Congratulations to all the athletes of the 2025 Volleyball Canada Youth Nationals! That was one for the record books!

Here at vbs apparel we're taking a minute to sit back, breathe easy, and try to recover from a month of chasing you and your enthusiasm for volleyball across the country. 4 cities, 1,200+ teams, 20,000+ athletes, and more screaming than our ears will ever recover from—Nationals really is one of the biggest parties that the country has to throw.

The ones who make it all worth it are you—the athletes, the coaches, the supporters, and the officials. Every time a player hits that perfect spike or a parent in the crowd holds up a sign of their kid's face and cheers, you're making Nationals into something unforgettable. We hope you had fun partying with Pepper in the Athletes Zone, or getting decked out in a creative theme day outfit.

Let's not forget to thank the team at Volleyball Canada as well as your families and communities! It takes a monumental amount of effort to organize the largest single-sport event in Canada, and we know you're all supported by the dedication and enthusiasm of your friends and family. A big thanks to the referees and officials as well, without whom we couldn't even run the games!

Thanks for coming through the merch booth, spreading excitement and victory with you. It was pretty great to see so many of you sporting this year's designs day in and day out at each tournament. We might be a little biased, but we think you looked great! Did you have a favourite piece of apparel, or was there a must-have accessory? Drop us a comment on our Instagram, we always love hearing from you!

Congratulations to all of the Nationals medalists!
Your 2025 Tier 1 Champions are:

No matter what tier you played in, your results are something to be remembered. What better way to celebrate that with custom 2025 Nationals Medalist apparel, for you and your whole team of victors! Take a look at this year’s medalist apparel, and have your team coordinator fill out our intake form here. We’ll have your medalist merch store up in 1-2 days, and you’ll be proudly sporting your well-earned medalist merch within 4 weeks.

(Psst: Are you kicking yourself because you didn’t buy a particular merch piece at your event? It’s not too late! The Post Sale is live now through June 30 at 12 PM MT. This is your last chance to grab this year’s merch, so act now!)

The 2025 Volleyball Canada Youth Nationals might be over now, but the memories will last forever. We can’t wait to see you next year!

You might have seen our recent Instagram posts and newsletters highlighting our Canadian pride. We’ve been proud to be Canadian from the very beginning; Harvey Poon, who founded Volleyball Stuff 25+ years ago, was the one who first started using the maple leaf in our logo, and it’s a tradition we’ve kept up through every logo redesign we’ve done since.

For us it means more than just a nice nod to our status as a Canadian business– we’re truly dedicated to being a part of the Canadian athletic community. We’re always focused on how to make things easier for our clients, keeping in mind the benefits that you can reap when you support a local business.

One of the things we’re proudest of is that our sublimated sports uniforms are all made right here in Canada, via local manufacturers. That means quick turnarounds on proofs, orders, and delivery for organizations located across Canada.

Many of our apparel providers are Canadian-owned as well. Gildan, STORMTECH, and the Authentic T-Shirt Company are all Canadian apparel brands with wide catalogues we’re happy to be able to offer you. Even when you select international brand names, we use Canadian wholesalers and supply chains wherever possible.

We always want to support up and coming Canadian businesses as well. Just Like Hero is a Canadian streetwear-inspired apparel company, of which we were proud to be early adopters.

Meeting with you one on one has helped us to become familiar with and develop processes to solve the pain points that Canadian organizations can face. One of the frequent issues we have heard from clients was the uncertainty that comes from ordering uniforms and apparel from international businesses. Factors such as shipping are out of their control, leaving clubs and teams high and dry right when they need their uniforms most.

We work hard to make sure the experience of our clients is as seamless as possible, whether it’s switching to a Canadian manufacturer for more reliable production, pre-emptively offering you alternative options when a supply chain may be interrupted, or offering flexible delivery and pickup options for local organizations.

We know that all our clients, whether they’re sports clubs, schools, or organizations, understand the value of working as a team. We at vbs apparel know it too- and we’re here to join with you as part of Canada’s team.

2023 North American Indigenous Games

The North American Indigenous Games are a multi-sport cultural and athletics gathering, promoting unity, heritage, and teamwork for young indigenous athletes from across North America. For the 2023 NAIG held in Halifax, vbs apparel was proud to outfit three provincial delegations: Team British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Northwest Territories.

