Screen Printing for Teams: When It Makes the Most Sense

You’ve got a big order. Maybe it’s T-shirts for every player in the league, hoodies for the entire booster club, custom uniforms for the football team, or spirit wear for the big tournament next month. You need something that looks great and won’t destroy your budget.

What’s the answer?

With all the new customization options—like sublimation, DTF printing, and heat transfer—it’s easy to chase trends. But the truth is, screen printing is still a go-to method for custom team uniforms.

It’s efficient, versatile, and cost-effective when used for the right kind of project. That’s why even as new methods gain popularity, professional teams, schools, and organizations across Chattanooga continue to trust screen printing.

But when is screen printing the right call? Understanding when to choose screen printing can help you get the best results for your team.

We’ll break down the specific scenarios where it makes the most sense, and we’ll compare it to other popular methods so you can make a confident, informed decision for your next order.

The Screen Printing Playbook: 3 Times It’s the Winning Call

Screen printing is like the seasoned veteran on your roster; it’s reliable, battle-tested, and ready to perform when the pressure’s on. This method shines brightest in three key situations that nearly every team, club, or organization will face.

1. When You’re Outfitting the Whole Team (or the Whole League)

Screen printing involves creating a custom stencil, or screen, for each color in your design. As a result, the process has higher initial setup costs.

But here’s the good news: the price per item drops significantly as the quantity goes up.

Once the screens are made, printing hundreds (or even thousands) of shirts becomes fast and efficient. The more you print, the lower your cost per piece drops.

So, if you’re ordering practice jerseys, fan shirts for the entire school, or custom team uniforms, screen printing is the most budget-friendly way to get it done right here in Chattanooga.

This makes screen printing services perfect for:

• League-wide apparel orders
• Fan giveaways for booster clubs or tournament events
• Camp T-shirts
• Corporate or school spirit events

The bottom line? When you’re ordering in bulk, screen printing delivers the perfect blend of affordability and professional quality.

2. When Your Design Is Bold, Classic, and Clear

Not every design needs to be flashy. Sometimes, the strongest statement is a bold, simple one—and that’s where screen printing truly shines.

The ideal screen printing design features solid, distinct colors with clear lines and limited shading. Each color gets its own screen, so designs with fewer colors are more cost-effective and faster to produce.

It’s a great choice for:

• Team names in bold block letters
• Player numbers on the back of shirts
• Sponsor logos for local businesses supporting your team

These designs don’t just look clean; they pop. Screen printing produces vibrant, crisp graphics that are easy to see from the stands.

If your goal is to create a classic team look that makes your team stand out, screen printing is the MVP. It’s the reason you see screen-printed jerseys and tees at nearly every high school event, rec league, or community tournament in Chattanooga.

3. When You Need Versatility for Fan Wear and Spirit Gear

Players aren’t the only ones who deserve great gear. Fans bring the energy, and screen printing makes it easy to create standout apparel for every supporter.

Screen printing works exceptionally well on the fabrics most commonly used for spirit wear, such as cotton and cotton-blend T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts.

These are the pieces parents, students, and alumni wear around town or to the big game, and they need to be comfortable, affordable, and durable.

From soft cotton tees for spirit week to hoodies for chilly fall games, screen printing gives you:

• Vibrant color and long-lasting prints
• Stylish comfort
• Budget-friendly pricing for large groups of fans

At The Athletic Shop, we also offer methods that are perfect for on-field gear. Explore all the possibilities for your custom team uniforms.

The Matchup: How Screen Printing Compares to the Competition

We get it—there are more printing technologies on the market than ever before. Each has its strengths. But if you’re not sure which one’s right for your team, let’s break down the differences so you can see why screen printing still dominates in certain matchups.

Screen Printing vs. Sublimation

The core difference: Screen printing lays ink on top of the fabric, while sublimation infuses the ink directly into the fabric fibers.

Choose sublimation for:

• Complex, multi-color, or all-over designs
• Jerseys made of 100% polyester (especially performance fabrics)
• Durability (sublimated designs become part of the fabric and won’t crack, peel, or fade)

Choose screen printing for:

• Simple, bold logos or team names
• Cotton or cotton-blend apparel
• Large orders where keeping costs down is a priority

In short, sublimation is the go-to for premium athletic uniforms with intricate, full-color graphics. But for league shirts, fan tees, and budget-conscious team orders, screen printing delivers unbeatable value without sacrificing quality.

At The Athletic Shop, we offer both, so we’ll always steer you toward the right method for your specific needs. Want to learn more about sublimation? Check out our guide on when you should use sublimated designs.

Screen Printing vs. DTF (Direct-to-Film) Printing

The core difference: DTF printing is a digital process that prints your design onto a special film, which is then heat-pressed onto the garment. It excels at photo-realistic detail and fine gradients—perfect for modern, artistic designs.

Choose DTF printing for:

• Highly detailed or full-color images
• Small quantities or on-demand orders
• Projects that need fine shading or photographic effects

Choose screen printing for:

• Large runs of designs with fewer colors
• Apparel that will see lots of wear and washing
• A softer, more natural feel for cotton garments

In the debate of DTF printing vs. screen printing, screen printing is more cost-effective for bulk orders and more durable for long-term wear.

Want to learn more about DTF? Check out our in-depth guide on how DTF printing is changing the game.

Screen Printing vs. Heat Transfer

The core difference: Like DTF, heat transfer uses heat and pressure to apply a design. But traditional heat transfers typically use vinyl materials, which sit on top of the fabric rather than being absorbed or layered like screen printing.

Choose heat transfer for:

• Very small orders or one-off designs
• Customizing apparel with individual names and numbers
• Simple, low-quantity projects that need quick turnaround

Choose screen printing for:

• Larger team or league orders
• Apparel that needs to last through frequent wear and washes
• Bold, simple designs

While both methods produce clean results, screen printing is generally more durable. Vinyl transfers can start to peel or crack over time, especially after repeated washing or heavy use.

For apparel that’s going to see action on and off the field, screen printing is the clear winner.

Interested in learning more about heat transfer printing? Check out our guide on why this method is rising in popularity.

Making the Right Call for Your Chattanooga Team

So, what’s the takeaway?

Screen printing is the undisputed champion for bulk orders of apparel with bold, classic designs, especially for fan and spirit wear. It delivers reliable quality, long-lasting results, and unbeatable value when you’re ordering for a whole team, school, or community group.

Whether you’re outfitting hundreds of players or making sure every fan in the stands can show their pride, screen printing is the dependable, budget-friendly choice that’s been powering team spirit for decades.

When you choose The Athletic Shop, you’re not just getting ink on fabric; you’re getting decades of expertise, local service, and Chattanooga pride behind every order.

Bring It Home: Local Chattanooga Pride

When you’re gearing up for a new season, planning a company event, or want to show off your local pride, choosing the right decoration method is key.

We help teams and organizations all across the Chattanooga area make smart, confident apparel choices. Our in-house production team ensures consistent color, crisp lines, and fast turnaround times.

Plus, with our full range of printing technologies, including screen printing, sublimation, DTF, and heat transfer, we can help you find the perfect method for your specific project.

We proudly serve:

• Chattanooga
• Signal Mountain
• Hixson
• East Ridge
• Red Bank
• Soddy-Daisy
• Ooltewah
• Collegedale
• And the surrounding areas

Ready to get a quote for your next big order? Our screen printing services are perfect for teams, schools, and businesses. Contact The Athletic Shop today to get started!

Browse our full selection of custom team uniforms and apparel to find the perfect gear for your players and fans.