Apparel for D1 Prep and Pre-Draft Training Facilities

D1 prep and pre-draft training facilities operate at the premium end of the athletic performance market. Cohorts are small, expectations are high, and the apparel needs to reflect that. The good news is that single-piece print-on-demand fits this tier exceptionally well, because every cohort is custom and bulk minimums never make sense. Here is what works for cohort apparel, coach staff kits, and pro day moments.

Why Pre-Draft Cohort Apparel Is Different

A pre-draft training cohort is 4-12 athletes preparing for a defined evaluation moment (the combine, pro day, or D1 commitment period). The apparel is not a marketing program, it is part of the cohort experience. Three things separate it from a typical performance facility shop:

• Premium fabric matters more. Athletes wear the hoodie on flights, on camera, at the combine. Champion or Bear Grips performance hoodies (rather than entry-tier blanks) carry the weight.
• Personalization is expected. Athlete names on the back, jersey numbers, position abbreviations. The cohort hoodie becomes a keepsake.
• Buy rate is near 100 percent. Every athlete buys at least the cohort hoodie. Many buy multiples.

Premium Cohort Pieces That Fit the Tier

Piece	Brand	VIP base	Cohort retail
Champion performance hoodie	Champion	$45.88	$80-$95
Champion crewneck	Champion	$41.88	$70-$85
Performance long sleeve	Sport-Tek	$29.88	$50-$60
Premium fleece joggers	Cotton Heritage	$48.88	$75-$85
Performance polo (combine day)	Sport-Tek	$34.88	Coach-only at cost

Premium pricing works at this tier. Athletes, agents, and family expect to pay more for the keepsake piece. The Champion brand callout is part of the appeal.

Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.

Personalization on Pre-Draft Apparel

The standard for pre-draft cohort apparel:

• Front: facility logo + "Pre-Draft Class of [year]" or "D1 Prep [year]"
• Back, top: athlete last name
• Back, large: athlete number (if applicable) or position abbreviation
• Sleeve: cohort program name

This format borrows from the team uniform aesthetic and lands well as a photo on athlete social posts during draft week or commitment day.

The Coach Pro-Day Kit

On pro day, your staff is on camera in front of scouts. The kit per coach:

• One Sport-Tek performance polo with facility logo (chest, embroidered)
• One quarter-zip pullover for cool venues (embroidered logo)
• One rope hat with embroidered facility logo

Run this at cost for the staff. For a 4-coach lead team, the pro-day kit totals about $360-$400 at VIP base. That is a one-time expense per major cohort and the photos pay for it in recruiting value alone.

Sample Revenue for a Single 8-Athlete Pre-Draft Cohort

Piece	Buyers	Margin per piece	Total profit
Cohort hoodie	8 athletes + 6 family/agents	$35	$490
Cohort crewneck	4 athletes + 2 family	$30	$180
Joggers	5 athletes	$30	$150
Long sleeve	4 athletes	$22	$88
Cohort total			$908

Run two pre-draft cohorts a year (winter + summer) and a single combine-prep mini-cohort and the pre-draft program alone clears $2,000-$2,500 in merch margin, separate from the open shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use NFL or college team trademarks on cohort apparel?

No. Pro and college team marks are protected. Use your facility logo and cohort year/class designation only. Reference draft year is fine, team-specific marks are not.

Do you offer combine venue or city callouts?

You can include city or venue text on the apparel design. Event marks (NFL Combine logo, MLB Combine logo) are not licensed and cannot be used.

How fast can the cohort hoodie arrive before combine week?

Order 14-18 days before the date you need them in hand. Production is 5-7 business days, ground ship is 3-5 days, with a small buffer.

Can families and agents order through the same shop link?

Yes. The shop is open to anyone with the link, so family, agents, and the athletes themselves all order direct.