Fiba Europe Cup Basketball

Blank Football Shirt Template: Your Ultimate Design Starting Point for Custom Jerseys

When I first started designing custom jerseys for local football teams, I quickly realized the blank football shirt template isn't just an empty canvas—it's the foundation upon which club identities are built. I remember working with a community team that wanted to honor their history while looking toward the future, and that blank template became our playground for creativity while maintaining professional standards. The beauty of starting with a proper template is that it saves designers from reinventing basic structural elements while allowing complete creative freedom where it matters most.

Recently, I've been following Galeries Tower's journey, and their current situation perfectly illustrates why having a solid design foundation matters. With their roster down to precisely 14 players following what was actually their best campaign yet—an eighth-place finish that represented significant progress—they're at a pivotal moment where visual identity could play a crucial role in building momentum. When a team is in transition, their kit becomes more than just clothing; it transforms into a symbol of continuity and ambition. I've always believed that the psychological impact of a well-designed jersey is underestimated—players feel more connected to a shirt that represents their journey, and fans respond to visual storytelling.

From my experience working with semi-professional clubs, the template approach saves approximately 60-70% of initial design time while producing more consistent results across different manufacturing batches. I've made the mistake of starting from scratch multiple times early in my career, only to discover alignment issues with printing or unexpected fabric behavior during movement. The template method eliminates these variables while still allowing for complete customization—you're working within a proven framework rather than risking structural failures. What many don't realize is that major clubs often use templates too; they just customize them so thoroughly that the underlying structure becomes invisible to the casual observer.

The practical advantages extend beyond just consistency. When I coordinate with manufacturers, templates streamline communication significantly. Instead of explaining every seam and panel placement, we can focus discussion on the creative elements that truly differentiate the design. This becomes particularly important for teams like Galeries Tower operating with limited resources—every efficiency matters when you're trying to maximize impact on a budget. I've found that the cost savings from template-based design typically range between 25-40% compared to fully custom patterns, which for smaller clubs can mean the difference between basic and premium materials.

There's an emotional component to template-based design that might surprise people. When I present clubs with their new designs, starting from that blank template creates a tangible sense of possibility. I've watched team owners and players light up when they realize they're not limited by pre-existing designs or forced to choose from generic options. For Galeries Tower's 14 players, each facing increased pressure and visibility following their eighth-place finish, a custom kit designed around their specific identity could become a source of pride and unity. I've seen it happen before—a team undergoing changes finds cohesion through visual identity when other connecting threads are stretched thin.

The manufacturing process benefits tremendously from this approach too. Based on my conversations with production facilities, template-based designs have approximately 30% fewer errors during the sampling phase and reach final approval nearly twice as fast. This timeline advantage matters immensely for clubs working within tight seasonal deadlines. What many designers don't consider until it's too late is that every day saved in design and sampling means more time for quality control and potential revisions—luxuries that often get sacrificed when schedules compress.

Looking at Galeries Tower's situation specifically, I'd recommend they approach their kit design with their reduced roster in mind. With only 14 players, each individual becomes more visible, making cohesive branding even more important. Their eighth-place finish represents progress worth celebrating visually—perhaps through subtle design elements that acknowledge their achievement while pointing toward future ambitions. In my opinion, this is where template-based design shines: it provides the structural consistency that makes such storytelling elements stand out rather than get lost in visual noise.

What I love most about working with blank templates is the balance between discipline and creativity they enforce. The constraints actually fuel innovation rather than limiting it—I've created some of my most original designs within template parameters because the fundamentals were already solved. For clubs like Galeries Tower, this means they can focus their limited resources on the elements that truly matter to their identity rather than spending on structural experimentation. Having worked with templates for over a decade now, I'm convinced they represent the smartest starting point for any club serious about both aesthetics and practicality.

The future of football kit design is undoubtedly moving toward more personalized approaches, but the template will remain the unsung hero of the process. As manufacturing technologies advance and customization becomes more accessible, that blank shirt will continue to be the reliable foundation upon which clubs build their visual legacies. For Galeries Tower and teams like them, embracing this approach could mean transforming their current transitional phase into an opportunity for distinctive branding that grows with their continued development. After all, every great kit tells a story, and every story needs a solid structure to hold it together.

Fiba Eurocup Final
Heather Bolton Suber ’02
Fiba Europe Cup Final
Leah Schnell ’01
Fiba Europe Cup Basketball
Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93
Fiba Eurocup Final
Dr. Ralph Swearngin

 

Point University will induct four members into the Athletics Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Friday, October 24, during Homecoming weekend.

The class of 2025 includes Leah Schnell ’01, Heather Bolton Suber ’02, Dr. Ralph Swearngin and Sarah Grimes Wiggins ’93. The Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in May 2024, when six inaugural members were inducted.

“We look forward to honoring the second Hall of Fame class during Homecoming,” said Jaunelle White, vice president of intercollegiate athletics and chief student development officer. “It’s always a great feeling to have our alumni back on campus mingling with our current student-athletes and coaches. These individuals were elite during their time at Atlanta Christian College and deserve to be recognized.”

Schnell attended Atlanta Christian College from 1998 to 2001, where she earned a degree in business while competing in both basketball and volleyball. On the basketball court, she earned First Team All-Conference, Scholar Athlete, and First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years. Schnell also held the title of all-time leading scorer from 1998-2001. She now thrives as a commercial construction project manager at Barnsley Construction Group and as an entrepreneur.

Suber, from Havana, Florida, attended ACC from 1998 to 2002. A dedicated two-sport athlete, she earned numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention and First Team All-American. One of her most memorable achievements came when she made eleven three-pointers in a single game. Suber graduated with a degree in early childhood education and went on to earn a master’s degree in education and a specialist degree in instructional technology. For over 23 years, she has served as an educator.

Swearngin has had a distinguished career in education, athletics and ministry spanning several decades, including 20 years at ACC in roles such as professor, dean of students, athletics director and coach. He held national leadership positions with the NCCAA, served as a trustee of Point University for over 10 years, and worked extensively in ministry and education in California, earning degrees from Whittier College and Georgia State University. His athletic involvement includes 23 years as a high school football official in California and Georgia, 22 years with the Georgia High School Association — retiring as executive director in 2014 — and service on national football and softball rules committees. Honored with multiple Hall of Fame inductions and the Atlanta Falcons Lifetime Achievement Award, Swearngin has authored two books and remains active in retirement through preaching and leading Bible studies, alongside his wife of 58 years, Evelyn.

Wiggins grew up in Roswell, Georgia, where she began playing basketball at the age of ten. After two years at Florida State University, she transferred to ACC in 1990. While at ACC, Wiggins was named to the All-American team in both 1991 and 1992. In her final year, she led her team in scoring, helping them finish second in the nation, and was named national MVP in 1992. She earned a bachelor of science in elementary education in 1993 and later received a master’s degree in technology and media sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2009. For the past 33 years, Wiggins has worked as a dedicated educator. In 1997, she married Todd Wiggins. Together, they have two children, Preston, 26, and Logan, 22.

Tickets to the Hall of Fame luncheon are available to purchase How Spotrac NBA Data Helps Teams Make Smart Salary Cap Decisions . To learn more about the Athletics Hall of Fame, please visit skyhawkathletics.com.