Particularly for a company like ours, who prides itself on manufacturing top quality products regardless of cost, it presents an interesting dilemma. When dealing with a cash-strapped customer what do we do? Should we “cheapen” our product to get a sale? Should we use less expensive (yet less quality) fabrics in the construction of our uniforms? That would be an easy way to get the price down. Should we take some shortcuts when sewing our products or maybe be a little stingier with our cuts? After all, we cut all of our products big anyway. Nobody would notice if a couple inches were missing; would they? Well, we would.

To the contrary, we have decided to change almost nothing. We make a quality product that has always been very well received and if it ain’t broken; we’re not going to fix it. A reputation for quality is not easily earned and we’re not going to jeopardize that reputation to get a few more sales when times are tough. Instead, we counsel our customers to still buy the “good stuff” but to maybe cut back on some of the options. A full cut, well constructed uniform is still a tremendous value even if it isn’t “fancy”. A Mercedes is still a Mercedes even without a sunroof and a navigation system.

Like all economic situations, both good and bad, this one will end at some point. When it does, our reputation will be intact and maybe we will have learned something. Like everyone else we are looking for ways to be more efficient during these difficult times and when this ends maybe we will have learned some valuable lessons. In the meantime, our customers will still be able to count on getting a quality product from us. One that will last them for years and years. Bad times seem to come and go but we would like to believe that good companies, like ours, are here to stay.

Wrestling Is More Popular Than We Thought

I am still amazed however by the popularity of non “mainstream” sports. This year in particular we have sold an enormous amount of wrestling uniforms. Much of this business is a result of increased efforts on our part to improve the wrestling section of our website. Admittedly, we are getting a tremendous amount of e-mails and phone calls as a result of this. The number of young people participating in this sport is quite remarkable; particularly in the Midwest.

Wrestling teams typically buy singlets to compete in; they also require accessory items like warm-up suits, shorts, t-shirts and sometimes even team jackets. A normal college or high school team might buy 15 or 20 sets of each. A youth team might buy double or triple that amount however. Youth wrestling is extremely popular.

It is very easy now to provide a quality uniform for wrestling. Regardless of the age group or level of the wrestlers a sublimated Lycra singlet is undoubtedly the way to go. Certainly, there are different grades of Lycra but the stretch and comfort of this fabric, regardless of the weight, is ideal for this sport. Add in a lightweight yet durable printing method like sublimation and you have the perfect uniform. Of all of the uniforms that we produce for sports of all kinds, wrestling is the easiest to make a recommendation for. A sublimated Lycra wrestling singlet is the perfect uniform.

Other Not So Mainstream Sports That We Service

The sheer numbers of young people that are participating in wrestling has been a real revelation to us. We had no idea that the sport was so popular. I have a feeling there may be other sports (volleyball, track and field, etc.) that may be just as popular at the youth level. We are probably just not aware of it because we have not devoted the effort to them that we have to wrestling.

Since we were successful with wrestling, we decided to take a look at our web pages for some of the other sports as well. Along with the new baseball section that we announced back in November, we’ve also redeveloped our softball and men’s lacrosse sections (and we plan on continuing this work with other sports).

Our new Softball Uniforms area is split out into the following categories:

• Softball Shorts
• Softball Pants
• Pull-Over Softball Jerseys
• Button-Down Softball Jerseys

Our new Men’s Lacrosse Uniform section is now divided between these areas:

• Men’s Lacrosse Game Uniforms
• Men’s Lacrosse Practice Jerseys
• Men’s Lacrosse Shorts

From all of us here at Cisco Athletic – Best wishes in 2009!

Apparently this is not just a phenomenon but a growing movement in the US. There are sanctioned leagues and organizations whose members must at least dress like the “old time” players and in some cases even use the authentic equipment and original rules. As I have researched this I can assure you that baseball is a much different game when played with this inferior equipment and with the rules that the game was originally played with. I would actually love to see some of the young men that I coach give this game a try with equipment and uniforms like the ones I describe. I have a feeling that I would hear a lot less complaints about “bad” gloves, bats, etc.

Image Courtesy of Vintage Base Ball Factory

My specific area of expertise is the uniform aspect of this; the vintage uniforms are very interesting. First off, the fabric itself is fairly heavy and uncomfortable; somewhat like flannel. Many have ¾ length or even full length sleeves. I can’t imagine wearing these in some of the 100 degree days that we play in. The cuts are also large and almost baggy and the lettering and numbers are sewn-on felt. If I’m not mistaken numbers were not even mandatory on vintage uniforms.

Many of the uniform designs are simple yet visually appealing to purists. The jerseys feature solid color bodies and frequently offer contrasting color plackets and collars. The lettering is usually single color block or Old English style. The vintage hats are also interesting. They are either the “pillbox” style or a relaxed fit style with a very short visor. I can assure you that most of today’s young players wouldn’t be caught dead in hats such as these.

Image Courtesy of Vintage Base Ball Factory

I will not even discuss the authentic equipment because it is not something that I am an expert on. Needless to say if you have ever seen the vintage gloves, bats and balls you will wonder how anyone could excel with this equipment.

