Custom Cross Country Uniform Sizing: A Coach's Checklist
By BOA | Running Shorts & Apparel | Made in the USA | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Buying Guides
A practical coach's checklist for sizing custom cross country uniforms, from collecting athlete measurements to confirming singlet and short fits before you place the team order.
Quick answer
Size cross country uniforms from each athlete's current measurements, not from last season's order form. Collect chest, waist, and hip numbers for every runner, then match them to the singlet and short fit the athlete will actually race in. Build in one size of flexibility for growing underclassmen before you submit the team order.
Collect measurements before you open the size chart
A team uniform size chart only works if the numbers going into it are current. Measure each athlete over a t-shirt and shorts, keeping the tape level and snug but not tight. Record chest at the fullest point, natural waist, and hip at the widest point, then note height and weight for reference. Do this at a single team session so the whole roster is measured the same way.
Re-measure returning athletes rather than copying last year's sheet. Cross country runners change shape between seasons, and a growing sophomore can move a full size in a year. If an athlete is between two sizes, write down both and decide after you confirm the fit style.
Separate singlet sizing from short sizing
Singlets and shorts are cut differently, so a runner who wears a medium singlet may need a different short size. Racing singlets are usually fitted through the chest and shoulders, while shorts are governed by the waistband and hip. Size each garment on its own measurements instead of assigning one size to the whole kit.
This matters most for athletes with a long torso or broad shoulders, who often size up in a singlet while staying true to size in shorts. If your team wears a compression layer under the uniform, measure with that layer on.
Decide how much room to build into the order
Custom uniforms are ordered in bulk, so a wrong size is expensive to fix. For seniors and athletes at their final size, order true to measurement. For freshmen and sophomores still growing, a single size of room in the singlet is usually the safer call, especially if the uniform needs to last more than one season.
Avoid sizing up across the whole roster just to be safe. An oversized singlet shifts and bunches during a race, and loose shorts can ride up. Fit problems during a race are worse than a uniform that feels snug on the first wear.
Confirm the order details that affect fit
Before you submit, check the color and logo placement notes on each item, because those choices are locked in with the order. Confirm the size run against your measurement sheet one more time, and keep a copy of the final size list with the season's records so next year's order starts from real data.
If your supplier does not publish a fit description for a specific garment, ask before ordering rather than guessing. A missing fit note is a decision limitation, not a signal to assume the cut.
Decision rules for your team size run
- Athlete at a stable size: Order true to the chest, waist, and hip measurements you recorded this season. Seniors and upperclassmen who are done growing should get their measured size.
- Growing underclassman: Add one size of room in the singlet only, and keep shorts at the measured size. One size of growth room is enough; two sizes usually means a loose race fit.
- Athlete between two sizes: Choose the smaller size for a compression or fitted garment and the larger size for a loose singlet. Match the decision to the garment's cut, not to a single team-wide rule.
- No published fit note: Ask your supplier for the fit description before you submit the order. Do not guess a size when the fit information is missing.
Uniform options that shape your sizing decisions
- Women's Full Custom Uniforms Morse Custom Women's Fly Fit Compression Shorts. (x 5): Women's Fly Fit Compression Shorts come in White, Navy Blue, Athletic Gold, and Black, with elastic in Navy Blue. Compression shorts sit close to the body, so waist and hip measurements matter more than a loose fit preference when you assign sizes.
- Women's Full Custom Uniforms Hex Custom Women's Premium Interval Singlet. (x 1): The Women's Premium Interval Singlet is shown in Light Pink and White with a white gradient, and the BOA logo must be visible. Because the logo placement is fixed on the design, confirm the singlet size before ordering rather than planning to adjust the fit later.
- Men's Full Custom Uniforms Slash Custom Men's Standard Racerback Singlet. (x 13): The Men's Standard Racerback Singlet is shown in White, MNTC Gold, Pantone 123 C, and Silver Grey, with the BOA logo visible. Racerback singlets are cut for shoulder movement, so check shoulder and chest measurements on your male runners before locking the size run.
- Men's Full Custom Uniforms Topographic Custom Men's BOA Constrictor Half Tight. (x 1): The Men's BOA Constrictor Half Tight is shown in Off Black, Core Blue, Power Violet, and Electric Lime Green, with the BOA logo visible. Half tights are a fitted garment, so size them from waist and hip measurements and avoid adding room the athlete does not need.
Who this sizing approach fits
Best for
- Coaches ordering a full cross country roster for the first time
- Teams replacing uniforms and re-measuring every athlete
- Programs that need one uniform to last more than one season
Not for
- Individual runners buying a single race-day top
- Teams reordering the exact same size run with no roster changes
- Programs that already have current measurements on file
