Late Tryout Volleyball Uniforms: Get Players Game-Ready in Days, Not Weeks

Late tryouts are stressful.

The season's already started. Most teams have their rosters set. Uniforms are ordered. Practice schedules are locked in.

Then you get a late tryout player.

Maybe they moved mid-season. Maybe they finished another sport late. Maybe they're a freshman who didn't make the first cut but improved over summer. Maybe injuries opened a roster spot.

Whatever the reason, late tryouts create logistical headaches. Especially when it comes to uniforms and gear.

We've helped hundreds of coaches handle late tryout situations over 30 years. Here's everything you need to know about managing late additions, getting them uniformed quickly, and keeping your team budget intact.

Why Late Tryouts Happen (And Why They're More Common Than You Think)

Late season additions aren't rare. They happen constantly in volleyball programs at every level.

Common late tryout scenarios:

Transfer students - Families move. Kids switch schools. A player who was varsity at their old school needs a team at their new one. They show up three weeks into your season.

Multi-sport athletes - A soccer player finishes their fall season in late October. They want to join volleyball for the rest of the year. They're athletic, coachable, and available. Do you take them?

Injury replacements - Your starting libero tears her ACL. You need depth. You hold emergency tryouts to fill the gap.

Roster cuts who improved - That freshman you cut in August spent two months in club volleyball and private training. She comes back for a second look. She's dramatically better. Now what?

Club players looking for school ball - They played club in the spring, skipped school tryouts, then decided they want the high school experience too. They show up in September asking for a chance.

Late bloomers - The 5'10" freshman who couldn't pass in August just grew two inches and figured out her footwork. Suddenly she's worth a roster spot.

Every coach faces these situations. The question isn't whether to accept late tryouts—it's how to handle them efficiently when you do.

The Uniform Problem With Late Additions

Here's what makes late tryouts challenging: you've already ordered team uniforms.

Your main roster got their jerseys, shorts, warm-ups, and backpacks weeks ago. Everything matches. Everything fits. Everyone looks like a team.

Then a late addition shows up and you need to get them uniformed without:

• Reordering the entire team's gear
• Waiting 6-8 weeks for custom sublimation
• Blowing your uniform budget on rush fees
• Having one player look different from everyone else

This is where most coaches get stuck. They either:

1. Make the new player wear practice gear all season (awkward)
2. Order custom jerseys and wait weeks while the player practices in mismatched gear
3. Pay expensive rush fees that eat into their budget
4. Give up and don't take the late addition at all

There's a better way.

The Fast-Track Solution for Late Tryout Uniforms

When you add a player mid-season, you need gear that:

• Ships immediately (not 6 weeks from now)
• Matches your existing team colors and style
• Fits within your remaining budget
• Looks professional, not thrown together

Here's the strategy that works:

Option 1: Stock Jerseys With Same-Day Decoration

Instead of custom sublimated uniforms that take weeks, use stock jerseys with heat-pressed or screen-printed customization.

How this works:

• Select in-stock jerseys in your team colors (Nike, adidas, Mizuno, ASICS, Under Armour all have stock options)
• Add player name and number with heat press or screen print
• Ships in 3-5 business days instead of 6-8 weeks
• Costs significantly less than full custom sublimation

Best for: Last-minute additions who need gear immediately for upcoming games.

Most volleyball programs use sublimated custom jerseys for their main roster. But keeping a few stock jerseys in team colors for late additions is smart planning. The slight style difference between sublimated and stock jerseys is minimal—especially if you match colors correctly.

Option 2: Blank Uniforms With Local Decoration

If you have a local screen printer or heat press decorator, you can buy blank volleyball jerseys and get them customized locally.

The process:

1. Order blank stock jerseys from All Volleyball in your team colors
2. Ship directly to your local decorator (or pick up in-store if you're near us)
3. They add numbers, names, logos within 24-48 hours
4. Total turnaround: less than one week

Best for: Coaches who already have relationships with local decorators and need maximum speed.

This gives you complete control over timing. We ship blank uniforms fast—usually same day if ordered before noon. Your decorator handles the rest on your timeline.

Option 3: Pre-Order Extra Uniforms At Bulk Discount

The smartest coaches plan for late additions BEFORE they happen.

When you place your main uniform package order, add 2-3 extra sets in common sizes (women's small, medium, large / men's medium, large, XL).

