Ask a group of elementary or middle school boys why they will not wear the spirit shirt sitting in their drawer, and the answer is almost always about the design, not the school pride. A small logo on a plain colored tee reads as boring to a nine-year-old. A bold mascot graphic that takes up most of the front reads as something worth wearing. Here is how to build a boys spirit wear lineup that actually leaves the drawer.
| Piece | Brand | VIP base |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee | Bear Grips | $19.88 |
| Youth Athletic Mesh Shorts (No Pockets) | Sport-Tek | $26.88 |
| Youth Hoodie | Gildan | $36.88 |
| Youth Performance Long Sleeve | Sport-Tek | $29.88 |
| Youth Crewneck Sweatshirt | Gildan | $33.88 |
| Youth Classic Baseball Hat (embroidered) | Valucap | $25.86 |
Full front graphic wins over left-chest placement for elementary and middle school boys. A back print is the second-best option since a large mascot on the back reads well running around a playground. Save small left-chest embroidery for the staff and parent lineup instead, where a subtler look is preferred.
Youth sizes generally run small through elementary and early middle school. Once boys move into high school, most programs shift the same designs onto adult small and medium sizes rather than continuing on youth cuts. Check the size chart on each product page since youth and adult sizing is not a direct 1-to-1 conversion.
Bold graphic tees, mesh shorts, and youth hoodies. No minimum, ships in about a week.
Start FreeUsually the design, not the school pride. A small subtle logo reads as boring to younger boys, while a bold full-front graphic gets worn far more often.
A youth tee at $19.88 and youth mesh shorts at $26.88 covers the two most-worn pieces at the lowest combined VIP base cost.
No, the Youth Athletic Mesh Shorts are a no-pocket design built for recess and athletic use.
It varies by student, but most programs start offering adult small alongside youth large starting around middle school.
Bear Grips Pro Shops