Athletics · Club Colours
Athletics Club Colours Award
An athletics club colours award is one of the oldest traditions in British club running. Rather than a single winner, colours go to every athlete who reaches an agreed standard, usually representing the club or a higher team at a set level. That means one evening can see a long list of names, each with the same award. This page covers how colours work and how to order them.
A few ways to make it yours
The designer
Design yours
Upload your club crest, type up to four lines and see it on the glass.
Simple pricing
End of season award prices: £8.99 small · £13.99 large
Mix sizes and designs freely. One delivery charge per order.
Minimum 5 awards. Delivery £10.00 per order.
Athletics end of season awards: what colours mean
The idea comes from school and university sport, where colours mark someone who has represented the institution with distinction. In athletics clubs, colours are typically given for selection to a county, area or national team, reaching a national final, or meeting set performance standards.
Many clubs have levels. Half colours might be given for county representation, with full colours reserved for national or international selection. Some also have separate junior colours for younger athletes.
Setting the criteria
Because colours are earned rather than voted for, written criteria matter. The committee usually publishes them at the start of the year so athletes know what they are aiming for, then checks the season's selections and results before the awards evening.
An athlete can earn colours year after year. Some clubs mark repeat awards differently, for example moving from half to full colours once a higher standard is met.
Wording for colours
Keep line 1 consistent: CLUB COLOURS, FULL COLOURS or HALF COLOURS. Line 3 is the athlete, and line 4 can record the reason, such as COUNTY CROSS COUNTRY or ENGLAND U20, which turns a standard award into a personal record.
Colours often reflect a winter season too, so a season such as 2025/26 suits cross-country selections, while a single year fits track and field.
Ordering a list of colours
This is where the bulk option helps most. Design the colours award once with your crest, then paste the full list of recipients. Each one takes the same design, and you can adjust line 4 for each athlete if you record the reason.
Most clubs use Small awards at £8.99 for colours, as numbers can be high. Delivery is a flat £10.00 however many names are on the list.
Presenting colours on the night
Because colours can go to many athletes, clubs often present them as a group, reading out each name and the reason in turn before a single photograph. Others present colours individually through the evening, alongside each age group's awards. Either way, a matching design for every recipient makes the group photograph look consistent.
Colours also suit the club's records. Keep a list of everyone awarded colours each year, alongside the criteria, so future committees can see how the standard has been applied. That list can then go straight into the bulk names option when you order.
Good to know
Questions
What is the difference between half and full colours?
It depends on the club, but half colours usually recognise county or regional representation, and full colours national or international selection. Write your own criteria down and publish them so athletes know the standard.
Can we put the reason for the colours on the award?
Yes. Use line 4 for it, such as COUNTY SCHOOLS or AREA RELAYS. It turns each award into a record of what the athlete achieved, which means more than the title alone.
Our club crest is printed in the club colours. Will they come out right?
The crest prints in full colour from the file you upload, so use the original artwork in the club's own colours, ideally a transparent PNG at the largest size you have.
How do we order colours for a long list of athletes?
Create one design, then use the bulk option to paste the list of names. The crest stays the same on every award, and you can still adjust individual lines before checkout.
Keep exploring
Related awards
Club secretaries
Ordering for the whole club?
Finish one design, then reuse the same crest with a new name. Or paste a list of names and add every award in one go. Whatever the number of awards, there is one delivery charge per order.
Ordering for a club