If you are ordering custom shirts for a youth sports team, the sizing is where most coaches waste money. Guessing on sizes leads to reorders, extra shipping costs, and kids wearing shirts that do not fit for team photos. Here is how to get every size right the first time.
The Try-On Method (Best Results)
The single most accurate way to size a youth sports team is to bring sample shirts to practice and have every kid try one on. This takes five minutes and eliminates guessing entirely.
Contact your printer and ask for a sample set. Most custom apparel shops will lend or sell you one shirt per size so the team can try them on. If your printer does not offer samples, buy one of each youth size from Amazon in the brand you plan to order. That investment saves you hundreds in wrong sizes.
Have each kid try on the sample, check the fit across the chest and through the body length, and write down their name and size. Done.
Size Charts by Age Group
If you cannot do a try-on session, use these guidelines based on the age range of your team. These splits work for standard boxy-fit brands like Gildan, Hanes, and Comfort Colors. For slim-fit brands like Bella+Canvas and Next Level, bump every kid up one size.
T-Ball and Under-6 (Ages 4-6)
Most of the order will be youth XS and youth small. Typical split for a roster of 12: 4 youth XS, 7 youth small, 1 youth medium. See our 6 year old sizing guide for brand-by-brand details.
Coach Pitch and Under-8 (Ages 6-8)
Heavy on youth small with some youth medium. Typical split for a roster of 12: 2 youth XS, 6 youth small, 4 youth medium. See our 8 year old sizing guide.
Minors and Under-10 (Ages 8-10)
Mostly youth small and youth medium. Typical split for a roster of 12: 1 youth XS, 4 youth small, 5 youth medium, 2 youth large. See our 10 year old sizing guide.
Majors and Under-12 (Ages 10-12)
Youth medium and youth large dominate. Typical split for a roster of 12: 3 youth medium, 6 youth large, 3 youth XL. See our 12 year old sizing guide.
Junior and Under-14 (Ages 12-14)
This is the transition zone. Expect youth large through adult small. Typical split for a roster of 14: 2 youth large, 5 youth XL, 5 adult small, 2 adult medium.
How Many of Each Size to Order
| Age Group | YXS | YS | YM | YL | YXL | Adult S | Adult M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ages 4-6 | 30% | 55% | 15% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Ages 6-8 | 15% | 50% | 30% | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Ages 8-10 | 5% | 30% | 45% | 15% | 5% | 0% | 0% |
| Ages 10-12 | 0% | 5% | 25% | 45% | 20% | 5% | 0% |
| Ages 12-14 | 0% | 0% | 5% | 15% | 35% | 35% | 10% |
These percentages are starting points based on hundreds of youth team orders we have processed. Your specific team will vary based on the sport (football rosters skew larger than baseball), the region, and whether you have any early or late developers on the team.
Always order at least 2 extra shirts in the most common size for your age group. Someone will spill something. Someone will lose their shirt. Having extras on hand saves you from placing a rush reorder for a single shirt. See our complete guide on how many shirts to order for the full formula.
The Youth-to-Adult Transition
For teams in the 12 to 14 age range, this is the biggest sizing challenge. Youth XL and adult small overlap in chest width but differ in body length. The wrong choice at this crossover point is the most common sizing mistake on youth team orders.
Our Youth XL vs Adult Small guide covers exactly where that transition happens. For the exact measurements, see our What Size Is Youth Large guide and our Youth XL Size Chart.
Do Not Forget the Coaches
Coaches need shirts too. Add adult sizes for every coach, assistant, and team parent who wants one. Most coach orders land in adult medium through adult XL. Budget for 3 to 5 adult shirts per team in addition to the player shirts.
How do you size shirts for a youth sports team?
The best method is a try-on session with sample shirts at practice. If that is not possible, use age-based sizing guidelines: ages 4-6 are mostly YXS and YS, ages 8-10 are mostly YS and YM, ages 10-12 are mostly YM and YL. Always order 2 extras in the most common size.
What sizes should I order for youth sports?
It depends on the age range. See the percentage table in this guide for exact splits by age group. For a roster of 12 in the 8-10 age range, a typical order is 1 YXS, 4 YS, 5 YM, and 2 YL. Adjust based on your specific roster.
How many of each size should I order for a team?
Use the percentage splits in this guide as a starting point, then adjust based on your actual roster size and any kids you know are larger or smaller than average. Always add 2 extras in the most popular size.
Related Sizing Guides
- Custom Team Shirt Sizing for Coaches
- How Many Shirts to Order for a Team
- What Size Shirt for a 6 Year Old?
- What Size Shirt for a 10 Year Old?
- What Size Shirt for a 12 Year Old?
- Gildan Youth Sizing Guide
- Bella Canvas Youth Sizing Guide
- Youth vs Adult T-Shirt Sizing Guide
Ready to Order Team Shirts?
We handle youth sports team orders from 12 pieces to 200+. Tell us your age range and roster size, and we will recommend the right size breakdown, the right blank for your sport, and the right print method for your budget. Start your order here and we will have a quote to you within one business day.