Athletics Club & Academy Kit Supplier
- Est. 2005 · Sialkot, Pakistan
- MOQ 20–25 pcs per design · no limit for brands
- Free 24h digital mockup
- Sample 5–7 days, credited on bulk
- Bulk 15–25 business days · express 7–12
- DHL/FedEx/UPS 5–10 days
- 🛡️ Free remake within 3 days
One academy order covers track, cross-country and training
An athletics academy needs three layers of kit, and ZipaSports produces all three in one Sialkot factory so the colours match across them. The competition layer is the vest or singlet and split shorts the athlete competes in on the track and, in a heavier cut, the cross-country vest for winter fixtures. The training layer is the training tee, long-sleeve top and tights worn at every session. The travel layer is the hoodie, jacket and zip-off warm-up pants the group wears to a meet.
Academies tend to issue the competition layer to every registered athlete, the training layer as an optional purchase through the academy, and the travel layer to squads selected for away fixtures. Each layer is a separate design on the order, and the full product list is on the athletics teamwear page. A ready-made bundle for younger groups is described under junior athletics kits.
Garments by event group
Coaches in a multi-event academy ask for different cuts for sprinters, distance runners and throwers, and the request is reasonable: a sprinter wants a close fit that does not move on the blocks, a distance runner wants airflow, and a thrower wants room across the shoulders. The table shows how one academy colourway is applied across event groups without becoming a different design for each.
| Event group | Competition garments | Training and travel | Fit note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprints and hurdles | Fitted singlet, split shorts or half tights, speedsuit for senior sprinters | Training tee, tights, hoodie | Close fit, short body length |
| Middle and long distance | Vest, split shorts, race top for cold days | Long-sleeve top, gilet, rain shell | Regular fit, mesh back option |
| Jumps and throws | Vest or singlet, regular shorts, crop top option | Training tee, warm-up jacket | Relaxed fit through shoulders |
| Cross-country | Cross-country vest, briefs or split shorts | Long-sleeve top, gilet, arm sleeves | Slightly heavier interlock |
| Relay squads | Relay vest with leg order marking | As above | Same fit as sprint singlet |
A vest and a singlet in the same print are two designs because they are two patterns; a vest in junior and adult sizes is one design. ZipaSports counts every size within a pattern towards the 20–25 piece floor.
Junior grading: sizing an athlete who grows between orders
Junior athletes outgrow kit faster than the academy reorders it, so the sizing method matters more than the size chart itself. ZipaSports uses computerised pattern grading, which keeps the crest position, race-number zone and shorts split at the same proportion from the smallest junior size to adult XL rather than simply shrinking an adult pattern.
| Age band | How academies usually size it | What ZipaSports recommends |
|---|---|---|
| Under 11 | By age | Chest and height per athlete; order one size up only where the parent asks |
| Under 13 and Under 15 | Youth sizes, wide spread | A size set of the vest so athletes try on before the run |
| Under 17 and Under 20 | Mix of youth and adult sizes | Adult XS–M for most; women's cut available in the same print |
| Seniors and coaches | Adult XS–5XL | Standard adult chart or the academy's own custom chart |
A size set is a physical sample in each size, made in 5–7 days at sample cost, and that cost is credited against the bulk order. Once the academy approves a chart it becomes the specification for every future run, with a measurement tolerance of ±1–1.5 cm. Youth and adult sizes sit inside one design, so a squad with eight Under 13s and fourteen seniors in the same vest is a single 22-piece design. The wider method is set out in the size chart guide.
Sublimated academy colours on vests and split shorts
Athletics vests are sublimated rather than printed on top because the garment is light and the graphic covers most of it. Dye-sublimation bonds the academy colours into the polyester, so a two-tone vest with a sash, a gradient side panel or a crest that runs across a seam has no print layer to crack or peel, and the fabric stays as light as a plain vest. Any colourway can be matched to a Pantone reference and held on file.
