Football 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
What a football academy gets from ZipaSports
A football academy ordering from ZipaSports receives one approved design produced across every age group it runs, from U6 to U18 and the adult coaching staff, in a single production run from 20–25 pieces per design. The factory is in Sialkot, Pakistan, founded in 2005, and everything from pattern grading to sublimation printing, sewing, labelling and export packing happens under one roof.
The numbers an academy secretary needs before going to the committee are fixed. The digital mockup is free and arrives within 24 hours. A physical sample, if the academy wants to check a shirt on a real child before committing, takes 5–7 days and its cost is credited against the bulk order. Bulk production runs 15–25 business days after design approval, or 7–12 days on express at additional cost. Courier delivery by DHL, FedEx or UPS takes 5–10 days to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe.
Academies operating as a registered brand or company have no MOQ limit at all, which matters for a mid-season top-up of a dozen shirts. The full football range is on the football teamwear page; this page explains how academies specifically use it.
One design, every age group: how U6 to U18 grading works
Grading is the process of scaling one approved design across a full size run so a U7 shirt and a U18 shirt carry the same crest position, stripe width and sponsor placement in proportion. ZipaSports does this with computerised pattern making and size grading, so the academy approves one mockup and the factory produces the rest of the run from it without a new artwork file per size.
Youth and adult sizes are mixed within the same design and count towards the same 20–25 piece minimum. A typical academy order lists a size breakdown by squad rather than by garment, and we cut to that list.
| Age group | Sizes usually ordered | Grading note |
|---|---|---|
| U6–U8 | Youth XS to youth S | Crest and numbers scaled down; shorter inseam on shorts |
| U9–U12 | Youth S to youth L | Sponsor panel scaled; sock length graded |
| U13–U15 | Youth L to adult S | Transition to adult block; women's fit available for girls' squads |
| U16–U18 | Adult S to adult XL | Full adult sizing XS–5XL; women's XS–4XL |
| Coaches and staff | Adult XS–5XL | Same colours, different garments (polos, jackets) |
Academies that need a bespoke size chart, for example a tighter youth grade for a boys' and girls' programme, send their measurements and we cut to that chart. The size chart guide explains how to measure a squad.
Which products academies order, with fabric and decoration
An academy order is rarely just match shirts. The garments below are the ones football academies order from ZipaSports most often, with the fabric options typically used and the decoration method applied.
| Garment | Fabric options | Decoration |
|---|---|---|
| Junior match kit (shirt, shorts, socks) | 100% polyester interlock or mesh, moisture-wicking, 140–180 GSM | Full sublimation: crest, sponsor, name, number |
| Academy training tops and training jerseys | Polyester interlock 140–180 GSM | Sublimation or embroidered crest with printed initials |
| Training shorts | Polyester interlock or microfibre 140–180 GSM | Sublimated or heat-transfer crest |
| Socks | Polyester-cotton-spandex knit | Knitted-in or sublimated stripe and initials |
| Rain training jackets | Lightweight polyester shell, mesh lining option | Embroidered or heat-transfer crest |
| Tracksuits and hoodies | Performance polyester fleece 240–300 GSM or cotton-polyester fleece 280–350 GSM | Embroidery, DTF or screen print |
| Coach and staff polos | Polyester piqué 160–200 GSM or poly-cotton piqué 200–240 GSM | Embroidered crest and role text |
| Player backpacks | 600D polyester or 420D nylon, reinforced base | Embroidered or printed crest |
Goalkeeper kit, training bibs and women's kits for girls' academies are added to the same order and the same mockup set.
Player names, initials and numbers: the parent personalisation question
Player names and numbers on academy kit are printed as part of the sublimation process at ZipaSports, so a shirt with a name on it is produced in the same run and by the same method as a shirt without one. There is no vinyl to peel and nothing added after the shirt is sewn.
Most academies handle personalisation one of two ways. The first is a numbered squad set, where the academy assigns numbers and the shirts stay with the club. The second is parent-paid personalised shirts, where each family chooses a name and number and the academy collects a list. We accept either, and we accept a mix: a U8 squad with initials only on training tops and a U16 squad with full surnames on match shirts sit in the same order.
The list itself needs to arrive as a spreadsheet with one row per garment: squad, size, name exactly as it should print, number. We print what is on the list, so the academy checks spelling before sending; a name misspelt on the list is not a manufacturing defect, while a name printed differently from the approved list is. Details of placement and font options are on the names, numbers and sponsor logos page.
Reordering the same kit for every intake
Every new intake needs kit that matches the shirts already in the academy's kit room. ZipaSports keeps the approved artwork, Pantone references, crest digitising file and size specification on record after the first order, so a reorder for the next intake is produced from the same files rather than re-created from a photograph.
Sublimation helps here. Because colour is set from the digital file and matched to a Pantone reference, a navy printed in the second year is the same navy as the first, within normal dye-lot tolerance. Embroidered crests use the same digitised file and thread references each time.
- Reorders quote the original order reference; no new mockup is needed unless the design changes.
- Mid-season top-ups below 20–25 pieces are possible on request, and there is no MOQ limit for academies registered as a company or brand.
- A sponsor change is handled as an artwork revision on the existing file; the rest of the design stays locked.
- Approved size specs are kept, so a U10 shirt ordered in year three measures the same as year one.
Colour and crest consistency across years is described on the dye-sublimation page.
