Custom Medals for Australian Sports Clubs: Design and Ordering Guide

Custom medals give sporting clubs an opportunity to create recognition that feels unique to their players, competition and community. Unlike generic awards, a thoughtfully designed medal can incorporate club colours, logos, event details and sporting symbols to commemorate a specific achievement.

From junior participation and weekly competitions to grand finals and national championships, custom sports medals provide recipients with a lasting reminder of their effort and success.

This guide explains how Australian sports clubs can plan, design and order custom medals while managing budgets, production requirements and presentation deadlines.

Why Choose Custom Medals for Your Sports Club?

Standard medals remain a practical choice for many presentations, but custom medals offer a higher level of personalisation. They can reflect the identity of the club or event rather than simply representing the sport.

A custom medal can feature:

• The club or association logo
• A competition or event name
• Club colours
• A sporting symbol or mascot
• A championship year
• A custom shape or border
• Different finishes for award levels
• A personalised ribbon
• Engraving for individual recipients

This flexibility makes custom medals suitable for club championships, tournaments, school carnivals, fun runs, martial arts competitions, swimming events and end-of-season presentations.

Clubs that need a more traditional option can also explore a wide selection of sports medals for different activities and achievement levels.

When Should a Club Use Custom Medals?

Custom medals are particularly effective when the event or achievement has its own identity.

Consider custom designs for:

• Premierships and grand finals
• Club anniversaries
• Annual tournaments
• Championship events
• Representative competitions
• Participation programs
• Fundraising runs and community challenges
• School sporting carnivals
• Multi-sport competitions
• Limited-edition club awards
• Volunteer or service recognition
• Player milestone achievements

For a one-off presentation involving only a small number of recipients, engraved stock medals or trophies may be more practical. For a larger event or recurring competition, investing in a custom design can strengthen branding and create a collectable award that participants look forward to receiving.

Step 1: Define the Purpose of the Medal

Before thinking about colours, finishes or shapes, determine exactly what the medal needs to represent.

Ask the following questions:

• What achievement is being recognised?
• Who will receive the medal?
• How many medals are required?
• Is the event competitive or participation-based?
• Will there be different award levels?
• Is this a one-time event or an annual competition?
• What message should the medal communicate?
• What is the total budget?

A junior participation medal will have different design priorities from a premium grand final medal. Similarly, a fun run involving hundreds of participants requires a different ordering approach from a club presentation with ten major award winners.

A clear brief helps prevent unnecessary design changes and makes it easier to select an appropriate medal style.

Step 2: Establish Your Quantity and Budget

Quantity is one of the most important considerations when ordering custom medals. Fully customised designs may require minimum order quantities because unique moulds, printing or production processes need to be prepared.

Your budget should account for more than the medal itself. Depending on the design, the total cost may include:

• Artwork preparation
• Custom mould or setup fees
• Medal production
• Colour filling
• Front and back detailing
• Engraving
• Ribbons or neckbands
• Presentation boxes
• Freight or delivery
• Additional medals for late registrations

Ordering larger quantities may reduce the cost per medal, but clubs should avoid ordering far more than they are likely to use unless the design can be carried forward to future seasons.

When comparing options, request an estimate based on the complete order rather than focusing only on the advertised unit price.

Step 3: Choose the Right Medal Type

There is no single medal style that suits every sporting event. Your choice should reflect the occasion, audience and available budget.

Die-Cast Medals

Die-cast medals can be produced in custom shapes and with raised or recessed details. They are well suited to club logos, mascots, sporting symbols and anniversary designs.

This style creates a traditional metal appearance and can be finished in gold, silver, bronze or antique tones.

Die-Struck Medals

Die-struck medals are commonly used for designs with fine metal detailing and a classic finish. They can create a prestigious look for championships, major tournaments and representative events.

Printed Medals

Printed medals can reproduce detailed artwork, gradients and multiple colours. They are useful when a logo or event graphic cannot be simplified easily for a moulded design.

Printing may be applied to a metal surface or incorporated through an insert, depending on the chosen product.

Enamel-Filled Medals

Enamel colour can highlight club branding and make particular design elements stand out. This is an excellent option for clubs with recognisable colours or a bold emblem.

The artwork should use clearly defined colour areas, as very small details may not reproduce effectively.

