Sport-Tek YST350 Youth Competitor Tee: The Best Youth Performance Shirt for DTF Printing

Youth sports are the bread and butter of many DTF printing businesses. Little league, soccer clubs, swim teams, school field days, youth 5Ks — these orders come in waves and they need affordable, quality performance tees in kid-friendly sizes.

The Sport-Tek YST350 Youth PosiCharge Competitor Tee is our go-to for youth performance orders. It matches the adult ST350 in every way that matters — same 3.8 oz polyester interlock, same PosiCharge color-lock technology, same moisture-wicking performance — just sized for kids from roughly age 4 through 16.

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Why the YST350 for Youth Teams

PosiCharge Technology for Kids' Shirts

Kids are hard on clothes. They roll in dirt, throw shirts in the wash inside-out, and generally treat team uniforms like battle armor. The PosiCharge technology in the YST350 locks color into the fiber so the shirt stays vibrant through dozens of washes — and more importantly for DTF printers, it reduces dye migration during heat pressing.

This means your transfers on deep red soccer jerseys and navy swim team shirts are less likely to develop that telltale pink or blue haze from garment dye bleeding through.

Perfect Color Matching with Adult ST350

This is the real advantage of the YST350: it color-matches the adult ST350. When a soccer club orders shirts for the U8 division and the adult rec league, you can deliver the exact same color across both orders. Parents coaching in True Royal get the same True Royal as their players.

The YST350 is available in 27 colors, including favorites like:

Team Colors: Black, White, Silver, True Navy, True Royal, Carolina Blue, Kelly Green, True Kelly Green, Forest Green, True Red, Deep Red, Cardinal, Maroon, Deep Orange, Texas Orange, Gold, Purple Neon/High-Visibility: Lime Shock, Neon Orange, Neon Pink, Neon Yellow Heather Options: Grey Concrete Heather, Iron Grey Heather Specialty: Atomic Blue, Tropic Blue, Grey Concrete, Iron Grey, Hot Coral

3.8 oz Lightweight & Breathable

Kids overheat fast. The 3.8-ounce polyester interlock keeps them cool and wicking during games and practice. Parents appreciate a performance shirt that doesn't cling when their kid is sweating through a summer tournament.

Removable Tag

The tag-free neck option is especially important for youth — no itchy tags for kids to complain about during games.

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YST350 Size Chart: Complete Measurements

Width measured across chest 1" below armhole, laid flat. Length measured from high point shoulder to bottom hem. Age ranges are approximate — always have parents measure or try on samples.

Sizing tip for youth orders: Always recommend that coaches or team managers collect actual sizes, not ages. A big 8-year-old might need a YL while a small 12-year-old fits a YM. Offering a sample pack (one of each size for try-on at a team practice) dramatically reduces returns and exchanges.

Where Youth Sizes Cross Over with Adult

The YXL (chest width 20", length 27") is very close to an adult XS (chest width 18", length 27" on the ST350). For older teens who fall between, you'll want to compare both options. The youth cut tends to be slightly wider in the chest relative to length compared to the adult cut.

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DTF Printing on the YST350: Settings & Tips

The DTF settings are identical to the adult ST350 — same fabric, same weight, same PosiCharge technology.

Recommended DTF Press Settings

### Youth-Specific DTF Tips

1. Scale your designs. A full-size adult chest print (12" x 14") will overwhelm a YXS shirt. Scale designs proportionally — typically 60–75% of adult size for youth shirts. Here's a quick guide:

2. Placement matters more on small shirts. On a YXS with only 20" of body length, your design placement from the collar needs to be tighter. Use our Shirt Placement Guide and adjust for the shorter body length.

1. Lower pressure for small shirts. Youth shirts have less material to absorb press pressure. If you're coming from a run of adult 2XLs, back off the pressure slightly to avoid pressing through to the back of the shirt.

1. Watch for dye migration on neon Hot Coral. The YST350 includes Hot Coral, which isn't available in the adult version. This bright pink-coral shade can be prone to dye migration — test press before running a batch.

1. Number and name placement. For sports jerseys with back numbers, center the number at approximately 8"–9" from the collar on youth sizes (compared to 10"–11" on adult). Side-seam alignment keeps everything looking centered.

For comprehensive DTF temperature guidance, see our DTF Temperature Settings Guide.

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Where to Buy Wholesale

SanMar (sanmar.com)

Full YST350 inventory with all 27 colors and sizes YXS–YXL.

👉 Browse YST350 on SanMar

JiffyShirts (jiffyshirts.com)

Fast shipping, no minimums. Order one sample or a hundred.

👉 Browse YST350 on JiffyShirts

Pricing

Youth shirts typically cost slightly less than adult equivalents. Prices vary by color and supplier.

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Best Use Cases

Youth Sports Leagues

• Soccer, baseball, softball, flag football team uniforms
• Basketball and volleyball practice jerseys
• Swim team spirit wear and warm-up shirts
• Track and cross country team shirts
• Cheerleading and dance squad practice tees

School Events

• Field day participant shirts
• Spirit week class shirts
• School fun run and walk-a-thon tees
• After-school program uniforms

Community Events

• Youth 5K and fun run shirts
• Summer camp shirts
• VBS (Vacation Bible School) shirts
• Scout troop event tees
• Birthday party group shirts

Why the YST350 Wins Youth Orders

When a parent or coach is choosing between a cotton tee and a performance tee for their kids' team, here's the pitch:

• Moisture wicking keeps kids comfortable and cool during games
• PosiCharge keeps the team colors and printed designs looking fresh all season
• Lightweight 3.8 oz fabric doesn't weigh kids down
• Color matches adult ST350 so coaches and parents can match the team
• Affordable wholesale pricing keeps per-player costs reasonable

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YST350 vs. PC380Y: Choosing Your Youth Performance Tee

Both are solid options. The YST350 wins on color selection and dye migration protection. The PC380Y wins on price and offers UPF 50 sun protection for outdoor events.

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Quick Reference Card

--- Part of our Sport-Tek Competitor series. See also: ST350 Adult Guide · ST350LS Long Sleeve Guide · LST350 Ladies Guide. For the budget youth alternative, see our PC380 Guide (includes PC380Y youth). For design placement on youth shirts, check our Shirt Placement Guide.