Uniforms for youth basketball players are designed for indoor play where players tend to sweat heavily due to the close environment. Basketball jerseys are therefore sleeveless and loose fighting with larger armholes. Most uniforms are made of quality mock mesh, dazzle, tricot mesh or pro mesh material which is thin and light to wear. Shorts are baggy with elastic waistbands to help the players run and jump freely with also having clothes that are flexible. All basketball players must wear sneakers when playing.

In the early days of basketball male uniforms were made up of a pair of long pants and t-shirt. Women basketball players dressed in frilly skirts (hard to imagine, I know) with flat-bottom sneakers. Nowadays women's basketball uniforms are designed better and more suitable to play.

Team names are printed across the upper chest area of the uniform along with the players' number. Many of the teams print the player's number on the back of the jersey for easy identification by officials, coaches, fans and referees. NBA players are required to wear jerseys that have player numbers on the back.

The jersey number holds great importance. Numbers vary from 4 to 15 at international tournaments. At high school and college levels the numbers range from 1-5, 10-15, 20-25, 30-35, 40-25 and 50-55 and 0 and 00. Some of the states require high school teams to wear even-numbered jerseys when playing a home game and odd numbered jerseys when playing away games. Teams can have either 0 or 00 but they are not allowed both.

Each team can pick their own uniform colors. However, placement of logos, numbers and player names are all regulated by the basketball tournament committee. Any uniform modification needs approval by the tournament committee to ensure design uniformity.