For Team BC, we designed and produced their entire team gear package! Aside from their ceremony jackets, shirts, and accessories, we also designed their competition uniforms for 14+ sports.

We also decked out Team NB and Team NT in team gear as well; accessories, shirts, jackets, and more — apparently the Team NB Hoodie we made was a hot ticket swapping item at the end of the event!

Photo credit: Team BC NAIG flickr

Greater Vernon 2022/2023 BC Winter Games

BC’s premier intra-provincial multi-sport competition was a great showcase for all of the event services we can provide. As the Official Merchandise Supplier, we not only designed and produced multiple lines of merchandise and apparel – including a limited edition collaboration with indigenous artist David Wilson Sookinakin – we also took care of their volunteer apparel, mission staff apparel, and all their online and in-person sales.

Some of the other national and provincial sports organizations and events we’ve been proud to supply include:

• Softball Canada U17 Girls Fast-Pitch National Championships
• Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario’s All-Nations Volleyball Showcase
• Volleyball Canada Beach National Championships
• Volleyball Manitoba
• Athletics Manitoba
• Volleyball Yukon
• 2022 Canada Summer Games – Beach Volleyball uniforms for 8 provincial delegations
• Alberta Hockey

If you’re with a National Sports Organization or Provincial Sports Organization, we can make fulfilling your apparel and merchandise needs simple. Some of the key services that we’ve heard our previous NSO/PSO clients say they value most include our clear communication, our resourcefulness in managing multiple supply chains to make sure nothing interferes with delivering your gear on time, and the eye-catching designs and premium apparel we can deliver to make your athletes stand out from the crowd. Not to mention the enthusiasm and sales we can generate as merchandise supplier for your events!

With our extensive experience providing decorated apparel, merchandise, and sales logistics to Provincial and National Sports Organizations, you can be sure that we will be the reliable apparel partner you are looking for. We’ve been happy to contribute to the success of many National and Provincial Sports Organizations in the past, and we look forward to continuing to do so in the future! Contact us today to discuss what we can do for you!

Getting your volleyball club uniforms and apparel can be a challenge, but vbs apparel and Volleyball Stuff are here to help you out. Are your curious to learn more about what we can offer you? Click the link below to schedule a meeting with a customer service representative, and take the first step to ensuring your volleyball club is ready for the first tournament of the season!

We’re dedicated to finding solutions for your needs, whatever they may be. We’ve found solutions for unique apparel orders like provincial champion t-shirts and athleisure school uniforms, and we’d love to help you to build your school identity through attractive, cohesive school apparel.

Are you curious to see what custom school apparel from vbs apparel can look like? Check out our case study about everything we’ve provided for Langley Christian School, and take a look at some sample custom online stores. We’d love to hear from you!

We’re game for whatever size event you’re hosting, large or small. As an example, we’ve recently finished the 2024 Volleyball Canada Youth National Championships, taking place in 4 cities across the nation with over 20,000 participants. Read all about what it takes to sell merch for the largest youth sporting event in the nation here; but over the summer, we’ve also taken on smaller—but no less exciting– events, like Volleyball Canada’s Canada Cup Indoor, and the U17 Girls National Fastpitch Softball Championships. We love meeting excited attendees at events like these, and we can’t wait to see what we can do for you!

At vbs apparel and Volleyball Stuff, we know that one of the top concerns sports organizations have is making sure their sports uniform sizing is perfect. We get it! No one wants to be eagerly awaiting their competition uniform, only to receive it just before their first game and have it turn out to be too large or small. Luckily, we have solutions for you!

When you order a custom sports uniform or other piece of athletic apparel from us, you can be sure that you’ll get the right fit, every time. Whether you’re ordering directly through our customer service representatives, or we’re setting up a custom online store for your team members to order from directly, we always include complete sizing guides for all apparel pieces on offer.

How do I use a size chart?

It’s math, not magic, we promise!

A size chart provides the measurements of a garment when it’s smoothed out on a flat surface. Tops are usually measured two ways: The chest is measured from armpit to armpit, and also from shoulder to bottom hem to get the full length of the piece.

How will I know if those measurements are going to be a comfortable fit on my body?

There are two ways to take a measurement that will ensure you get a good fit: measuring your body, or measuring a garment you like.

