⚡ Free design in 24h · 7-15 day production · 100% QC pass rate · MOQ 100 pcs · Serving 50+ countries since 2010

Custom Sports Medals — 3D Die-Cast Awards for Every Sport, Every League

From youth soccer to adult basketball leagues, tournament championships to season-end awards. Zinc alloy die-casting captures the exact moment that defines each sport — the kick, the shot, the dive — in sculptural 3D relief. Team colors matched to your Pantone specs. Plating that survives rain, sweat, and celebration. Free design delivered in 24 hours.

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Sports We Make Medals For — 20+ Disciplines

Every sport has its iconic pose. Our mold designers sculpt each one from reference photos to capture the motion that defines the game. Click any sport to jump to its medal design considerations.

Soccer / Football
Basketball
Swimming
Track & Field
Volleyball
Tennis
Golf
Baseball / Softball
Martial Arts
Wrestling
Gymnastics
Hockey
Lacrosse
Cricket
Rugby
Cycling
Cheerleading
Dance
CrossFit
Boxing

Sports Medal Quick Specs — Technical Reference

SpecificationStandardOptions / Upgrade
MaterialZinc alloy (Zamak 3, 5, or 7) — 6.7 g/cm³Brass (8.9 g/cm³) for premium weight; Iron for budget; Aluminum for lightweight
Size (Diameter)1.75–2.5 inches (44–64mm) — most common3–4 inches (76–102mm) for championships; 5"+ (127mm+) for overall winner
Thickness2.5–4mm — standard feel4–6mm — premium heft (championship medals)
3D Relief Depth0.1–2mm sculptural depthDeeper relief (up to 3mm) for dramatic action poses
Plating FinishGold, nickel (silver), copper — mirror or matteRose gold, chrome, black nickel, platinum, antique variants, rainbow, two-tone
Enamel TypeSoft enamel — 0.3mm minimum fill widthImitation hard enamel (ceramic-smooth, +15–25%); Glass, translucent, glitter, glow-in-the-dark
Enamel Colors1–3 colors — standard pricing4–6 (small surcharge); 7+ (per-color); Pantone matched on every order
Ribbon860–900mm × 20–30mm, heat-transfer printed, 4-foldWoven (textured premium); Sublimated (photo-quality); 800mm children's length
AttachmentD-ring + ribbon loop — standardDog clip (quick-release); Safety breakaway clasp (youth); Magnet closure
Back SideLaser engraving for event name, date, sponsorVariable data: participant name, team, jersey number, position
MOQ100 pieces per designVolume discounts at 300 / 1,000 / 5,000 / 10,000+
Production Time7–15 days after sample approvalRush: as fast as 7 days (in-stock molds + UV printing)
PackagingIndividual clear PP/OPP poly bag — includedVelvet pouch, paper card, gift box, acrylic case — quoted separately

What Separates a Great Sports Medal From an Average One

After 15 years and thousands of sports medal designs, these four factors consistently determine whether a league reorders next season or shops elsewhere.

01

3D Action Pose That Actually Looks Like the Sport

Flat stamped medals can't do this. Zinc alloy die-casting at 385°C flows into intricate mold cavities, capturing a soccer player's instep at ball contact, a swimmer's hand entry angle, a basketball player's wrist snap at release. The difference between 'generic athlete silhouette' and 'that's exactly how a tennis serve looks' is a mold designer who understands sports biomechanics. Our designers work from reference photos you provide — your league's actual jersey design, your actual sport. Relief depth ranges from 0.1mm (fine jersey texture) to 3mm (dramatic foreground elements). The 3D renderings you receive with your free design will show exactly how deep each element is.

02

Team Colors That Match — Not 'Close Enough'

Your league has colors. Specific colors. Navy blue, not royal. Crimson, not bright red. Vegas gold, not yellow. We stock 10 base enamel colors and mix to your exact Pantone specification. The plating (gold, silver, copper, nickel, etc.) provides the metallic base. The enamel provides the team color. The ribbon ties it together. All three coordinated to your Pantone specs. Color formulations are archived — when you reorder next season, the colors will match this season's medals exactly. For leagues with multiple divisions or age groups, we can use the same mold with different enamel colors for each division at minimal additional cost.