Stock Medals With Custom Inserts

For smaller quantities or shorter lead times, a stock medal combined with a custom centre insert can deliver a personalised appearance without requiring a completely new medal shape.

This approach is often practical for junior clubs, school events and annual presentations with moderate quantities.

Engraved Medals

A stock medal can be personalised with the recipient’s name, award category, year or result. Engraving makes each medal individual and is ideal for Best and Fairest, MVP, Coaches’ Award and milestone presentations.

Step 4: Select a Suitable Size and Shape

The size of the medal affects its visibility, weight and cost. It also determines how much design detail can be included.

Smaller medals are practical for junior participation and large community events, while larger medals can create greater impact for finals and championships.

Common shapes include:

• Round
• Square
• Shield
• Star
• Oval
• Sporting ball
• Club emblem
• Mascot silhouette
• State or geographic outline
• Fully custom shapes

A custom outline can help the medal stand out, but it should remain comfortable to wear and easy to package. Avoid sharp corners, narrow projections or fragile design elements that may catch on clothing or become damaged.

Step 5: Create a Clear Medal Design

An effective medal design should be distinctive without becoming crowded. Trying to include too much information can make important details difficult to recognise.

A balanced front design may feature:

• The club logo or event symbol
• The event or competition name
• The sport
• The year
• A short achievement title

The reverse may be used for:

• Sponsor logos
• Club values or a motto
• Event location
• Recipient engraving
• Division or finishing position
• Anniversary information

Think about which element should be noticed first. This is usually the club logo, event name or central sporting image. Secondary wording should support the main design rather than compete with it.

Step 6: Prepare Your Club Logo and Artwork

The quality of the supplied artwork can significantly affect the finished medal.

Vector files are generally preferred because they can be resized without becoming blurry. Common vector formats include:

• AI
• EPS
• SVG
• Print-ready PDF

If vector artwork is unavailable, supply the largest and clearest version of the logo you have. Avoid screenshots, compressed social media images or small graphics copied from a website.

Before submitting artwork, check that:

• The correct version of the logo is being used
• All text is spelled correctly
• The club colours are current
• Fine details remain visible at medal size
• Sponsor logos are approved
• The year and competition name are accurate

Complicated logos may need to be simplified. Very small lettering, thin lines and subtle shading may not reproduce clearly on metal.

Step 7: Choose the Medal Finish

The finish influences the character of the medal. Bright polished finishes create a clean, contemporary appearance, while antique finishes emphasise raised and recessed details.

Popular options include:

• Bright gold
• Bright silver
• Bright bronze
• Antique gold
• Antique silver
• Antique bronze
• Black nickel
• Dual-tone finishes

Gold, silver and bronze can be used to represent first, second and third place. Alternatively, one consistent finish can be used across the event, with ribbon colours or engraving distinguishing each category.

Junior clubs may favour brighter finishes and colourful details, while senior championships may prefer heavier medals with antique or premium finishes.

Step 8: Add Club Colours Carefully

Colour can make a custom medal instantly recognisable. It is especially useful for displaying a club emblem, event branding or team identity.

However, more colour does not always produce a better design. A limited palette often looks stronger and provides greater contrast.

When choosing colours:

• Prioritise official club colours
• Use strong contrast between adjacent areas
• Avoid too many small colour sections
• Check how colours appear against the metal finish
• Consider whether sponsor colours need to be included
• Use consistent colour references where available

If exact brand matching is important, supply recognised colour values such as Pantone references when possible. Remember that colours displayed on a screen can look different when reproduced on a physical medal.

Step 9: Choose the Right Ribbon

The ribbon is an important part of the overall presentation. It should support the medal design and be comfortable for recipients to wear.

Ribbon options may include:

• Solid club colours
• Two-colour or striped ribbons
• Gold, silver and bronze ribbons
• Sport-specific patterns
• Custom-printed event ribbons
• Branded neckbands with logos and wording

Custom-printed ribbons can include the club name, competition, website, sponsor or event date. They are especially useful for large tournaments and annual events.

For junior competitions, check that ribbons are appropriate for the age group and intended use. If medals will be handed out rather than worn, presentation boxes or small pouches may be another option.

Step 10: Decide Whether Individual Engraving Is Required

Individual engraving can add the recipient’s name, team, category, result or year. It creates a more personal keepsake but requires accurate information and additional preparation time.