The real issue, from my perspective, is whether this “look” will ever catch on with traditional teams. If college or even minor league teams were to wear these vintage uniforms it might actually take off. As a coach myself it would be very intriguing to dress like this and it is something that I would definitely consider. The heat and comfort aspect is the only thing that would give me pause. I will be very curious to see if this vintage concept becomes more mainstream over the next several years.

For more information on vintage baseball, visit the Vintage Base Ball Association’s website.

• Button-down Baseball Uniform Tops
• Pull-over Baseball Jerseys
• Baseball Pants

We hope to add additional components to the baseball section of our site in the future. So if you have any suggestions on what else we should include in the baseball section or would just like to provide us with some feedback on our new structure, please feel free to add a comment or email us with your thoughts.

As I consider this phenomenon it has occurred to me just exactly how important athletics of all kinds have become in our society. I guess that sports is the great distraction and especially in difficult times like these; people need all of the distractions that they can find. I am told that the average citizen is cutting back in many areas such as travel, entertainment and even food but we have seen no decrease whatsoever in the passion with which our customers approach outfitting their teams. Kim Cristofoli indirectly backs up this theory in her blog post Youth Sports: How Much is TOO Much where she provides several scenarios where her family might decide to cut back on sports, but does not include financial considerations.

While it is true that some school systems have cut their athletic budgets, and sponsors of independent teams have become harder to find, teams DO have to wear uniforms. It has become clear that sports are a priority for many, many people and not playing due to funding problems is not an option to them.

We see many instances where parents of a player or players on a high school team or in a college program will step forward and fund new uniforms for the team when the school cannot afford to. The feeling seems to be that the players will only get this opportunity for several years of their life and Mom and Dad do not want them to be deprived just because they had the bad fortune to play during a down economy.

The bottom line is that sports have become a very important part of many people’s lives and even during difficult times it is not something that they are willing to sacrifice. I guess through sheer dumb luck we have picked an industry that is somewhat immune to the roller coaster ride that our economy sometimes becomes.

While enjoying the technology that is bringing the games to my family room it has occurred to me how much technology has changed the games themselves. In the baseball game a simulated “box” that indicates each batter’s strike zone can be superimposed on the screen as well as the actual location of the pitch when it crosses the plate. In all honesty I doubt that any human being can be that accurate. Would this be a better way to call balls and strikes or would we suffer by removing the human element from the game?

Baseball has not resorted to instant replay quite yet (except on disputed home runs) but we could obviously get more accurate calls with slow motion replays of close plays at the bases as well as diving catches, trapped balls, etc. Again, would this improve the game or just slow it down even more?

With football I must admit to loving some of the new technology. The instant replay is slow and cumbersome but seems to be absolutely necessary in a sport that features such big and fast athletes. The outcome of major games is now decided correctly (you would hope) by the use of this technology. Personally, I would like to see it used in even more situations such as pass interference and other “judgment” calls. I hate to see a great play “ruined” by a bad call.

As a viewer, I can’t imagine watching a football game any longer without the line of scrimmage and first down lines that are shown on the screen of just about every broadcast. Could technology be developed to help actually spot the football more accurately, even at the bottom of a pile of bodies? It wouldn’t seem possible but I think that we’ve learned to never say never.

Overall, I believe the new technology to be a real asset to most, if not all sports but the big question is exactly where should we draw the line?

What are your thoughts on the subject?

The first and most obvious aspect of a uniform is the material that it is made of. Today, lightweight, comfortable and breathable fabrics are in. Heavier weight, bulky and uncomfortable materials are out. This is particularly true in many of the “secondary” sports but is even gradually taking place in “mainstream” sports like football and baseball. Even the “old school” coaches in those sports are realizing that athletes can perform better when they are dry, comfortable and not weighed down.

Sublimated Athletic Uniforms

To keep the uniform light and comfortable we need the lettering and/or numbering to be that way as well. How can we possibly decorate a uniform, keep the graphics lightweight but make sure that it stays on the uniform without cracking or peeling? The answer to that question, in many cases, is now sublimation.

With sublimation, we can now dye all lettering, logos and numbers directly into the fabric while we are dyeing the fabric itself. The graphics are actually a part of the material and cannot come off. It’s a relatively new technology but it’s perfect for these new lightweight fabrics.

Durable, Comfortable Sports Uniforms

Do we have to sacrifice durability for comfort with these new uniforms? Not necessarily. In most sports, there is a considerable amount of stretch built in to these new fabrics and this saves a lot of wear and tear on the seams. Of course with contact sports like football you need to be careful but we can even sublimate most of the mesh and dazzle fabrics that we’ve always used and still keep the uniform weight down. The fact of the matter is that you no longer need a heavy uniform for it to be durable.

The Psychological Effect of Athletic Uniforms

Lastly, and this may seem trite, but many people perform better when they look good. This applies to all walks of life; not just sports. These new sublimated uniforms can be designed to be graphically stunning and there can sometimes be a certain intimidation factor involved when playing a team, in any sport, that is outfitted just right. I personally have been on both sides of this situation and know how true this can be.

