Man, sizing kids’ jerseys is like trying to solve a puzzle sometimes, right? Especially when it’s for someone like Lamine Yamal – that kid’s on fire! Anyways, here’s how I tackled figuring out the right fit for his youth jersey. Real talk? Messed up more than once.
The Initial Stupid Mistake
So first up, I grabbed my son’s usual t-shirt size. Figured, “Ah, medium kid shirt, medium jersey. Easy.” Boy was I wrong. Popped that size M youth jersey outta the bag, all excited, kid tries it on… it looked like he was wearing a potato sack. Seriously, sleeves hung way past his hands, and it was baggy enough around the belly he could fit a whole soccer ball under there. Total fail. That instant I knew: regular clothes size? Doesn’t mean squat for jerseys.
Getting Down & Dirty with Measuring
Time for Plan B. Made the kiddo stand still – which is basically asking for a miracle. Digging out a tape measure, got serious about his chest, not just guessing.
- Snug tape right under his armpits – measured around the fullest part.
- Checked the tag on a tee that fits him perfectly. Not loose, not tight.
His chest was about 31 inches. Then I hunted down that official size chart – printed it right off, no shortcuts. Flipped it back and forth a million times comparing his measurement. Looked like a small might work… but something in my gut said, “Jerseys shrink, bro.” Everyone forgets that first wash.
Biting the Bullet & Buying
Alright, took a deep breath. Ignored the size chart, ignored that little voice saying ‘stick exactly to numbers’. Grabbed the Youth LARGE. Sounds way bigger than needed, right? But hear me out. That youth M jersey measured around 33 inches chest. Kid’s actual chest is 31. That’s ONLY 2 inches difference. That’s nothing! Throw in potential fabric draw-up after washing? Trust me… just go up.
The Actual Fit Test
Package arrived, kiddo throws it on. Boom. Looked way better than that M disaster. Sleeves hit right at the wrist bone – maybe a tiny bit long, but perfect after thinking about shrinkage. Chest? Nice and comfy, had breathing room for playing, not swimming. Winner winner chicken dinner. Key things I saw:
- Shoulder seams? Hit the top of his shoulder bone spot on. Not drooping.
- Length? Hovered near his waistband. Didn’t look like a minidress.
He was psyched. Did a few jumping jacks, swung his arms. Zero pulling across his back when reaching. That’s how you know it’s PLAYABLE fit.
Lesson Learned? Hard Way.
My takeaways? Simple:
- Regular clothes size? Trash it. Forget it exists for jerseys.
- Measure chest & use the chart… then SIZE UP. Every single time.
- Mind the wash! Pre-wash that thing before you judge the fit. Cold wash, gentle dry.
- Shoulder seams! That’s your gold marker. Seams should never fall off the shoulder onto the upper arm – means it’s too big.
Don’t be an idiot like my first attempt. Save yourself the trouble and the return trip to the store. Bigger just works.