Three placement rules make an academy vest work on the day. Keep a clear front panel for the race number: a busy print behind a pinned bib makes the number hard to read from the finish line camera. Put the academy name across the back at a size visible from a stand. Reserve a small chest zone for a sponsor mark or the academy's motto, positioned so a bib does not cover it.
Split shorts and half tights carry the same colour blocks down the side seam, which is how officials and parents identify the academy in a mixed field. Because the print is in the fibre, ZipaSports runs wash-fastness and colour-fastness checks on sublimated fabric before cutting. Method detail is on the dye-sublimation page.
Fabric and GSM for athletics kit
The fabric spec for each layer is chosen for weight and stretch rather than for looks, and ZipaSports presents these as options a coach can pick from; the studio confirms the final spec on the mockup.
| Garment | Fabric options | GSM range | Decoration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vest, singlet, race top | 100% polyester interlock, mesh or pin-dot mesh, moisture-wicking finish | 140–180 | Full sublimation |
| Split shorts | Polyester interlock or microfibre, inner brief optional | 140–180 | Full sublimation |
| Half tights, track tights, speedsuit | Polyester-spandex or nylon-spandex 4-way stretch, 12–20% elastane | 240–300 | Full sublimation |
| Training tee, long-sleeve top | Polyester interlock, moisture-wicking finish | 140–180 | Sublimation, screen print or DTF crest |
| Hoodie, warm-up jacket, pants | Cotton-polyester fleece or performance polyester fleece | 280–350 or 240–300 | Embroidered crest, printed back |
| Spike bag, backpack | 600D polyester or 420D nylon, reinforced base | n/a | Embroidery or print |
For the competition layer, lighter interlock or mesh suits summer track and hot climates such as Australia, while the upper end of the 140–180 GSM range suits UK and Canadian cross-country. The training tee is the workhorse and is washed most, so moisture-wicking interlock is preferred over cotton. Fabric pages: polyester interlock, polyester mesh, polyester-spandex and cotton-polyester fleece.
How designs, sizes and quantities are counted
The MOQ at ZipaSports is 20–25 pieces per design, and the way a design is counted decides how an academy structures its order. A design is one pattern in one print: the academy vest in any mix of junior, women's and adult sizes is one design; the split shorts are a second; the training tee a third. Whether a colour variant of one pattern, such as a black training tee for coaches alongside the academy-blue tee for athletes, is counted as the same design is confirmed with your enquiry.
Quantities below 20–25 pieces are possible on request for top-ups when new athletes join mid-season, and there is no MOQ limit for sportswear brands and companies, which applies to an academy that retails kit to families under its own name. Coaches' polos and officials' jackets can be added as small lines within the same order.
Names go on hoodies and jackets rather than vests, because a competition vest is often passed to the next athlete when a junior moves up a size. Initials, first names or squad names are taken from a spreadsheet, and the pattern is described on the names, numbers and sponsor logos page.
Ordering timeline and shipping to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe
Count back from the first fixture the kit must be worn at. The figures below are the standard ZipaSports lead times; the academy adds its own approval time and a margin for size collection, which is the step that most often slips.
| Step | Lead time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Free digital mockup | Within 24 hours | Unlimited revisions before approval |
| Size set or single sample | 5–7 days plus 5–10 days courier | Sample cost credited against bulk |
| Bulk production | 15–25 business days after approval | Express 7–12 days at additional cost |
| Courier to UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Europe | 5–10 days | DHL, FedEx or UPS, tracked |
| Sea freight | 3–6 weeks | Large multi-squad orders only |
A UK or European academy ordering for the summer track season and a second run for winter cross-country usually places both as one approval and two deliveries, which keeps the vest and cross-country vest to one colour reference. An Australian academy works to the opposite calendar, and the courier window is the same. ZipaSports supplies the commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin with every shipment; import duty and VAT or GST are payable by the importer on arrival unless agreed otherwise. Country pages for the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and EuropeIrelandNew ZealandUAESaudi Arabia carry the detail.
