Setting Up a Team Store: Spirit Wear and Gear

November 2026 · For coaches, club leaders, and booster parents · 6 minute read

Every wrestling family asks the same question in the first month: "Where do we get the shirt?" A team store answers it once, gets everyone in matching colors before the first tournament, and can raise a little money along the way. It is also the job most likely to land on a new coach or a willing parent with no idea where to start. This is the starting point.

Two different stores: spirit wear and gear

It helps to split the job in two, because they work differently.

	Spirit wear	Team gear
What	T-shirts, hoodies, hats, sweatpants, bags. Worn by wrestlers, parents, grandparents	Singlets, warm-ups, team shorts and practice shirts. Worn by wrestlers in competition
Who decides	Anyone who wants one buys one	The coach picks one design; every wrestler gets the same thing
How it sells	An online store families order from directly	Usually one team order, often paid up front by families or the program
Lead time	About two to three weeks after the store closes	Often several weeks for custom-made uniforms, so order early

Spirit wear: limited window or open all season

• Limited window. The store is open for two to three weeks, then closes and everything is printed and shipped. Prices are usually lowest, and it creates a "get your order in" moment. The trade-off: the kid who joins in week four missed it. Many teams run one window before the season and a second one in January.
• Open all season. Families order anytime and each order ships on its own. More convenient, slightly higher prices, and nobody misses out.
• Shipping. Most stores either ship each order to the family's home or ship everything in one box to the coach to hand out at practice. Bulk shipping is cheaper; home shipping means nobody has to sort fifty bags.

How shirts get printed (and why it matters)

Old-school screen printing is cheap per shirt but needs a minimum order of each design, often a dozen or more, which is why some teams used to collect paper order forms and cash. Most online team stores now use digital printing (often called DTG or DTF) that can print one shirt at a time. That is why a modern store can have no minimums and no upfront cost to the team. Ask any vendor which method they use and whether there is a minimum.

Sizing: the number one complaint

• Post the size chart. Every item should link the manufacturer's measurements. Youth sizes and adult sizes are different charts.
• Remind families that kids grow. A youth wrestler ordering in November is often a size bigger by March.
• Know the return rule before you open. Custom-printed items generally cannot be returned for size, because nobody else can use a shirt with your team's name on it. Defects and vendor mistakes are a different story. Put the policy in the announcement so nobody is surprised.

Fundraising: markup, not a hard sell

Most team stores let the team add a markup on top of the base price, and the vendor pays that amount back to the team. Typical choices are a flat $5 to $10 per item or a percentage of each sale. Keep it modest. The goal is matching shirts in the bleachers, and a $45 T-shirt keeps them out of the bleachers. Before you open:

• Decide who receives the money: the school activity account, the booster club, or the club's own account. Give the vendor that information at setup, not at the end of the season.
• Ask when and how payouts arrive, and whether there is a minimum amount before a check is sent.
• Ask your treasurer, athletic director, or an accountant how the money should be recorded. This post is not tax advice.

Logos, names, and permission

A school's name, logo, and mascot usually belong to the school or the district, and many districts have rules about who can sell items with them. Before a store goes live, get a yes in writing from whoever can give it (often the athletic director, or the booster president for a club). Send the vendor:

• The team or club name exactly as it should appear, plus any nickname
• The logo file (the highest-quality version you can get)
• Team colors, and any garment colors you want or want to avoid
• Confirmation that you have permission to use the name and logo

Then look at the proofs before anything goes on sale. A misspelled town name on sixty hoodies is a long winter.

Team gear: singlets and warm-ups

Competition uniforms follow the rule book. Singlets and two-piece uniforms have to meet the uniform rules for your level, and school teams usually need the athletic director to approve the design. The coach or the state association has the current rules. A few practical notes:

• Order early. Custom uniforms take weeks, and the first dual meet does not move.
• Hold a size run. Ask the vendor for sample sizes and have wrestlers try them at practice. A singlet that is too big is a problem on the mat.
• Price the whole package. Singlet, warm-up, and shorts bundled together are usually cheaper than buying each separately.
• Think about the families paying. If the cost will keep a kid off the team, talk to the booster club about covering it. The gear guide covers what a wrestler actually needs and what can wait.

What to ask any team store vendor

• Is there a setup fee or an order minimum?
• Who designs the artwork, and do we approve it before the store opens?
• How is the markup set, and when and how is it paid out?
• How long after the store closes do orders arrive? Home shipping, bulk, or both?
• What is the return policy for wrong sizes, defects, and vendor mistakes?
• Who collects sales tax?
• Can we see a store you run for another team?

Related: Gear Guide · Starting a Youth Club · New Coach Guide