How to Remove Bubbles from Stickers

Tom Reding - May 20, 2021

Installing decals and stickers can be a challenge. Whether you’re looking to stick them on your football helmet or your car, the worst thing that can happen, aside from the decal ripping, is for you to end up with unsightly bubbles throughout the design. It takes a steady hand and proper understanding of how to install these decals to ensure that you minimize or eliminate any bubbling that may occur before the decal sets. Depending on the decal you’re using, these bubbles may not be as noticeable in the long run, but I know if I installed a sticker that was full of air bubbles, it would bother me even if it didn’t bother anyone else. There are a number of things you can do to help prevent or remove air bubbles that may pop up when installing your decals or stickers. Proper preparation and patients are going to save you a lot of headaches after the fact, so let’s take a look at what you can do to ensure that your decal comes out smooth and perfect the first time.

How to Prevent and Remove

Which Sports are the Safest and Which are the Riskiest During the COVID Pandemic?

Tom Reding - April 21, 2021

The weather is starting to get nicer, vaccines are rolling out all over the country, and people are looking forward to things slowly getting back to normal. Of course, that’s not going to happen for a little while, and precautions like masks and social distancing are still going to be a part of our lives for a bit longer now. But with more folks getting vaccinated every day, the hope is that we can begin to get back out there safely and cautiously. A lot of states have begun to open back up for recreational and school sports, which is definitely something a lot of people could use right now. Being unable to participate in social activities like sports, can really put a hinder on people’s mental and physical health. Unfortunately, there are still some sports out there that have a higher inherent risk than others due to the way they are played, so it’s important that all safety measures are still followed and abided by. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular sports and which ones

What are the Differences Between Softball Bats and Baseball Bats?

Tom Reding - April 10, 2021

With the baseball and softball seasons coming to an end, this is one of the best times to go out and buy that new bat you’ve been thinking about. Prices on baseball and softball bats tend to drop a little bit when the sports are out of season, so purchasing a bat now could save you a little bit of money. Depending on which sport you play, and what style of that sport, there are a few things you’re going to want to look at when it comes to buying the right bat. What works for baseball may not work for softball, and what works for 12” fast-pitch softball may not work for 16” slow pitch softball. Understanding the sport and why certain bats are made the way they are, will help you determine which bat is going to best help you and your team. Just because a bat is expensive doesn’t mean that it’s going to be better, and just because a bat is cheap doesn’t mean it’s not going to get the job done. Think about it, if you’re playing 12” fast-pitch softball, which uses a hard ball (similar to a baseball),

How to Iron Numbers on a Jersey or Fix Peeling Numbers

Tom Reding - January 06, 2021

Maintaining your sports jerseys can take a lot of work. After hours out in the sun, mud, and grass, pieces of the jersey can begin to fall apart or deteriorate, which can lead to an unprofessional, or unkempt look for the team. Knowing how to properly repair your jersey to keep it looking as best as possible is a great way to show your commitment to a team and to show that you truly care about how you represent the team and its members. We’ve all had jerseys with those plastic letters on the back of them. Either they were ironed on by a parent or came pre-installed from the jersey supplier, but it’s always just a matter of time until the numbers slowly start to peel off or crack and need replacing. If you’re unfamiliar with the process of installing new plastic numbers on to a jersey, or replacing/repairing old ones, it’s fairly straight forward, but if don’t incorrectly you could damage the numbers and/or the jersey itself. The process for installing new numbers vs. repairing old ones

What Are the Current Youth Sport Restrictions In Illinois?

Tom Reding - January 03, 2021

COVID restrictions in certain states have begun to relax a little bit as more and more vaccines make it into people’s arms, but there are still precautions that should be taken. Youth sports as well as adult recreational sports were completely paused at the start of the pandemic, but as we learn more about how the virus spreads and what we can do to mitigate that spread, some sports have been able to resume. As Illinois holds within Phase 4 of the reopening plan, almost all sports are able to resume, but some of the higher risk sports still have restrictions that participants and staff must follow in order to assure the safety of everyone involved.

Illinois Sports COVID Risk Factor

Illinois has broken down the various sporting events into three levels of risk. These levels of risk are determined by the physical interaction of the players due to the nature of the sport they are playing. For all of these sports, regardless of the risk factor, all participants should wear a properly fitting

Save the Gaitors

Chris Gagnon - October 08, 2020

Save the Gaiters!