Common engraving details include:

• Player name
• Team or age group
• Event category
• Finishing position
• Personal result or time
• Award title
• Competition year

For larger orders, prepare engraving information in a clear spreadsheet. Use one row per medal and separate columns for each detail.

For example:

Avoid sending engraving information through multiple emails or handwritten notes. Keeping everything in one approved document reduces the likelihood of duplication or spelling errors.

Step 11: Confirm Award Levels and Categories

Many competitions require several medal variations. These may be distinguished by finish, ribbon, wording or colour.

Common sports medal categories include:

• Champion
• Runner-up
• First, second and third place
• Premiership player
• Best and Fairest
• Most Valuable Player
• Players’ Player
• Coaches’ Award
• Most Improved
• Leading Goal Scorer
• Best Defensive Player
• Participation
• Volunteer recognition
• Service milestone

Finalise these categories before the artwork is approved. Adding new variations after production production has started may cause delays or additional costs.

Clubs requiring a combination of medals and presentation pieces can also coordinate their order with sports trophies or plaques and shields.

Step 12: Review the Design Proof Carefully

A design proof is your opportunity to check the medal before production. Every relevant committee member should review it carefully.

Confirm:

• Club and event names
• All spelling and punctuation
• The year and date
• Logo placement
• Medal size and shape
• Metal finish
• Enamel or printed colours
• Front and back artwork
• Ribbon colour and design
• Engraving requirements
• Medal quantity
• Packaging selections

View the proof at approximately the finished medal size as well as enlarged on screen. A design that appears clear when enlarged may contain details that become difficult to read at its actual size.

Production should only proceed after the club is satisfied with the approved proof.

Step 13: Order Extra Medals When Appropriate

It can be helpful to order a small number of additional medals for:

• Late registrations
• Replacement awards
• Ties or unexpected results
• Presentation errors
• Sponsor or club archives
• Display at the clubhouse
• Event photography and promotion

How many extras you need will depend on the event. A large participation program may require a buffer based on expected registration changes, while a championship with fixed team lists may only need a few spares.

For annual events, consider whether leftover medals can be used in the future. Designs without a printed year offer more flexibility, although including the year can make the medal more meaningful as a keepsake.

How Long Do Custom Medals Take to Produce?

Production time varies according to the design, quantity, manufacturing method, artwork requirements and delivery location.

The process may include:

1. Confirming the brief and quantity
2. Preparing or refining artwork
3. Producing a digital proof
4. Approving the design
5. Creating moulds or production tooling
6. Manufacturing and finishing
7. Adding ribbons or packaging
8. Completing individual engraving
9. Quality checking
10. Delivery or collection

Fully customised medals usually require more time than stock medals with engraving or centre inserts. Clubs should begin planning well before the event, particularly during busy winter and summer presentation seasons.

Do not set the presentation date as the medal delivery deadline. Allow a buffer for checking the order and resolving any unexpected issues.

A Practical Custom Medal Ordering Timeline

For major club events, the following timeline can provide a useful starting point.

Eight to Twelve Weeks Before the Event

• Confirm the event date
• Estimate medal quantities
• Establish the budget
• Decide whether a fully custom medal is required
• Gather logos and branding files

Six to Eight Weeks Before the Event

• Select the medal type, size and finish
• Submit the design brief
• Confirm ribbon and packaging preferences
• Review initial artwork

Four to Six Weeks Before the Event

• Approve the final proof
• Confirm quantities
• Submit engraving details if available
• Begin production

One to Three Weeks Before the Event

• Finalise any remaining recipient information
• Confirm delivery or collection
• Prepare the presentation order

Lead times vary, so confirm the actual schedule with your supplier before committing to a deadline.

Custom Medals for Different Australian Sports

The best design approach will depend on the sport and event.

AFL and Australian Rules

AFL medals may feature a football, goal posts, a player silhouette, club crest or premiership wording. Best and Fairest, leading goal kicker and premiership medals are common categories.

Soccer and Futsal

Soccer medals can incorporate a ball, boot, goal or club emblem. Gold, silver and bronze options work well for tournaments, while personalised medals can celebrate Golden Boot, Best Goalkeeper and MVP recipients.

Netball

Netball clubs may use team colours, ball graphics, court elements or a player silhouette. Custom medals are suitable for premierships, tournaments and junior participation programs.

Basketball

Basketball medal designs may feature a ball, hoop, court or club mascot. Different finishes can distinguish champions, runners-up and individual award recipients.