03

Plating That Survives the Season — and the Off-Season

Sports medals get handled. A lot. Awarded on the field — maybe in the rain. Worn around the neck through the post-game handshake line. Tossed in a gym bag. Hung on a bedroom wall for years. Cheap plating fails at the edges first — where the medal rubs against the ribbon ring, where kids fidget with it. Our 9-stage plating line (degreasing → ultrasonic cleaning → alkaline copper ~500 seconds → acid copper 20–60 minutes → color plate → tunnel oven 100°C/40min → anti-tarnish spray for gold/copper) builds adhesion from the molecular level up. The alkaline copper base layer is where budget suppliers cut corners — it's the difference between a gold finish that looks new after five years and one that shows wear after one season.

04

Size Options for Every Level — Participant to Champion

Not every medal in your event should be the same size. Participant medals: 1.75–2 inches — cost-effective for large fields, still substantial. Division winners: 2.5–3 inches — clearly differentiated on the podium. Overall champion: 3.5–4+ inches — unmistakably the top award. Thickness scales with size — 2.5mm for standard medals, 4–6mm for championship medals. Same mold family (shared design elements across sizes) keeps mold costs reasonable while giving each tier its own presence. We'll propose a tiered sizing plan as part of your free design — you decide which levels get which size.

Customization Options — Make the Medal Uniquely Yours

Custom Shape (Not Just Round)

Stars, shields, your league logo silhouette, a sports ball outline — zinc alloy die-casting can produce virtually any 2D shape. Complex shapes with narrow sections or internal cutouts may require multi-part molds (higher cost). Minimum wall thickness 2mm applies everywhere. We'll flag any shape issues during the free design review — before mold steel is cut.

Two-Tone Plating

Gold body with nickel (silver) highlights on the action figure. Or silver body with gold championship text. Masking during plating allows two different finishes on the same medal. Small per-unit surcharge. The contrast makes both colors pop more than a monochrome finish.

Spinning Elements

Add a rotating center — a basketball that spins, a soccer ball that rotates, a gear that turns. The spinner mechanism uses a precision rivet post. Adds ~30–50% per-unit cost (second mold piece + assembly labor). Popular for tournament MVP awards and championship medals. See our spinning medals page.

LED Illumination

A flashing LED behind translucent enamel makes team colors glow. Popular for evening tournaments, indoor championship ceremonies, and 'lights-out' award presentations. Battery integrated into medal body (CR2032, replaceable). Adds cost and minimum 5–6mm thickness. See our LED medals page.

Bottle Opener Function

A stainless steel opener insert riveted into the medal body — practical and memorable. The post-tournament celebration accessory built right into the award. Insert style (most durable) or integrated edge style (cleaner design). See our bottle opener medals page.

Variable Data — Names, Teams, Jersey Numbers

Laser engraving from your roster file (Excel/CSV). Each medal individually marked with player name, team, jersey number, position, or season stats. Adds ~1 extra production day per 500 personalized medals. Setup fee for data programming. Reorders with updated rosters use the same programming — lower cost for returning leagues.

Factory-Direct — What That Actually Means for Your League

No Middleman Markup

Every sports medal we make goes from our Huizhou factory directly to your event — no distributor, no promotional products middleman, no trophy shop marking it up 3×. Your per-unit price reflects actual manufacturing cost plus reasonable margin. This is why leagues that order 500+ medals annually switch to us and never go back to domestic suppliers.

Consistent Reorders — Season After Season

Your mold is archived. Your Pantone color specs are archived. Your ribbon design is archived. When you reorder next season — same league, same divisions, updated year — we retrieve everything. Same colors. Same quality. Same feel. The only thing that changes is the date. Leagues that have ordered from us for 5+ years confirm: batch-to-batch consistency is our strongest retention factor.

One Factory, One Responsibility

Mold making, die-casting, polishing, plating, enamel filling, printing, laser engraving, ribbon production, assembly, QC, packaging — all 12 steps happen under our roof. When every process is in-house, quality problems have one throat to choke. No 'the plating shop says it's the casting shop's fault.' Just one team accountable for your entire order.

Sports Medal FAQ — Answers From the Factory Floor

Can you reproduce our league logo as a 3D element on the medal?

