Much has been written about the link between clothing and cognitive performance. But what you may not realize is that athletic apparel can also have an impact on your team’s performance. Functional, comfortable, and eye-catching uniforms may well represent the missing ingredient to your team’s success.
We know, for instance, that uniforms tend to promote a sense of community and collaboration between the people wearing them. We also know that where athletic teams are concerned, they play a crucial role in helping athletes recognize one another while on the field. As noted by a piece published on the education website OpenLearn, there’s even evidence to suggest that uniform color and design may play a role in both victory and defeat.
But how can you put together a winning outfit for your sports team in 2022? And more importantly, once you’ve figured out a design, where can you go to get your uniforms printed? We can help with both.
Figuring Out Your Design
The first, most important piece of advice we’ll give you is to make sure your team is involved in the uniform design process. After all, they’re the ones who are going to be wearing these outfits when they compete. It’s only fair that you give them the opportunity to provide feedback on style, color, materials, and design.
Plus, if you aren’t particularly familiar with the different types of performance fabrics and uniform styles, there’s a good chance at least one person on your team can help in that regard.
You also need to understand that appearance isn’t everything. Comfort is equally important when designing a team uniform, if not more so. For instance, a 2020 study by the University of Toronto found that tight, revealing clothing can have an adverse effect on workout performance.
Granted, the people on your team aren’t terribly likely to have any issues with body image. But if they’re in any way uncomfortable during a game? You can rest assured that this will impact their performance.
So, what exactly are you trying to hash out aside from appearance when you sit down with your team?
- Team name. Assuming you haven’t already figured out what to call your team, this is essential and will provide a foundation for every other aspect of your uniform design.
- Colors. What colors best define your team? Complexity is a bad call here. Stick to one or two bright colors so that your athletes can more readily identify each other.
- Logo. Your logo’s colors and appearance should accurately reflect both the team name and what that name means to your athletes. Be careful not to make it too complex. Avoid overly complex linework.
- Material. You’ll want to consider the weather in which your team will typically play or whether they’ll be indoors/outdoors. Consider also the level of physical exertion, as this may require a more breathable or moisture-wicking fabric. Basically, think long and hard about the demands of your sport, and that should help you make the right choice.
Choosing Your Apparel Type
Once you’re finished brainstorming the basics of your uniform, your next step is to choose your apparel type. Typically, you’ll want to stick to athletic shirts for jerseys and comfortable, loose-fitting shorts for the lower body. It’s all about using clothing designed for your use case.
You would not, for instance, wear a sweatshirt to the beach, nor would you don a swimsuit to go skiing. By that same vein, shirts and other apparel that aren’t designed to be used in athletics are generally a poor choice for sports uniforms.
The Design Studio
Here’s where BlueCotton comes in. Our award-winning design studio equips you with a powerful tool that you can use to customize every element of your team’s uniform. You can even apply a custom name and number to each individual piece of apparel once you’ve finished putting together your base design.
Then, once you’re done designing, all that’s left is to submit your order. We’ll get your uniforms printed, shipped, and in your hands as quickly as possible. We can even print and ship your order as a rush job if it’s particularly urgent — say, for instance, your team is playing in a game this week.