those wearing green, so this is something you and your team should keep in mind when choosing team colours.

Brand

There are many, many different brands out there, and as long as you stick to one of the reputable options - such as Adidas, ERREA, GECO, Givova, Joma, Nike, and Stanno, for example - you can’t go far wrong. Each brand will have its own unique selling point; Nike has the exclusive Nike Dry fabric, for example, so it’s worth checking out what each brand offers. Some brands do full kit sets, while others focus on specific items.

Material

The benefits of wicking materials like polyester and spandex are widely understood, but some football kits are still cotton-based, with wicking patches. If you’re keen to give your team lightweight comfort and match-long dryness, full wicking really is essential. It’s been found that, even on a rainy day, the stay-dry nature of polyester means it only absorbs 0.4% of its weight maximum, while cotton can absorb up to 7% of its weight.

Customisation

If you really want to make your players feel like a team, and give them a true team identity, it’s important to ensure that you’re able to fully customise your chosen kit. There are many possible opportunities to give an off-the-shelf football kit some team personality, such as an embroidered club badge, printed vinyl sponsor logos, squad numbers, initials, or names. And don’t forget to add the FA Charter badge to your shirt.

Location

Although this factor is often overlooked, it’s important to think about where you’re ordering your kit from, too, as this can massively impact delivery times. If speed is of the essence, it’s always best to use a UK-based provider. And if you’re thinking about customising your kit, a provider with in-house embroidering and printing services keeps the supply chain tight, minimising the risk of mistakes and speeding up response times.

Tags: football kit, team kits, choosing a kit,

Image link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/action-activity-adult-athletes-262524/

 

 

 

Matthew Tittensor