The Reversible Jersey Debate

Reversible Jerseys: are they right for your Club? 

Why Single-Sided Jerseys Make More Sense For Football Clubs

For many community sports clubs, especially those running internal miniroos and junior competitions, reversible jerseys seem like a simple fix. One jersey, two colours, the idea is to reduce kit clashes and cut costs at the same time.

We often hear the question: would reversible jerseys be a good fit for U6 and U7 teams? On paper, reversible kits sound efficient. But when we look closer at the real world outcomes, especially from a player comfort, cost, and practicality standpoint, a different picture emerges.

In this guide, we’ll explore why reversible jerseys often fall short, what alternatives make more sense for community clubs, especially for miniroos and junior teams, and how to make your kit strategy work better next season.

Why Clubs Consider Reversible Jerseys

Many clubs managing multiple teams within the same age group face a common issue: home and away colour clashes. Rather than ordering two jerseys per team, the idea of a single reversible kit feels like an appealing shortcut. 

It seems to tick all the boxes: 

• Only one jersey to purchase and manage 
• No need to assign “home” and “away” colours
• Simple solution for coaches and parents
  

But when put into action, reversible kits often introduce more challenges than they solve.

The Reality: Twice The Fabric, Half The Comfort

The main issue with reversible jerseys is their construction. As KPI Sports Production Manager Tarran explains: “Reversible jerseys are essentially two jerseys sewn together, which means they’re heavier, less breathable, and uncomfortable in warm conditions.”

This is especially noticeable for younger players. At ages 6 and 7, kids are learning to enjoy the game. If their jersey is thick, sticky with sweat, or hard to move in, it becomes a barrier to participation. Poor ventilation and excess weight are big concerns for players at any level, but even more so for juniors.

The lack of breathability and the awkward fit when worn inside out also affects performance and confidence on the field.

The Cost Myth: Reversible Isn’t Cheaper

Many clubs choose reversible jerseys thinking they’re more affordable. But in practice, that rarely plays out.  Because of the extra material required, more complex stitching, and dual-printing setup, the price of a reversible jersey often equals, or exceeds, the cost of buying two basic jerseys.

And since reversible kits are a fully-custom product, with special finishing, there’s often less flexibility around minimum order quantities, delivery times, and reorders.

Instead of saving money, clubs can end up paying more for a product that underdelivers.

A Better Solution: Stock Jerseys In Multiple Colours

If budget is the driver for  choosing reversible jerseys, KPI Sports recommends an alternative that better serves clubs, coaches, and players alike — stock jerseys available in multiple colour options with custom club badges added. This approach offers a smarter, more flexible solution for internal competitions, especially at the miniroo and junior levels.

Benefits of the stock jersey model:
✅ Light and breathable: Designed for comfort and performance, especially important for younger players. No excessive heat from double layer reversibles.

✅Plenty of colour options: We offer 13 colourways  so internal-club teams can easily be
distinguished without clashing.

✅ Quick turnaround: Stock jerseys are ready to go with faster delivery than most custom or reversible options.

✅ Cost-effective: No premiums for reversible features or designs. Clear, simple pricing that suits club budgets.

Best of all, these jerseys can still reflect your club’s identity by adding your badge or name. It’s a clean, consistent look across age groups, with less confusion and more comfort.

Tried and True: Single-Sided Sublimated Jerseys

For clubs that want to maintain a consistent, and unique, design through sublimated jerseys, we still recommend a standard single-sided jersey as the optimal kit strategy. If you regularly purchase from your uniform supplier, or have a partnership agreement in place, such as KPI Partner Clubs, you most likely benefit from discounted pricing on sublimated jerseys that are not as significant on reversible styles.

Garment care for a single-sided fabric is also easier than for reversible jerseys. With a double layer of fabric, sweat retention is greater, and the shirts can be marked on both the inner and outer layers, requiring greater care in washing, and longer drying time.

So, not only is the required investment less, when choosing single-sided sublimated jerseys, you will be providing your players with maximum comfort and improve the jersey lifespan. 

Make Life Easier for Coaches and Parents

When your U6 coach doesn’t have to ask, “Which way do we wear the jersey today?” and parents aren’t flipping shirts inside-out on the sideline, it’s one less thing to manage.

Stock jerseys also make equipment management simpler. There’s no need to track two-in-one kits, handle  complaints about discomfort from reversibles, or explain to new families how the system works. They’re straightforward, durable, and easily replaceable, everything your miniroos and junior competition kits should be.

Bridging Performance and Practicality

We understand the realities that community clubs face: limited budgets, high volunteer workloads, growing participation numbers, and tight preseason timelines. That’s why we design our stock jerseys, sublimated jerseys and kit strategies to deliver on performance and practicality. From quick access to multiple colours, to scalable reordering, simple personalisation and discounts for bulk purchases, this model lets clubs focus on the game, not the gear.

Final Thoughts

Reversible jerseys might seem like a clever solution at first, but they often create more challenges than they solve, from discomfort and overheating, to higher costs and awkward logistics. If your club is planning for next season, we recommend taking a step back and reassessing your uniform strategy. By switching to lightweight stock jerseys in multiple colours or staying with single-sided sublimated jerseys, you can improve player experience, simplify your operations, and stay flexible across all junior age groups.

As always, our team is here to help.

Whether you’re planning for next season or just want to explore options, we can walk you through the best stock colour combinations, badge application styles, sublimation fabric options and ordering tips to make sure your teams are ready to go from Day 1.

Let’s Talk Jerseys

Contact us at sales@kpisports.com.au or visit www.kpisports.com.au to see what’s possible for your club.