Why this works:

• You get the bulk discount pricing on the extras
• They're already customized with your team design
• When a late addition shows up, you already have uniforms ready
• If you don't use them this season, you have them for next year

Best for: Experienced coaches who know late additions happen and want to be prepared.

Yes, you're spending a bit more upfront. But you're saving the rush fees, shipping charges, and time stress later. Plus, extra uniforms always get used eventually—even if just for injured players who need replacements.

Building Uniform Packages for Teams With Late Additions

Most coaches think uniform packages are all-or-nothing: order everything for everyone at once or don't do packages at all.

That's not true.

Uniform packages can be flexible.

Here's how we help teams handle packages when rosters aren't final:

Start With Your Core Roster

Order complete uniform packages for the players you KNOW are making the team:

• Jersey
• Shorts/Spandex
• Team backpack
• Knee pads (optional)

This gets your main roster uniformed and looking professional immediately.

Add Individual Items For Late Additions

When new players join, add them to your existing package order with individual items. You don't need to reorder everything—just the pieces they need.

We can:

• Match your existing jersey design and add one player's customization
• Add single warm-ups in the correct size
• Ship individual backpacks or gear items
• Keep everything on the same invoice for accounting

The key advantage: You still get quantity discounts applied across your entire order, even when adding individual pieces later.

Mix and Match Brands For Budget Flexibility

You're not locked into one brand for your entire uniform package.

Smart mixing strategies:

Premium jerseys, budget warm-ups - Invest in high-quality sublimated game jerseys (Under Armour, Mizuno, adidas) but use more affordable stock warm-ups for the sideline.

Match price to position - Starters get premium gear. Bench players get quality but budget-friendly options. Late additions get functional stock items.

Customize what matters - Fully customize jerseys and warm-up jackets (highly visible) but use blank or minimally decorated pants, shorts, and backpacks.

This flexibility means late additions don't blow your budget. You can outfit them professionally without spending premium prices on every single piece.

The Do-It-Yourself Uniform Package Option

Some coaches want complete control over their uniform ordering process. We built tools specifically for this.

Here's how DIY uniform packages work:

Step 1: Explore All Available Products

Everything on our website is eligible for team packages:

• Women's volleyball jerseys (sublimated custom or stock)
• Men's volleyball jerseys
• Volleyball shorts and spandex
• Warm-up jackets and pants
• Volleyball backpacks and bags
• Knee pads
• Volleyballs and training equipment

You can mix brands, styles, and price points. No restrictions.

Step 2: Design Sublimated Gear Online

For CustomFuze sublimated uniforms (available for both women and men), you can design everything yourself:

1. Select your favorite design template
2. Choose colors and patterns
3. Upload team logos
4. Add player numbers and names
5. Enter your full roster
6. Add items to cart
7. Add other package items like backpacks, warm-ups, knee pads
8. Checkout or request a quote

Everything happens online. No back-and-forth emails. No waiting for mockups.

Important note: Under Armour, Mizuno, adidas, and ASICS sublimated gear requires a quote request since customization options vary by manufacturer.

Step 3: Decorate Stock Jerseys and Apparel

If you prefer decorated stock items instead of full sublimation:

1. Find your favorite in-stock jerseys, warm-ups, or backpacks
2. Use our online decorator to add logos, numbers, and text
3. Add your roster (or individual players for late additions)
4. Add to cart
5. Add other package essentials
6. Checkout

This is perfect for late additions because stock items ship much faster than sublimated custom gear.

Pro tip: All items can also be purchased blank if you have a local decorator you prefer working with.

Step 4: Checkout or Request Quote

Two ways to complete your order:

Checkout directly - This is the fastest method. Add everything to cart and checkout like any online purchase. We accept credit cards, school purchase orders, and payment plans. Your order goes into production immediately.

Request a quote - Use this when you need an official quote for approval, want to make adjustments before finalizing, or need help building your package. We'll review everything, make recommendations, adjust as needed, and send back a formal quote for you to approve and purchase.

Most coaches checkout directly because it's faster. But quotes are there when you need them.

The "Do It For Me" Option (When You Don't Have Time)

Building uniform packages takes time. Depending on your team size and requirements, it can get complicated.

If you'd rather have experts handle it, we'll do it for you.

