Size Guide

Last updated: November 1, 2026

Size labels across the catalogue

Every sized item at Jersey Lane uses one of four label sets. The size menu on each product page shows which labels that product offers. That menu is always the final word, so check it before you add to cart.

Larger adult sizes cost a little more, and youth sizes cost less. The price for each label shows on the product page when you pick it.

Why there are no measurement numbers here

We would rather give you a method that works than numbers we cannot stand behind. So this page does not list chest, length or waist figures for any label. Instead, it walks you through measuring the player and comparing with gear that already fits. If you want a second opinion on a specific item, ask us before you order.

Measure the player in five minutes

Grab a soft tape measure, a mirror or a helper, and the player in a thin T-shirt. Write each number down. You will use these to compare against a jersey they already own, not against a chart.

Chest

Wrap the tape around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms and across the shoulder blades. Keep it level all the way round. Snug, not tight. Arms relaxed at the sides. For jerseys, this is the measurement that matters most.

Waist

Measure around the natural waist, where the shorts’ waistband will sit. For most players, that is just above the hip bones. Keep one finger between the tape and the body. Shorts have an elastic waistband with drawcord, so you have some room to adjust.

Height, as a reference only

Stand the player against a wall, heels flat, and mark the top of the head. Height alone does not pick a size. It helps you judge length. A tall, slim player may need a longer jersey than their chest suggests. Keep it as a tie-breaker, not the deciding number.

Inseam

For shorts, measure from the crotch straight down the inside of the leg to where the player likes the hem to land. Some players want shorts above the knee. Others like them over it. Compare that with a pair of shorts they already wear.

A tip for growing kids

Measure on the day you order, not from last season’s notes. Kids in the youth league years can change size between one season and the next. Fresh numbers save a return.

The best test: compare with a jersey that fits

Your tape tells you about the player. A jersey they already love tells you about the fit they like. Use both.

1. Pick a jersey or tank the player wears now and likes the fit of.
2. Lay it flat on a table, front side up, smoothed out.
3. Measure straight across, armpit seam to armpit seam. Double that to compare with the chest you measured.
4. Measure the length from the top of the shoulder, next to the collar, down to the hem.
5. Do the same with a pair of shorts: across the waistband flat, and the inseam.
6. Email us those numbers with the product you want. We will help you choose the label.

This works for adults, too. A rec-league player who knows their favourite game jersey is a Large has a solid starting point. Still, styles differ, so a V-neck and a crew neck in the same label can feel different on the body.

Choosing between youth, adult and women’s racerback

The trickiest calls happen at the edges between label sets. Here is how to think them through.

Youth XL or Adult Small?

This is the most common question we get from parents. Picture a tall 11-year-old who has outgrown Youth L. Youth XL and Adult Small sit near each other, but they are cut for different body shapes. Adult cuts are shaped for adult bodies, so they can sit differently on the shoulders and in the length.

• If the player is slim and you want a closer fit, start by comparing with Youth XL.
• If the player is broad in the shoulders, or wants room to grow into, compare with Adult Small.
• If a jersey they own fits well, measure it as shown above and send us the numbers.

When in doubt, email us before ordering. A quick question costs less time than a return.

Women’s racerback or adult cut?

The Women’s Racerback Game Jersey has a racerback, women’s cut. It sits closer through the shoulders and leaves the upper back more open. Women in co-ed or women’s leagues can also choose any adult jersey if they prefer a looser, straighter fit. Compare with a top that fits the way you like before you pick a label set.

Between two adult sizes?

Think about how you play and what you wear underneath.

• Wear a compression shirt or T-shirt under the jersey? Lean toward the larger label.
• Like a close fit that does not catch on defenders? Lean toward the smaller label.
• Plan to wear a Bench Pullover Hoodie or Shooting Shirt over the top for warm-ups? Size the warm-up gear for layering, not the jersey.

Fit notes by style

The same label can feel different from one style to the next. Read the product description too, and keep these points in mind.