• Measuring your body: When measuring your chest circumference, it’s important to make sure that the measuring tape is sitting horizontally around the fullest part of your torso—a slant or tilt can alter the measurement a surprising amount! Get someone to help you measure, or watch in the mirror to make sure the measuring tape is horizontal. Make sure the measuring tape is snug, but not constricting.
• To measure your torso length, the measuring tape should be held at the top of your shoulder, measuring down to the top of your hip bone, or wherever you prefer your shirt hem to sit.

Why overthink it? If you want to know what size top will be the best fit for you, measure one of your own garments which you already find comfortable.

• Lay the piece flat and smoothed out, but not stretched.
• Measure from armpit to armpit, doubling that number to achieve a total chest circumference. (Watch out! Some size charts use the “lying flat” number for chest measurements, others will double that number to get the total circumference measurement. Make sure you know which one you’re looking at!)
• Measure from the highest point of the shoulder down to the hem for the total shirt length.
• If you’re measuring sleeve length, make sure you’re taking the same measurement that the size chart you’re looking at is using—some charts will measure the sleeve length from the underarm to the cuff, others from the top of the shoulder.

Then, it’s simple to select the size that most closely matches the measurements of your favourite shirt!

Of course, sometimes what you really want is just to try on a couple sizes to make sure you get the most comfortable fit. Luckily, vbs apparel has solutions! Where time permits, we can send your team a try-on kit with the full range of sizes in the gear you’ve selected. You and your group can try everything on to make sure that you are all confident in your size selections.

We can even make a whole night of it! If you’re hosting an open house, registration night, or fundraiser event, vbs apparel can set up a sizing booth where players can try on uniforms and warm-up gear at the start of the season. It can also be a great chance for excited athletes and families to get their hands on custom decorated sports gear, spirit wear, and merchandise! Just get in contact with us, and we can help you achieve your organization’s vision!

With vbs apparel’s support, getting the perfect fit for your sports uniforms is a breeze. In our over 25 years of providing sports uniforms, athletic apparel, and merchandise to all kinds of organizations, we’ve developed the expertise to help provide solutions that will ensure your apparel meets all your needs. Our dedicated customer service representatives and account managers are available to assist you in finding the right sizing solution for you!

In our 7 years of providing merchandise to the Volleyball Canada Youth Nationals, we’ve grown almost as invested as you in the excitement of your achievements. We’re all about helping you celebrate your success, and we love being a part of the Volleyball Canada team and journey. The volleyball Nationals medalist apparel store is a great way to show off your wins, your achievements, and the players, coaches, and supporters who made it all happen. Click the link below to get started today!

Ordering custom team sports uniforms can be a daunting task if you are a parent or coach in charge of purchasing for the first time. We can help! We started vbs apparel to bring the sports apparel expertise we developed over 20+ years at Volleyball Stuff to a wider range of sports, including basketball, soccer, track, lacrosse, dragon boat , and more! We’re a full-service one-stop shop for all your team sports uniform and apparel needs.

If your team is just starting out, you might be tempted to go with the lowest-cost uniform option, but that can often be a mistake. Home-produced iron-on transfers or low-quality productions won’t hold up to the repeated wear and washing of a full season of competition, and aren’t optimized for your sport’s performance needs.

Don’t underestimate the effect that killer designs will have on your team spirit and your play! Our professional graphic artists will help you achieve your vision, whether you’re happy to start from one of our customizable templates or you want a completely unique look for your team. All our clients get up to three rounds of art revisions to make sure that their uniforms are exactly what they dreamed of.

What kind of fabric should my uniform be made of?

Sublimated Polyester:

• Sublimation is a printing process that allows your graphics to be fully fused into polyester fabric. It’s colourfast, durable, lightweight and smooth to the touch. Most team sports prefer to use sublimated polyester for their competition uniforms, as its sharp graphics, performance features, and durability stand up well to a full season of play.

Heat-pressed vinyl:

• Another option is to use our industrial heat-pressed vinyl to decorate cotton or synthetic knits. We produce these pieces in-house for quick turnaround times on comfortable sports wear with many options for style and feel. This is a good option for casual rec leagues or one-off uniforms for a weekend tournament, as well as for training gear, travel apparel, and fan and family spirit wear.

Do you have your heart set on uniforms produced by brands like Nike, Mizuno, or Under Armour? We are dedicated to making your vision come true, just ask and we can find a way to make it happen.

What kind of uniform style or cut should I order?