I’m not saying that the uniforms that a team wears can or will affect the outcome of a game but I don’t think there’s any doubt any more that comfortable, lightweight uniforms can at least marginally improve each individual athlete’s performance.

We Now Support Thousands of Uniform Styles

Boy have things changed. When a customer calls us today they rarely know exactly what they want. They may see a photograph on our website (or even on some other website) and are interested in a “look”. For the most part they have no knowledge whatsoever about the vast array of fabrics that are now available or the different processes that we now have to decorate them. With options, we now have thousands of different styles available and the customers are certainly not aware of that. It is now our job to teach them and to walk them through the “process”.

Uniform Sales Come From Good Consulting

(Not Some Pitch)

Now, when a potential customer calls (or e-mails) us we immediately need to ask a series of questions. Are these for men or women? What age group? What climate do you play in? When do you need them and of course; do you have a price range? After we know the answer to these, and possibly other questions, we can make an educated recommendation.

A Small Sample of Our Material Inventory

Although not all appropriate for all sports we now carry approximately 2 dozen different fabrics, many in up to 15 colors, and offer screen-printing, tackletwill and sublimation. Particularly with sublimation, there are tens of thousands of possibilities and we can often even match a customer’s creation. We can now design and produce a uniform for almost any application, but in order to get to the production phase our customer service people need to actually know what they’re talking about. They can no longer be order takers; they truly need to be consultants.

We Are Athletic Uniform Experts

Fortunately, in our particular company, our representatives have not only played sports themselves but have actually worked in various sections of our manufacturing facility. This combination gives us, or more accurately our customers, a huge advantage over our competition. When you talk to one of us, you are talking to someone who knows the sports, the fabrics, and the processes that we use to produce the end products. We get to know our customers and we build from scratch, taking into account their specifications and limitations.

When speaking with a customer the other day it occurred to me how our customer’s perceptions have changed over the years regarding custom athletic uniforms. Not so long ago, when showing samples to a potential customer, it was not uncommon at all for that customer to ask if we had anything “heavier” available. “Heavy” meant quality and durability and was considered just plain better at that time.

In addition to selling the heaviest, most durable fabrics that we could source we would take a similar approach when decorating them. When screen-printing, we would purposely apply as heavy a deposit of ink as was feasible in an effort to further promote that heavy, quality look. Likewise, with tackletwill (sewn-on lettering) we would use the heaviest, professional grade twill and actually still do till this day.

Optimal Athletic Performance is a Driving Force

With the popularity of apparel from companies like Under Armour however our uniform customers are now asking us for just the opposite. “Do you have anything lighter” is something we now hear frequently. I have even had customers tell me . . . that they don’t care how long the uniforms last as long as they are attractive, lightweight and comfortable.

Common sense tells us that an athlete wearing a uniform that weighs several pounds may not perform as well as someone wearing one that weighs less then one pound. That makes sense but with budgets being what they are can customers afford to have lightweight uniforms at the expense of having to replace them more frequently? Fortunately, that is not a choice that we have to make because with current technology these new fabrics can be fairly durable in addition to being lightweight and comfortable.

All of this new technology is useless however if we ruin the advantages of the fabric by smothering it with pounds of lettering and numbering. That problem has been solved as well with the development of sublimation. With sublimation we can literally dye all decoration directly into the fabric with almost no increase in garment weight.

With the development of these new technologies in both fabrics and imprinting we can now have our cake and eat it too. Our customers can now purchase an extremely attractive, lightweight and comfortable customized uniform and can count on it lasting for many, many years.

When I started this coaching odyssey some twenty years ago baseball was a much different game. At that time, it was a mainstream sport. Soccer was played in the fall only and lacrosse was a “secondary” sport. When I registered my own sons for baseball at the local recreation council back then we needed to arrive several hours early to make sure that we were far enough up in line to get a spot. That same recreation council no longer has a baseball program today.

In reality, we are now a “secondary” sport. Baseball is no longer America’s game. The games are considered slow, too long and boring. This perception is reinforced when we take youngsters in our sport and make them, and their parents, sit through two hour games where almost nothing happens. Soccer, lacrosse and many other activities seem to have much more action and provide immediate gratification; which is very important to today’s kids (and their parents). The only upside to this new attitude is that the baseball players that I now get, especially at this age, are passionate about and committed to the game and are happy to be here.

The other big change that I have noticed is how competitive and businesslike baseball teams like mine have become. Parents sometimes spend thousands of dollars on these teams (not on mine) and consider them a ticket to a college scholarship. We play in “showcase” tournaments in front of college scouts but the cruel reality is that only a very small percentage of these players will ever get a penny for playing. With only about 12 scholarships to offer, Division 1 baseball coaches aren’t flocking to the northeast looking to fill their rosters,

Lastly, it’s somewhat ludicrous that I’m having tryouts for next year’s team already. If I don’t however, I’ll have no players to choose from. In a perfect world, I could wait until April or May of next year to finalize my roster but if I tried that; I literally would have almost no quality players to choose from. The reality is that a vast majority of these kids will have committed to a 2009 summer team by the end of September. It may be crazy but that’s the reality of the situation.

For better or worse it is what it is now so let’s play ball.