Pre-season deadlines: working back from the first training session
Academy kit has a hard deadline that a club order often does not: the first Saturday of the new intake, when parents expect their child in the academy colours. The table works backwards from that date using ZipaSports' standard lead times.
| Stage | Time it takes | What the academy does |
|---|---|---|
| Brief sent | Day 0 | Sends crest, colours, garment list and rough quantities |
| Free digital mockup | Within 24 hours | Reviews with head coach; unlimited free revisions |
| Optional physical sample | 5–7 days plus 5–10 days courier | Checks fit on one or two players; cost credited on bulk |
| Size list and names list | Academy's own timing | Final spreadsheet locks the order and starts the clock |
| Bulk production | 15–25 business days after approval | Pre-shipment photos on request |
| Express production | 7–12 days at additional cost | For a late-confirmed intake |
| Courier to UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Europe | 5–10 days by DHL, FedEx or UPS | Sorts by squad on arrival; we can pack by squad on request |
In practice an academy that sends its final size list eight to ten weeks before the first session is comfortable on standard production. An academy that confirms four weeks out uses the express path. The clock starts at the approved mockup plus the final size and names list, not at the first enquiry.
What the academy sends us
An academy order at ZipaSports starts from a short list of files and one spreadsheet. Nothing has to be print-ready; the in-house design studio in Sialkot produces the mockup from whatever the academy has, and a coach's phone photo of last season's shirt is enough to begin.
| Item | Format we prefer | If you do not have it |
|---|---|---|
| Academy crest | Vector (AI, EPS, PDF or SVG) | Send a PNG or photo; we redraw it for approval |
| Colours | Pantone references | Send a garment or photo; we propose Pantones on the mockup |
| Sponsor logos | Vector, with the sponsor's placement preference | Any file; we confirm placement on the mockup |
| Garment list | Which items per squad (match, training, jacket, bag) | Tell us the squads and budget priorities; we suggest a bundle |
| Size breakdown | Spreadsheet: squad, size, quantity | Use our youth and adult size charts, or a size set sample |
| Names and numbers | Spreadsheet: one row per garment | Leave blank for squad sets without names |
| Labels | Academy woven label artwork, or use plain size tags | We can design a woven label from the crest |
| Deadline and address | First-session date and delivery country | We confirm standard or express on the quote |
Export documents (commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin) are prepared by the factory, so the academy does not need a freight forwarder.
Delivery to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe, and the Quality Guarantee
Academy kit ships from Sialkot by DHL, FedEx or UPS and arrives in 5–10 days to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe; sea freight at 3–6 weeks is available for a large multi-squad order where time allows. Import VAT or duty is payable by the importer unless otherwise agreed; the shipping policy and the UK and Australia country pages explain what to expect at the border.
Every academy order is covered by the ZipaSports Quality Guarantee: if any garment arrives with a manufacturing defect, we remake it free of charge, and the remake goes into production within 3 days of your report. A manufacturing defect means a print fault, a stitching fault, a wrong size against the approved size specification, or a wrong garment or quantity against the approved order. Minor dye-lot shade, measurement within ±1–1.5 cm of the chart, and a size a parent chose wrongly are not defects.
To claim, send photos and the order reference on WhatsApp or email within 7 days of delivery; we confirm within 24 hours in business hours and ship the replacement pieces at no charge, or issue a credit if the academy prefers. Made-to-order kit with the academy crest cannot be returned for change of mind. Full wording is on the Quality Guarantee page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can our academy order mixed youth and adult sizes in one order?
Yes. Youth and adult sizes are mixed within one design at ZipaSports and count towards the same 20–25 piece minimum per design, so a U8 squad and the adult coaching staff can share one match-shirt order graded from a single approved mockup.
What is the minimum order for football academy kit?
The minimum is 20–25 pieces per design, lower on request for a sample run or a small squad, and there is no MOQ limit for academies that operate as a registered sportswear brand or company. Sizes, names and numbers all vary freely within that minimum.
Can parents choose a name and number for their child's shirt?
Yes. The academy collects a spreadsheet with one row per shirt (squad, size, name, number) and ZipaSports sublimates each shirt to that list in the same production run. A mix of numbered squad sets and parent-personalised shirts in one order is normal.
Will next year's intake kit match this year's colours?
Yes, within normal dye-lot tolerance. ZipaSports keeps the approved artwork, Pantone references, crest digitising file and size specification on record, and the reorder is produced from those same files rather than re-created, so the navy in year three matches year one.
How long does academy kit take to arrive in the UK or USA?
Allow 15–25 business days for bulk production after design approval, then 5–10 days by DHL, FedEx or UPS to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia or Europe. Express production at 7–12 days is available at additional cost for a late-confirmed intake.
What fabric and GSM should academy training tops be?
Academy training tops and match shirts are typically 100% polyester interlock or mesh with a moisture-wicking finish at 140–180 GSM. Lighter mesh suits hot climates and summer camps; heavier interlock suits UK, Canadian and northern European seasons and washes well through a year of weekly training.
Can we get a sample shirt to check fit on a child before ordering?
Yes. A physical sample takes 5–7 days at sample cost, credited against the bulk order, and a size set covering several youth sizes can be ordered the same way. The free digital mockup within 24 hours comes first and needs no commitment.
Can we add a dozen shirts mid-season for new players?
Yes. Top-ups below 20–25 pieces are possible on request against the original order reference, and academies registered as a company or brand have no MOQ limit at all. The top-up uses the stored artwork and size spec so it matches the original run.
Do you make coach and staff wear in the same academy colours?
Yes. Coach polos in polyester piqué 160–200 GSM or poly-cotton piqué 200–240 GSM, padded gilets, rain jackets and bench coats are made in the same Pantone-matched colours with an embroidered crest and role text, and are added to the same order as the player kit.
What happens if some shirts arrive with a print or stitching fault?
They are remade free under the Quality Guarantee, with the remake in production within 3 days of your report. Send photos and the order reference within 7 days of delivery; replacement pieces ship to the academy at no charge, or you can take a credit against the pieces instead.