Home vs Away Jerseys: What Does My Team Need?

Most youth rec teams only need one set of jerseys. A second away kit is only necessary when your league requires it, which is common in competitive travel leagues and rare in recreational programs. If you do need two sets, choose colors with strong contrast, typically one dark and one light, so the two teams are easy to tell apart from the sideline.

What most rec teams do

Recreational leagues usually assign each team one color and manage clashes with pinnies or a coin toss for who wears the alternate. One well-chosen set per player is all you need. That keeps costs down and ordering simple. Our guide to Choosing Soccer Kits for Youth Teams walks through the full ordering process, and the Complete Kids Soccer Jersey Guide covers general jersey basics.

When the league requires two kits

Competitive and travel leagues often require registered home and away colors. In that case you order the full roster count twice, once in each color. Pick the pair together so they coordinate: the same style in two contrasting colors looks intentional and professional. A dark home with a white or light away is the classic combination because it guarantees contrast against almost any opponent.

A cheaper workaround for color clashes

If your league does not require away kits but you occasionally face a team in similar colors, a set of mesh pinnies in a contrasting color solves the problem for a fraction of the cost. Keep a dozen in the coach’s bag. They take thirty seconds to hand out and save you from ever forfeiting over a color conflict. For help picking colors that clash with fewer opponents, read how to pick team jersey colors.

Looking for a matched pair of kits? Browse our team jerseys to find styles that work in home and away colorways, or contact us for help planning a two-kit order.