Player Names and Numbers on Custom Jerseys: How to Supply a Roster and Handle Changes

Published September 28, 2026 · Reviewed by the RUIJUN production team

Short answer: on a sublimated jersey, player names and numbers are printed into the fabric together with the rest of the design, so they cost nothing extra and never peel – you simply send us a roster (name, number, size) before printing starts. If your roster is not final, we can leave the back blank and add heat-transfer numbers later, or print numbers only and leave names off. Here is how to supply the roster, what the standard sizes and fonts are, how changes work, and how to handle late signings.

Three ways to do names and numbers

Method	Cost	Durability	Best for
Sublimated (printed into the fabric)	Included in the jersey price	Life of the garment – cannot crack or peel	Any team with a roster ready before production
Heat-transfer vinyl / printed transfer	Small charge per jersey, quoted by size	2–3 seasons with cold washing	Late roster changes, numbers added locally, cotton garments
Tackle twill (stitched fabric numbers)	Higher, quoted by number of digits	Life of the garment	Baseball, hockey, premium basketball – the raised traditional look

Most soccer, basketball and training kits use sublimation. Baseball button-ups often combine a sublimated body with tackle-twill numbers. Details on each technique are in sublimation vs embroidery vs heat transfer.

How to send the roster

Use a simple spreadsheet with one row per player: name as it should appear · number · jersey size · shorts size (and cut – men/women/youth – if mixed). We send a template with every quote. Please check spelling and accents, because the roster is printed exactly as written, and confirm whether names should be all capitals (the usual choice) or mixed case.

Two rosters are common: one for the home kit and one for the away kit. If the numbers are the same on both, one list with both sizes is enough.

Standard sizes, fonts and positions

• Back number: 20–25 cm tall on adult jerseys, 15–20 cm on youth. League rules sometimes specify – tell us the league.
• Front number: 8–10 cm, usually on the right chest or centre, optional.
• Shorts number: 6–8 cm on the left leg, optional.
• Name: 5–6 cm letters, curved or straight above the back number. Long names are automatically condensed to fit.
• Fonts: we hold the common team fonts (block, varsity, rounded, italic sports fonts). Send your own font file if the club has one; sublimation can print any font, including outlines and two-colour numbers, at no extra cost.
• Colours: any Pantone; we recommend a contrast outline when the number colour is close to the body colour so referees can read it.

Changes and deadlines

Roster corrections are free until printing starts – normally day 2–3 after the deposit. After panels are printed, a changed name or number means a new panel and one to two days’ delay for that piece, and it may be charged if fabric has to be re-cut. We confirm the “roster lock” date in writing when production is scheduled so the club knows the last day to make changes.

Late signings and mid-season additions

Three practical options, from cheapest to most flexible:

1. Order spares. Two or three extra jerseys in the most common sizes with numbers only (no names), or with high numbers that are unlikely to be used. This covers most mid-season signings for the cost of a few pieces.
2. Top-up run. Because we keep your print files, a single replacement jersey can be made later at the single-piece price and shipped by express in about two weeks.
3. Blank backs plus heat-transfer numbers. We print the jersey without a name and supply a set of heat-transfer numbers and letters that a local printer – or the club with a heat press – applies when the roster is known.

Mixed sizes, cuts and duplicates

Any mix of sizes and men’s/women’s/youth cuts is allowed inside the 10-piece MOQ per style. Two players can have the same number if the club wants (for example a second goalkeeper kit); the roster just needs both rows. If a player wants two of the same jersey, list the row twice.

Numbers on shorts, socks and training wear

Shorts numbers are sublimated in the same way as the jersey and are included in the price; socks are knitted, so a number on the sock is a separate knitted-in option with a small charge. Training tops and warm-up jackets usually carry initials or a squad number rather than a name, which keeps them reusable across seasons; both are printed free with sublimation.

Youth and school teams

Schools often print the school name on the back instead of player names, with numbers only, so jerseys can be reused next year. Youth clubs increasingly print numbers only on the back and the player’s initials on the sleeve or chest for the same reason. Both options are free with sublimation – say which you prefer on the brief.

FAQ

Do names and numbers really cost nothing extra? With sublimation, yes – they are part of the same print. Heat transfer and tackle twill are charged separately.

Can I order without any names or numbers now and add them later? Yes – see the blank-back option above.

Can you print sponsor logos and numbers in different places on different sizes? Yes. Each size is laid out separately so numbers stay in proportion from XS to 6XL.

What if a name is misspelled when it arrives? If it differs from the approved roster, we remake that piece free of charge. If the roster itself had the error, we make a replacement at the single-piece price.

Do goalkeeper jerseys follow the same roster? Yes, but they are usually a separate style (different fabric or long sleeves), so list them under their own heading.

Ready to send a roster? Request the template with your quote, and use the size chart guide to collect sizes at the same time.

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