Yes — that's what zinc alloy die-casting does best. Send your logo in vector format (.AI, .EPS, .PDF). Our mold designers convert it into 3D relief using Beijing Jingdiao CNC software. You'll see the result in the 3D renderings before any mold is cut. Minimum relief detail: 0.1mm. Complex logos with fine text (serif fonts, thin lines) may need slight simplification — we'll flag specific elements during design review and propose alternatives. Most league logos translate beautifully to 3D.

We have six divisions (U8 through U18). Can we get different medals for each?

Yes — two cost-effective approaches. Option A: one mold, different plating per division (gold for U18, silver for U14, bronze for U10, etc.) and different ribbon colors. Each division's medal looks distinct while sharing the same design and mold cost. Option B: same shape, different center design element per age group — six mold modifications, higher tooling cost but more differentiation. Each division must meet the 100-piece MOQ individually. We'll quote both options and you choose.

What's the best plating for outdoor sports medals that might get wet?

Nickel (silver) is naturally corrosion-resistant — it's our recommendation for outdoor tournaments where medals may be worn in rain or humidity. Antique finishes (antique gold, antique silver, antique copper) have a darker, more textured surface that naturally hides minor wear — the slight unevenness of an antique finish is a feature, not a flaw. If you want gold for aesthetic reasons, we apply an anti-tarnish clear spray as the final step in the plating line (100°C tunnel oven, 40 minutes) — this adds a protective layer that significantly extends the life of the gold finish. All our plating includes the full alkaline copper base layer (~500 seconds) which is the real foundation of durability.

How fast can we get medals for our tournament next month?

Standard timeline: 3–4 weeks from first contact to medals in hand (24h design → 7–10 days sample → 7–15 days production → shipping). Rush timeline: if we have an existing mold that matches your sport and design concept, and you choose UV printing over enamel (faster process), production can complete in as fast as 7 days plus shipping. The key variable is whether we need to cut a new mold or can adapt an existing one. Tell us your tournament date in your first message — we'll give you an honest assessment of which timeline applies.

What's included in the per-medal price vs what costs extra?

Included: mold making, zinc alloy material, your choice of one plating finish, enamel filling in your specified Pantone colors, standard heat-transfer printed ribbon (860–900mm × 20–30mm), D-ring attachment, individual poly bag packaging, and the free design service with unlimited revisions. Extra (quoted separately): second plating finish (two-tone), upgraded ribbon (woven or sublimated), specialty packaging (velvet pouches, gift boxes, acrylic cases), variable data laser engraving, spinning elements, LED electronics, bottle opener insert, and shipping. Every quote is line-item detailed — you'll see exactly where your money goes.

Can we see a physical sample before committing to bulk production?

Yes — that's exactly how our process works. After you approve the 3D design renderings (free, 24 hours), we produce a physical sample in 7–10 days. This is the actual medal — same zinc alloy, same plating, same enamel, same ribbon. Hold it. Check the weight. Check the colors under your lighting. Put the ribbon around your neck. This is your checkpoint before committing to 500 or 5,000 pieces. Most clients approve on the first sample. If adjustments are needed, we revise the mold (minor changes) or produce a revised sample (major changes) — mold revisions are quoted based on scope.

Our league has 300 players across 20 teams. Can each team get a slightly different medal?

Yes, within reason. Each distinct design requires its own mold and must meet the 100-piece MOQ. With 300 players across 20 teams (15 per team), individual team medals would be 15 pieces each — below MOQ. Better approach: one league-wide medal design with team-name laser engraving on the back. Or: conference-level medals (3–4 conferences, 75–100 each) if your 20 teams are grouped. We'll help you find the most cost-effective approach that still feels personalized. Tell us your team structure and we'll propose options.

Do you offer display options for sports medals?

Yes — medal display hangers and racks for players to showcase their collection at home. Wall-mounted racks (5–50 medal capacity), individual display hangers (single medal, personalized with name), and standing displays for trophy cases. Also: presentation packaging — velvet pouches and gift boxes for award ceremonies. See our display hangers page for options. Display products make great add-on merchandise for league fundraisers.

Your League's Medals Start Here

Tell us about your league — the sport, the age groups, your team colors, and how many medals you need. We'll create a free custom design with 3D renderings and a detailed line-item quote within 24 hours. No obligation. No upfront cost.

Prefer to browse first? Compare medal materials, explore our 12-step process, or see our design guide.

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