Cricket

Cricket medals can combine bats, balls, wickets or club emblems. Individual categories may include batting, bowling, fielding, wicketkeeping and all-round performance.

Swimming and Athletics

These sports often require medals for multiple events, age groups and finishing positions. A consistent master design with different finishes, ribbons or engraving can simplify the awards program.

Martial Arts and Combat Sports

Custom medals can incorporate belts, gloves, competition symbols or martial arts imagery. Strong metal finishes and clear division details work well for tournament presentations.

Community Runs and Multi-Sport Events

Fun runs, triathlons and community challenges often use custom finisher medals as part of the event experience. A distinctive medal can strengthen event branding and encourage participants to return the following year.

Common Custom Medal Ordering Mistakes

Careful preparation can prevent costly or time-consuming errors. Common mistakes include:

• Ordering too late
• Underestimating participant numbers
• Supplying a low-resolution logo
• Including too much detail
• Forgetting to check spelling
• Approving artwork without viewing it at actual size
• Failing to confirm the medal’s dimensions
• Submitting engraving details in multiple formats
• Choosing colours with insufficient contrast
• Forgetting to include ribbons or packaging in the budget
• Using the wrong year or competition title
• Not ordering any spare medals

Assigning one club representative to manage the order can make communication clearer and reduce conflicting instructions.

Custom Medals Versus Standard Sports Medals

Both options can provide effective recognition. The best choice depends on your quantity, deadline, budget and design goals.

Some clubs use both. Custom medals may be reserved for premierships or major tournaments, while standard personalised medals are used for weekly competitions and individual awards.

How to Make Custom Medals More Memorable

A great medal becomes part of the event experience. Small decisions can increase its impact without making the design unnecessarily complicated.

Consider:

• Using a shape linked to the club or location
• Adding the competition year
• Including a meaningful club motto
• Designing a different medal each season
• Creating a connected medal series
• Adding a customised ribbon
• Including a presentation box for major winners
• Presenting medals with a short explanation of the achievement
• Photographing recipients in front of a branded presentation area

The goal is to create recognition that feels intentional and relevant to the people receiving it.

Ordering Custom Sports Medals in Perth

Burswood Trophies assists sporting clubs, schools and community organisations with medals and presentation awards for a wide range of activities.

Located at Unit 5, 285 Great Eastern Highway, Burswood, Western Australia 6100, the business is conveniently positioned for clubs looking for sports awards in Perth.

Clubs can browse the available medal collection, explore the full range at Burswood Trophies or contact the team to discuss their event, award quantities and personalisation requirements.

Create Medals Your Members Will Be Proud to Receive

Custom medals can capture a club’s identity while recognising the people who contribute to its success. The strongest designs combine clear artwork, appropriate materials, meaningful details and careful planning.

Begin with the purpose of the award, establish your quantity and budget, prepare quality artwork and leave enough time for proofing and production. Most importantly, check every detail before approving the order.

With the right approach, your sports club can create medals that look impressive on presentation day and remain valued long after the final whistle.

Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Sports Medals

What can be included in a custom sports medal design?

A design may include a club logo, mascot, event name, sporting image, year, award title, sponsor logo and custom colours. Available options depend on the medal style and production method.

Can individual names be added to sports medals?

Many medals can be personalised with names, divisions, award categories or results. Individual engraving details should be submitted in a clear, checked document or spreadsheet.

Can a club order gold, silver and bronze versions of one design?

Yes. A consistent design can often be produced in different finishes to represent first, second and third place or different achievement levels.

Are custom medals suitable for junior sports?

Yes. Custom medals can recognise participation, improvement, teamwork, sportsmanship and competitive achievement. The design, size and budget can be adapted to suit junior programs.

How early should clubs order custom medals?

Fully customised medals should be planned well ahead of the presentation date because artwork, proofing and production take time. Exact lead times vary, so clubs should confirm the schedule before placing an order.

What files should be supplied for a club logo?

Vector artwork such as AI, EPS, SVG or a print-ready PDF is generally preferred. If vector artwork is unavailable, provide the clearest, highest-resolution version possible.

Where can Australian clubs order sports medals in Perth?

Burswood Trophies is located at Unit 5, 285 Great Eastern Highway, Burswood WA 6100 and supplies medals, trophies and other awards for sports clubs, schools and community events.