Work backward from opening day
If the cards are for the start of the season — opening day handouts, a first-game surprise, media day — work backward from that date. Production runs 1 to 2 business days and free US shipping adds 2 to 5, so the printing itself needs about a week.
The full answer is two to three weeks, because printing is rarely the slow part. Collecting a good photo from every family is what eats the calendar.
The timeline, stage by stage
- ✓3 weeks out — announce the card set and start collecting player photos
- ✓2 weeks out — chase the stragglers, finalize the template and details
- ✓10 days out — place the bulk order
- ✓Season starts — cards in hand for opening day
Design early, order when ready
Designing is free and instant, so there is no reason to wait on that part. Build the template, lock the layout, and test it with one photo weeks or even months before the season.
When the photos finally arrive, the order goes in the same day. Teams that design early and collect photos first are the ones whose cards arrive before the first whistle.
Other dates worth planning around
The same math applies to every card moment in the season calendar: senior night, the end-of-season banquet, tournament weekends, and the holidays. For any hard date, order at least 7 to 10 days ahead — and give yourself two to three weeks if other people's photos are involved.