• Consider your team’s play setting; do you play outside in the heat of the day, or in the cool morning air? Do you want UV ray protection or anti-odor features in your fabric?
• For many sports, your athletic bottoms are as important as your uniform tops; we’ll design your shorts to flow into of the total uniform look.
• Just ask your players! Maybe your players just prefer the sleeveless uniform top over the long-sleeved one, or half your basketball team wants a longer inseam on their shorts than the other half. Keep them comfortable, happy, and playing at their best!

How many uniforms should I order?

For most team sports, like Basketball, Volleyball, and Soccer, you will want to order two uniforms for each player, in contrasting “Home and Away” colors.

After your team’s design is locked in, we can easily fulfill one-off orders if you have a player join the team late or need a replacement uniform.

What will this cost us? And how long are your turnaround times?

Our customer service representatives will help guide you through your design and customization options. We then generate a quote for you immediately, taking the guess work out of your budgeting.

For your sublimated competition uniform, we recommend getting your order locked in 4-6 weeks in advance of when you need it. Our in-house produced heat-pressed vinyl pieces can be on your doorstep within 2-3 weeks. We’ll work with you to make sure you meet your timelines!

As you can see, ordering custom team sports uniforms can be a simple job when you have the right professionals on your side. Have any more questions? Eager to get started? Click the link below to get in contact with our dedicated customer service representatives and get the (basket- soccer- volley-) ball rolling on your team’s gear!

Whew! How about them 2024 Volleyball Canada Youth Nationals, huh? A solid month of non-stop volleyball action, 4 cities, 1,500+ teams, and over 20,000 of the most excited young volleyball athletes, coaches, and supporters we’ve ever seen. We at Volleyball Stuff and vbs apparel had so much fun chasing volleyball athletes across the country, from Ottawa and Fredericton, to Richmond and Edmonton, helping to make this year’s Nationals an event to be remembered.

While hundreds of you were playing on the courts, we were just outside the gymnasiums (or just inside, as we were in Ottawa!) running our legs off to keep up with the demand for shirts, sweaters, accessories, and hype! It takes a lot of work and a lot of energy to keep up with your excitement during Nationals, but it’s all worth it to see young volleyball athletes achieving their goals, making memories, and pushing the sport forward in Canada.

We started the month in Fredericton and Ottawa, where the Under 14 Girls and Boys got the month’s tournaments started. Our booth staff might still have their ears ringing from being stationed inside the gymnasium in Ottawa, but we’d never dream of asking you to quiet down the excitement. Congratulations to the medalists of the Fredericton and Ottawa events!

Next up was Richmond, BC, where the Under 14 Girls took to the west coast courts. It was especially rewarding for us to see so many teams and supporters there who we’ve been privileged to build relationships with over many years. Congratulations to the medalists!

Richmond

Photo credit: Ottawa Sports Photography

And finally, the biggest event of the year, the festival event in Edmonton! From May 15 to 26, the volleyball action was non-stop as the teams of the 14UB, 15U, 16U, 17U, and 18U categories battled it out in three tournaments, 6 halls, and up to a mind-boggling 56 courts at a time. You might have only been in Edmonton for one of the three tournaments, but we were there for two weeks, from start to finish, taking over the Edmonton Expo Centre with you. It was real party atmosphere! In between heat-pressing new merch, restocking, and slinging shirts to you (with additional thanks to Pepper the Polar Bear for helping us keep up with the demand!), we loved to see you bringing the heat. Theme days, jump contests, and the highs and lows of the most important competition of the year—we’re still trying to come down from the excitement.

Edmonton

Photo credit: Ottawa Sports Photography

Photo credit: Ottawa Sports Photography

We loved seeing you and your families, fans, and supporters at this year’s Nationals events. Did you have loved ones watching via the livestreams who still want a way to participate in the fun? Or maybe you were so busy killing it on the courts that you didn’t get a chance to swing by the merch booth to grab something to commemorate your achievements? Don’t worry, you still have a chance!

**The Nationals Merchandise Post Sale is now live, running from May 26 to June 19** We put a lot of thought and love into our Nationals merchandise design each year, and we don’t want anyone who wants a piece of the action to miss out. So click the link below and act now to secure your memories of this year’s Nationals. Congratulations and well done to all the 2024 Volleyball Canada Youth Nationals athletes!