Youth Athletic Apparel Guide

Youth athletic apparel covers practice clothing across multiple sports and ages. Parents shopping for an 8-year-old in their first season and parents shopping for a 14-year-old in their fourth season need different things. Here is the full youth athletic apparel category guide, broken down into the four functional categories, with the catalog blanks that fit each one and realistic pricing.

Category 1: Practice Tops

• Bear Grips Youth Airlume Cotton Athletic Tee ($19.88 VIP). The casual practice top. Worn for warm-ups, low-output drills, and as everyday athletic apparel.
• Sport-Tek Youth Moisture-Wicking Performance Tee ($23.88 VIP). The active practice top. For active practice, conditioning, and game-adjacent warm-up.
• Sport-Tek Youth Performance Long Sleeve ($29.88 VIP). The cool-weather active top. For fall, winter, and early spring outdoor practice.

Category 2: Performance Bottoms

• Youth Athletic Mesh Shorts (No Pockets) ($26.88 VIP). The standard youth mesh shorts for basketball, soccer, and conditioning.
• Ladies 3" Fitness Shorts (smaller sizes also fit youth athletes) ($30.88 VIP). For girls youth sports.
• Independent Trading Co. Wave Wash Sweatpants (Women's only, $39.88 VIP). For older youth athletes.
• Jerzees Open Bottom Sweatpants ($40.88 VIP). For older male youth athletes.

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

Category 3: Training Hoodies and Crewnecks

• Gildan Youth Hoodie ($36.88 VIP). The standard youth training hoodie.
• Gildan Youth Crewneck Sweatshirt ($33.88 VIP). The dressier alternative.
• Comfort Soft Hoodie (adult sizes) ($36.88 VIP). For older youth athletes who size into adult small or medium.

Category 4: Warm-Ups and Sideline

• Sport-Tek Men's Performance Quarter-Zip Pullover ($29.88 VIP, adult sizes for older youth). Sideline warm-up layer.
• Classic Zip-Up Hoodie (Gildan) ($41.88 VIP). For pre-game and post-game warm-ups.

Full Wardrobe Budget

A full youth athletic wardrobe for one sport season at typical retail:

• Practice tee x 2: $60
• Performance practice tee x 1: $36
• Mesh shorts x 2: $76
• Training hoodie x 1: $52
• Sideline quarter-zip x 1: $45

Total: about $269 per season for the full kit. Most families buy two or three pieces, not all six. League margin on each order goes to the league fund.

Frequently Asked Questions

What about youth athletic apparel for multi-sport athletes?

Multi-sport athletes need a base wardrobe that covers every sport they play, plus sport-specific tees for each. The base wardrobe (practice tee, performance tee, hoodie, mesh shorts) works across all sports. Sport-specific tees come from each sport's team shop.

How do youth athletic apparel sizes run?

Youth XS through XL across most blanks. Sizing runs true to standard youth size charts. Larger youth athletes who size into adult small or medium can buy the adult version of the same design.

Do we make youth athletic shoes or socks?

No. We focus on apparel. For athletic footwear and socks, families go to specialty athletic retailers.

What about plus-size youth athletic apparel?

Most youth blanks go to youth XL. For larger youth athletes, the adult version of the same design (in adult XS or S) often fits better than youth XL.