Reversible jerseys

A reversible jersey has two colours, one on each side, so you can flip for home and away or for scrimmages. Because it is two-sided, it can feel a little different on the body from a one-side jersey in the same label. If you sit between two sizes and like a closer fit, mention that you are buying a reversible when you email us. Also check that the player is happy with both colours before ordering, because both sides will be worn.

One-side game jerseys

Game jerseys such as the Fast Break V-Neck and the Hardwood Crew-Neck are one layer. The neckline changes the feel: a V-neck sits more open at the collar, a crew neck sits higher. Choose by the jersey you compared with. If your reference is a crew neck, a crew neck will feel most familiar.

Lightweight tanks and all-over printed jerseys

The Pickup Crew Lightweight Reversible Tank and the Gradient Fade All-Over Print Jersey are tank cuts. Compare with a tank, not a T-shirt, so the armholes and length line up with what you expect.

Shorts

Shorts have an elastic waistband with drawcord. The waist adjusts, but the leg length does not. If a player is between two sizes and cares most about where the hem lands, use the inseam from a pair they already like as the deciding number.

Jersey and shorts sets

Sets come in one label for both pieces. If the player needs a different size top and bottom, buy the jersey and shorts separately instead. Sets cost less than buying both pieces separately, so it is worth checking that one label works for both before you choose.

Court Crew Socks

Socks come in two labels: Youth and Adult. Pick Youth for younger players and Adult for grown-ups and older teens with adult-size feet. If you are unsure, compare with the player’s shoe size and email us. Ordered Youth by mistake? It is an easy exchange within 60 days of delivery.

Sizing a gift you cannot try on

Buying a jersey for someone who does not know it is coming? You cannot measure them, but you can still get close.

• Ask a parent or partner quietly for the label on a jersey or T-shirt the player wears often.
• For kids, ask what size they wore last season, then think about how much they have grown since.
• If you are torn between two labels for a child, many families prefer room to grow into.
• Tell the recipient that size swaps are easy. Returns are open for 60 days from delivery, with a free return label for change-of-mind returns.

For a personalised gift, such as a Custom Youth Name & Number Jersey, check the name spelling twice as well as the size. We print exactly what you type.

Sizing a whole team

Coaches ordering for a roster face the hardest sizing job. Every player orders one at a time, each jersey added to the cart separately with their own name and number. A plan helps.

1. Send parents this page a week before you order and ask each family for a label.
2. Ask families with a player between sizes to compare with a jersey at home.
3. Collect the name, number and label for each player in one list.
4. Check every label against the product page size menu, especially the jump from YXL to adult S.
5. Read the list back to the team before checkout. Names are printed in capitals exactly as typed.

A personalised jersey cannot be resold, so a wrong size with a name on the back is harder to sort out than a plain one. Take extra care with labels on custom items. If a size is in doubt, ask us first.

When the size is not right

Even with careful measuring, a size can miss. Here is what happens next.

• Returns are open for 60 days from delivery, for any reason.
• For change-of-mind returns, including size swaps, we send a free return label. No restocking fee.
• An exchange is handled as a return plus a new order, or as store credit if you prefer. Store credit never expires.
• Refunds go back to the original payment method within 7 days of us receiving the return.

Example: a player orders the Blacktop Jersey + Shorts Set in Large and finds the shorts long. They email us, send the set back with the free label, and order Medium. See the Returns & Exchanges Policy for every step and the Refund Policy for how the money comes back.

Plan around timing, too. A new size is a new order, so it goes through 1-3 business days of processing and 7-14 business days in transit. If the season starts soon, sort sizes early. Details are on Shipping & Delivery.

Ask before you order

Not sure? Email support@jerseylane.shop with the product name, the labels you are choosing between, and the measurements of the player or of a jersey that fits. We reply within 24 hours on business days. You can also use the sizing topic on our Submit a Ticket page, or browse the FAQs.

Ready to shop? Start with Youth Basketball, Reversible Jerseys or Basketball Shorts.

Jersey Lane, 3220 Common Way, Madera, CA 93637, US.