What you need to send us, and the Quality Guarantee
Send these with the first message for a usable mockup within 24 hours.
| Item | Format | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Academy crest | Vector (AI, EPS, PDF, SVG); PNG to start | Sublimation artwork and embroidery digitising |
| Colours | Pantone references or a photo of current kit | Colour matching, kept on file |
| Athlete list | Spreadsheet: age band, garment, size, name or initials | Quantities per design and personalisation |
| Measurements or chart | Chest and height per athlete, or your chart | Grading and size-set decision |
| Fixture date and destination | Date and country | Standard or express production |
| Sponsor and label artwork | Vector files, woven label design | Placement on the mockup |
Quality Guarantee: if any garment arrives with a manufacturing defect, we remake it free of charge — the remake goes into production within 3 days of your report. A defect means a print fault, colour off the approved mockup beyond normal shade tolerance, a stitching fault, a wrong size against the approved chart, or the wrong garment or quantity. Send photos and the order reference within 7 days of delivery; ZipaSports confirms within 24 hours and ships replacements at no charge, or issues a credit if preferred. Dye-lot shade variation, measurements within ±1–1.5 cm and sizes chosen wrongly by the academy are not defects; made-to-order kit cannot be returned for change of mind. Terms: Quality Guarantee, return policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can our athletics academy order junior and adult vests in the same design?
Yes. Junior, women's and adult sizes within one vest pattern count as one design towards the 20–25 piece minimum, and ZipaSports grades the pattern by computer so the crest and race-number zone stay in proportion across every size.
What is the minimum order for academy running vests?
20–25 pieces per design, with lower quantities on request for mid-season top-ups. An academy that sells kit to families under its own name is treated as a brand, and there is no MOQ limit for sportswear brands and companies.
Do split shorts and the vest count as one design or two?
Two, because they are two patterns even when the print matches. Each needs 20–25 pieces across all sizes. A vest and a singlet in the same colours are also two designs, so most academies choose one competition top and one short for the first order.
Which fabric should a junior running vest be?
100% polyester interlock or mesh with a moisture-wicking finish at 140–180 GSM, fully sublimated. Lighter mesh suits summer track, and the upper end of the range suits UK and Canadian cross-country where the vest is worn over a base layer.
Will the academy colours fade or crack on the vest?
No under normal washing. Sublimation bonds the dye into the polyester fibre rather than printing on the surface, so there is no layer to crack or peel, and ZipaSports runs wash-fastness and colour-fastness checks on sublimated fabric before cutting.
Can we leave a clear space for the race number on the front?
Yes, and the studio recommends it. The mockup shows a plain or lightly toned front panel sized for a pinned bib, with the academy name across the back and a small sponsor or motto zone on the chest that a bib will not cover.
How far ahead of the first meet should an athletics academy order?
Allow the free mockup within 24 hours, an optional size set in 5–7 days plus courier, bulk production of 15–25 business days after approval, and 5–10 days by DHL, FedEx or UPS. Express production in 7–12 days is available at additional cost.
Can we add hoodies with athletes' names and a coaches' polo to the vest order?
Yes. Hoodies, jackets, warm-up pants, spike bags and coaches' polos go on the same order and the same mockup, with names or initials on the hoodies taken from your spreadsheet. Each garment type is its own design for the quantity count.
Will a top-up order for new juniors match the vests we already have?
Yes within normal shade tolerance. The approved artwork, Pantone references and size chart stay on file in Sialkot, so a top-up for a handful of new athletes is printed to the same references and can be below the usual minimum on request.
What happens if a vest arrives with a print fault or the wrong size?
Send photos and the order reference within 7 days of delivery. Under the Quality Guarantee any garment with a manufacturing defect is remade free of charge, with the remake in production within 3 days of your report and replacements shipped at no charge, or credited if you prefer.