Here's how it works:

1. Tell us what you need (team size, positions, budget, timeline)
2. We'll recommend package options based on your requirements
3. You approve the package selections
4. We handle all customization, sizing, and ordering
5. Everything ships directly to you, ready to distribute

This is especially useful for:

• New head coaches building their first team package
• Large programs with 30+ players across multiple teams
• Schools with complex decoration requirements (multiple logos, sponsors, etc.)
• Coaches who are swamped and just need it handled correctly

Quantity Discounts on Uniform Packages (Including Late Additions)

Here's something most coaches don't realize: quantity discounts apply to your entire package, not just identical items.

When you order:

• 15 jerseys
• 15 pairs of shorts
• 15 warm-up sets
• 15 backpacks
• 20 knee pads
• 10 volleyballs
• Training equipment

You get bulk pricing on everything combined.

This means adding late additions to your existing package order still qualifies for volume discounts. You're not paying full retail for one-off items.

Even better: discounts apply across brands. Mix Mizuno shoes, Nike jerseys, adidas warm-ups, and ASICS knee pads—you still get quantity pricing on the whole package.

Late Tryout Timeline: How Fast Can You Actually Get Uniforms?

Real talk about timing:

Custom sublimated uniforms: 6-8 weeks from order to delivery. This includes design approval, production, decoration, and shipping. Can't be rushed much beyond this without expensive air shipping.

Stock jerseys with decoration: 3-5 business days for heat press or screen print, plus shipping (2-3 days standard, 1-2 days expedited). Total: 5-10 days.

Blank stock items: Ships same day if ordered before noon. Arrives in 2-3 days standard shipping, 1-2 days expedited. Total: 2-4 days.

Local decorator option: Ships blank items in 2-3 days, your decorator needs 1-2 days, you pick up same day. Total: 3-5 days.

If you have a late addition and need them uniformed for a game in one week, sublimation won't work. Stock with decoration or blank with local decoration are your only realistic options.

Plan accordingly.

What To Order For Different Late Tryout Scenarios

Not every late addition needs a full uniform package. Here's what to order based on the situation:

Full roster addition (they're here for the season):

• Game jersey
• Practice jersey or reversible
• Shorts/spandex (2 pairs)
• Warm-up jacket
• Warm-up pants
• Team backpack
• Knee pads

Temporary addition (filling in for injuries, might not stay):

• Game jersey
• Shorts/spandex (1 pair)
• Knee pads
• Skip warm-ups and backpack until you know they're permanent

Practice player (won't see game action):

• Practice jersey or reversible
• Shorts/spandex (1 pair)
• Knee pads
• Skip custom game uniforms entirely

Emergency fill-in (one tournament only):

• Blank stock jersey in team colors
• Shorts/spandex (1 pair)
• They use their own knee pads
• No customization needed—just functional gear

Match the investment to the commitment level. You can always order more later if the player sticks.

Budget-Friendly Package Options For Programs With Tight Funds

Not every program has unlimited uniform budgets. Late additions make this worse.

Here's how to outfit teams affordably without looking cheap:

Focus decoration budget on game jerseys - These are most visible. Invest here. Go minimal on warm-ups and accessories.

Use stock items for non-starters - Starters get custom sublimated gear. Bench players and late additions get quality stock items in team colors.

Buy blank and decorate locally - Often cheaper than pre-decorated items, especially for small orders.

Skip optional items - Team backpacks and extra warm-up pieces are nice but not essential. Game uniforms and one practice set are the priority.

Order extra-small roster sizes - If you know you'll have late additions, keep your initial order small to preserve budget. Add pieces as needed.

Take advantage of quantity discounts - Even if spreading orders across the season, we can combine them for bulk pricing when possible.

Looking professional doesn't require spending premium prices on every single item. Smart coaches allocate budgets strategically.

The Bottom Line on Late Volleyball Tryouts

Late additions don't have to be stressful.

With the right strategy, you can:

• Get new players uniformed quickly
• Keep them looking professional and part of the team
• Stay within budget
• Avoid expensive rush fees and long waits

Whether you're handling one late addition or multiple mid-season roster changes, the key is knowing your options and planning smart.

Quick recap:

• Stock jerseys with decoration ship in days, not weeks
• Blank items to local decorators give you maximum speed
• Pre-ordering extras during your main package saves money and hassle
• Quantity discounts apply even when adding individual items later
• DIY tools let you control everything yourself
• "Do it for me" service handles complicated orders

After 30 years of helping coaches handle late tryout situations, we've learned one thing: the teams that plan for flexibility handle changes smoothly. The teams that don't scramble and stress.

Late tryouts happen. Be ready for them.