I am sure you have heard about the recent study condemning the effectiveness of the gaiter face mask as a means of preventing the spread of germs including COVID-19. In fact, the study implied that wearing a neck gaiter is worse than wearing nothing at all. Going out on a limb here, I find it hard to believe that using a face covering could possibly be more harmful than using no covering at all. But is it just me or does it seem like every other recommendation when it comes COVID differs from what we’ve previously heard? INSTEAD of trying to debate the efficacy of the gaiter mask (I’ve linked to a piece written in the New York Times that does a wonderful job of delving into the recent study) I’ve decided to take a look at the cultural use of face masks as a way to show respect for one another.

That’s right. Respect. For. One. Another.

Masks became a medical necessity for many during the outbreak of SAR’s in 2002. But did you know that Asians, especially in Japan, China

Custom Signage Adds Impact To Your COVID Safety Messages

Chris Gagnon - October 07, 2020

COVID safety signage can help keep your students, staff and employees safe.

Custom messaging that supports your school, organization or company can help to encourage those positive behaviors you see as so critical. By promoting cohesiveness and a "we're all in this together" message, you are much more likely to succeed with your COVID safety plan. Since 1972, Sportdecals has been serving schools, organizations and companies all across the nation with custom decals and signage designed to promote the type of team mentality required to successfully accomplish your goals. Whether that's winning the big championship game, developing & nurturing positive morale within your company, or promoting your safety message, Sportdecals is there for you.

"Walk This Way" Custom Decals

We offer CDC recommended COVID safety messages ready to customize just for you! Whether you are looking for a one-stop solution with our 4 ft x 6 ft decal sheets or need individual custom decals, we have you covered!

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How to Know What Size Football Helmet to Wear?

Tom Reding - August 31, 2020

Before the invention of the modern football helmet, players in the early 1900's routinely suffered from injuries and life threatening concussions. As the decades went by, football helmet tech advanced until the advent of the modern helmet. However, just because helmets provide better protection than ever before, doesn’t mean that you’re safe while wearing one. Think back to any practice or tackle you’ve seen where someone’s helmet flew off their head. That was a clear sign that they were wearing the wrong one. Knowing what size football helmet to wear can help save your life. We want to share with you a few tips on how to select the best one to protect your head:

How to Determine the Right Size

The actual size of football helmets varies from brand to brand. Just because you wore a “large” in Brand X, doesn’t necessarily mean a “large” in Brand Y will fit you the same. This is why it’s so important to size yourself first before choosing one that fits properly. When selecting the right helmet,

How to Tie-Dye a Shirt

Tom Reding - July 01, 2020

Any self-respecting hippie will tell you that buying a pre-made tie-dye t-shirt at a corporate store is just as bad—if not worse—than missing out on tickets when the Grateful Dead come to town. It’s the ultimate counter-culture sin. Creating the perfect tie-dye t-shirt requires a little bit of time, patience, and channeling your inner creativity to create a design that’s reflective of who you are as a person. Tie-dye shirts are a reflection of one’s own inner self and an expression of your individuality. Here’s how you create the perfect tie-dye t-shirt:

T-Shirt Selection

Before you begin, you’ll need to select the right type of t-shirt to ensure everything will look perfect. Other kinds of shirts might not work as well. As you might expect, a white t-shirt is the best color to choose. Any other color and your groovy design won’t show up at all. The material your shirt is made out of is also very important. This is why you should select a shirt that’s made out of 100% cotton as it will

Vehicle Wraps: Important Things to Remember

Tom Reding - May 02, 2020

A professional vehicle wrap can help create brand awareness and increase sales. With each mile driven, over 600+ people will view your marketing message. Best of all, once you park your car, it will continue to drive impressions and help promote your business. It’s an excellent investment for any size business. No other advertising medium comes close to the ROI and impressions generated over the lifetime of the wrap. We want to share with you a few things to consider before and after you get a vehicle wrap:

Is a Car Wrap Worth the Money?

The average vehicle wrap generates anywhere between 30,000 to 70,000 daily impressions, and if properly taken care of, will last for a very long time. The wrap can pay for itself over time—this is why it’s considered to be one of the most cost-effective forms of advertising out there.