Key Takeaways
- Start 6–8 weeks before your first match. Production and shipping take about 4–5 weeks after payment, and the decisions before that take another week or two.
- For a season that opens around March 1, the right time to order custom team gear is early January. For a February start, it's early December.
- Winter break is the hidden delay. Schools close, boards don't meet and approvals sit for two weeks.
- Settle the logo, colors and a rough quantity before the holidays, even if the final roster isn't set.
- The clock on production starts at payment, so know who pays and how before the mockup is approved.
Spring season feels a long way off in the fall. Then the holidays pass, tryouts are two weeks out, and the team gear you meant to sort out is still a line in someone's notes.
This guide shows when to order custom team gear for spring, working backward from your first match. It also covers the one stretch of the calendar that catches coaches out every year.
When Spring Seasons Actually Start
"Spring" covers a wide range of dates, so begin by finding yours.
- College tennis plays its main dual-match season from January into spring.
- High school tennis in spring-season states usually opens practice in February or March. The exact date depends on your state association.
- Adult leagues and club programs often start new sessions in late winter and early spring. Dates vary by section and by club.
- Outdoor pickleball picks back up as soon as the weather allows, with club openers and spring tournaments close behind.
Check your own schedule and write down two dates: the first practice and the first match. Everything else is planned backward from those.
Working Backward From Your First Match
Custom gear is made to order, so nothing is sitting on a shelf. At Match Point Promotions, production and shipping take about 4–5 weeks after payment.
Before that comes the part on your side: choosing the item, finding the logo, reviewing the mockup and getting a yes from whoever signs off. Allow one to two weeks for it.
Add those together and the realistic window is 6–8 weeks. Here is what that means for when to order custom team gear this spring:
| You need it by | Start by |
| Mid-January (college season, winter leagues) | Mid-to-late November |
| February 1 | Early December |
| March 1 | Early January |
| April 1 (spring tournaments, club openers) | Early February |
If you'd like gear in hand for the first practice and not just the first match, shift each date a week or two earlier.
Why Winter Break Eats Two Weeks
The fall rush has no holiday in the middle of it. The spring one does.
From mid-December to early January, schools are closed, athletic directors are away and booster boards don't meet. A mockup sent on December 18 can easily wait until January 6 for an answer.
That gap doesn't show up on anyone's timeline, and it lands right when February and March teams need to be deciding. The fix is simple: get the approval before break starts, or accept that your eight weeks really begin in January.
What to Decide First
You can settle most of an order long before the roster is final. These three decisions unlock everything else.
The logo file
Find the best version of your logo that exists. A vector file is ideal, and a large, sharp PNG usually works. Our guide on what logo file you need for custom team gear explains what to ask your school or designer for.
The item and colors
Choose gear your players will use at every practice. For most tennis programs that means custom vibration dampeners, custom tennis overgrips or embroidered wristbands. Agree on team colors at the same time.
A rough quantity
Don't wait for tryouts. Estimate from last year's roster, add extras for late additions, coaches and parents, and order once. Our guide on how many dampeners a team needs shows the math.
Planning gear for the spring season?
Send us your logo and team colors and we'll return a free digital mockup with unlimited revisions. No payment until you approve the artwork.
Get a free spring gear mockup →A Simple Spring Ordering Calendar
Here is how the weeks look for a team with a first match around March 1.
- Late November to mid-December: pick the item, track down the logo and request a quote and mockup.
- Before winter break: review the mockup, ask for changes and get sign-off from whoever needs to approve it.
- First week of January: confirm the final quantity and pay. This is when the 4–5 weeks begin.
- January into February: the order is in production and then shipping.
- Mid-February: gear arrives with a cushion before the first match.
Teams with a February start should move every step about a month earlier. For them, when to order custom team gear is a question to answer before Thanksgiving.
Budget and Booster Club Timing
Money moves slower than artwork in most programs. A purchase order, a booster vote or a reimbursement form can each add a week.
Since production starts at payment, ask early who is paying and what they need. Many teams request the quote in the fall just so the number is ready for the December booster meeting.
If the gear is part of a fundraiser or a sponsor package, that planning needs its own lead time. Our guide to fundraising with custom team gear covers how programs structure it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I order custom team gear for spring tennis season?
Start 6–8 weeks before you need it. For a March 1 first match, begin in early January at the latest. For a February start, begin in early December, before winter break.
How long does custom team gear take to arrive?
At Match Point Promotions, production and shipping take about 4–5 weeks after payment. Allow another one to two weeks before that for the mockup and approvals.
Can I order before I know my final roster?
Yes, and most teams should. Estimate from last year's numbers and add extras. Waiting for tryouts usually means the gear arrives after the season has started.
What if my season starts in less than six weeks?
Request a quote right away and tell us your date. We'll give you an honest answer on whether it can arrive in time. If it can't, mid-season events, senior night and the end-of-season banquet are still good targets.
Is there a deadline for spring orders?
There is no fixed cutoff. The deadline is your own first match minus about eight weeks. The earlier the artwork is approved, the more room you have.
Does the same timeline apply to pickleball clubs?
Yes. A club planning a spring opener or an April tournament should work backward the same way. If your fall season is the one you plan around, see when to order custom team gear for fall.
Get Your Spring Gear Moving
At Match Point Promotions, every order is personally reviewed by Shawn, a lifelong racket-sports player. Since 2017 we've made custom gear for 300+ teams, clubs and corporations, with free design help and unlimited revisions.
Request a free quote and send your logo. You'll see a mockup before you pay anything, and you'll know your delivery window before the season sneaks up.
Match Point Promotions — #1 Source for Custom Racket Gear
Questions? Reach us at info@matchpointpromotions.com