Picking a Football Jersey

From LoveToKnow Buy

Football Jerseys

Just like any other piece of clothing or sporting equipment, picking the right football jersey can be a difficult decision and several factors can come into play. This doesn't mean that it has to be a difficult process, per se, because there is much enjoyment to be had when you finally put down your hard earned cash to get your hands on a jersey.

As a Fashion Statement

For most people who are considering buying a football jersey, they are going to be used primarily as a fashion statement or to support your favourite player and/or team. In this way, the things that you should consider are quite different than the functional purposes a jersey can serve on the gridiron. As an article of clothing, keep the following in mind:

Size: From a fashion standpoint, having a jersey that is too big is better than having one that is too small. A jersey should not fit the same way that a regular t-shirt would; rather, it should be loose-fitting, hanging from the shoulders. That said, don't buy a size that is much too large for you either. Following the same line of thought, avoid tucking the jersey into your pants.

Authentic vs. Replica: Like most other sports jerseys -- hockey, baseball, etc. -- jerseys available to the public usually come in two forms, with "authentic" versions carrying a much heavier price tag than a "replica." In general, authentic jerseys come with sewn on numbers and logos, whereas replicas are printed. A good-quality replica is perfect for fashion, but if you have the extra money to spend, you can go for the more "authentic" look, as it were, with an authentic jersey (the same that the pros wear on the field).

Color: If you're buying for yourself, this is easy because either you like the color or you don't, but at the same time, having an unfavorable color, so to speak, can be overcome if it is the official colors of your favorite team. For example, an Eagles fan will still buy their jersey despite the fact that they aren't particularly fond of green. The same holds true, for the most part, when buying a gift for someone else. Of course, to play it safe, you can pick up the white version of the team's jersey.

Longevity: When it comes to the National Football League (NFL), players are put on waivers, traded, and retire all the time. As such, having the jersey to your favorite player may go "out of date" very quickly. For example, anyone who bought a Terrell Owens (Philadelphia Eagles) jersey last year would now feel compelled to buy his Dallas Cowboys jersey. This is a bigger issue to some people (e.g, myself) than others.

As Sports Equipment

A different set of considerations come into play when looking for a football jersey for the purposes of being used on the field, rather than simply as a fashion item. Two of the most important are:

Fit: When shopping for a football jersey, keep in mind that you will be wearing significant football equipment underneath. Put on the shoulder pads that you would normally wear onto the field before trying on the jersey to make sure it will fit properly and not be too restricting.

Durability: Football is inherently a contact sport, with substantial wear and tear. Make sure that the materials are good quality, and the stitching is top-notch.

Where to Buy

Finding jerseys for your local team are usually not a problem, with the team's official store likely carrying most of the players, but if you're in the market for a jersey from an out-of-town team, you will probably be restricted to their marquee players. Where can you find these jerseys?

eBay: The world's largest garage sale is a good place to turn for just about anything, but keep "Buyer Beware" in mind as there are several shady dealers out there that sell poorly made, unofficial merchandise. The usual eBay concerns apply, of course.

Specialty stores: You will likely have a difficult time finding your prized jersey at a local department store, so to get your hands on a particular jersey, you will likely need to look to the online stores. Here are three websites that have a fairly good selection:

NFL.com: To get your official licensed product, the NFL website has a web store section with just about every player, including the possibility of custom numbers and names.