Your child wants to play football, and suddenly you have lots of questions. What age can they join a club? How do you find a good club when there are waiting lists everywhere? How should you behave on the sidelines? And what do you do if your child spends most of their time on the bench or has lost interest? As football personal trainers, we hear these questions from parents almost every day. Here are our honest answers, based on the guidelines of the Swiss Football Association (SFV) and the Federal Office of Sport.
IN SHORT
Your child can join a club as soon as they want to: the youngest category is the G juniors, which in 2026/27 means children born in 2020 and 2021 (aged 5 to 6). Before that, a kids’ club, a football school and lots of varied exercise are ideal. You can recognise a good club by simple organisation, well-trained coaches and the fact that every child gets to play. Switching clubs is only worth it if training, organisation or playing time are consistently not right.
What age can children join a football club?
In Swiss club football, everything starts with the G juniors. In the 2026/27 season, these are children born in 2020 and 2021, i.e. children who turn five or six in 2026. What counts is the year of birth, not the birthday. They play 2v2 or 3v3 on mini goals, without a goalkeeper. To see which category comes next, have a look at our overview Youth football categories in Switzerland 2026/27.
For younger children, some clubs run a kids’ club or a football school; FC Bremgarten (canton of Aargau), for example, takes children from the age of 3. There are also private football schools. You can read what they offer in Football school for children, and find suitable exercises for the youngest in Football training for 4- to 6-year-olds.
Variety matters more than an early start
Whether your child joins a club at five or only at eight matters less than many people think. What is important at this age is that they move a lot and in lots of different ways. The SFV’s children’s football concept sets out three priorities for every training session: playing football, learning to play football and experiencing variety. Trying out other sports is explicitly part of it too. The Federal Office of Sport puts it in a nutshell on mobilesport.ch: ‘Children are basically not specialists, children are all-rounders!’ The Swiss physical activity recommendations call for at least one hour of exercise a day for school-age children, and considerably more for primary school children.
‘Basically, when the child is motivated. You can start early, for example at a football school or with the G juniors, but it’s not a must. In these years it’s important to be active in lots of different ways: moving a lot, trying out different sports and different things, and enjoying football. That way the child learns lots of different movement patterns, and that also helps their athleticism. Enjoyment always comes first.’
Nic Keller, co-founder of 360Football
Finding the right club and signing up
The biggest hurdle is often not choosing a club but finding a free place. According to SRF, around 10,000 children across Switzerland are waiting for a place in a football club. A study on children’s football by the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen and the SFV shows that some clubs have waiting lists with up to a hundred names. At FC Bremgarten (canton of Aargau), for example, the waiting time for G and F juniors was around 1.5 years in March 2026.
How to go about it
- Ask early: sign your child up as soon as they show an interest in football, and feel free to ask two or three clubs nearby. This is usually done via a form on the club website or through the club’s youth coordinator.
- Taster session: some clubs only invite children to a taster session once there is a free place in a team. Use the session to get to know the coach and the atmosphere (see the checklist below).
- Registration: besides your child’s personal details, you will usually need their AHV number (Swiss social security number). It is needed to register with Jugend+Sport, Switzerland’s youth sport programme, and you’ll find it on the health insurance card. Since 2023, G and F juniors also need an SFV licence. The club takes care of the licence.
- Kit: to start with, sportswear, football boots, indoor shoes for winter training in the sports hall, shin guards and a water bottle are all you need. Ask what the club provides: at FC Oetwil-Geroldswil, for example, the joining fee includes a set of hoodie, shirt and training trousers.
- Bridging the waiting time: with a kids’ club, a football school, other sports or simply lots of football outside with friends. And since many clubs are short of coaches, offer to help. At FC Bremgarten, children of active coaches, officials and helpers are even given priority on the waiting list.
For girls, there are also dedicated girls’ teams. At FC Bremgarten, for example, there is almost no waiting time for them. Find out more in Football training for girls in Switzerland. If you live in the Zurich area, our parents’ guide to football for kids in Zurich will help you further.
How much does a football club cost for children?
Each club sets its own membership fees. Three examples show the range:
| Example | G juniors | F and E juniors | D juniors | One-off on joining |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Oetwil-Geroldswil (ZH) | CHF 280 | CHF 320 | CHF 350 | CHF 100 incl. club kit |
| FC Bremgarten (AG) | CHF 280 | CHF 280 | CHF 300 | not stated |
| FC Kloten (ZH) | CHF 450 | CHF 450 | CHF 450 | CHF 65 for licence fees |
Examples; annual fees as stated on the club websites for the current season, as of October 2026. Other clubs may differ considerably.
On top of that come kit and travel to training and tournaments. How often children of different ages should train is covered in How often should children have football training?, and what they should eat before training in our nutrition guide for young footballers.
How can you tell a good football club?
The perfect club rarely exists, and in the end it often comes down to which one is closest. Even so, it’s worth taking a closer look, ideally at the taster session. These eight points will help you:
- Organisation: registration and the waiting list are clearly organised, there is a contact person, and you get answers.
- Qualified coaches: ask about their training. Anyone coaching children should ideally hold a J+S licence for children’s sport, for example as a ‘J+S leader for children’s football’ (J+S-Leiter/in Fussball Kindersport). This has to be renewed every two years through further training.
- Child-friendly training: small groups, lots of touches, lots of playing. According to the SFV concept, what counts in children’s football is the experience, not the result. League tables are deliberately not a thing there.
- Playing time for all: in children’s football, a good coach plays every child equally often. For D juniors, the SFV requires at least two quarters of playing time per child per match.
- Communication: training times, cancellations and squad call-ups are communicated in good time, and the coaches are approachable for parents.
- Facilities: a floodlit pitch, changing rooms and a sports hall in winter. This can’t be taken for granted: in a survey, 60% of Swiss football clubs reported missing or inadequate facilities.
- Distance: a club close by means shorter journeys, more independence and friends from the neighbourhood and school in the team.
- Atmosphere: the SFV measures children’s football by the ‘three Ls’ (in German: lachen, lernen, leisten): children should laugh, learn and achieve. Take a close look at the taster session: are the children laughing? Are they allowed to make mistakes?
A bonus, but not a must: with its ‘Quality Club’ programme, the SFV supports clubs in their development all the way to certification.
‘First, by the organisation: is it easy to sign up, and how does the whole process work? Many clubs also have long waiting lists. After that, though, it usually comes down to how good the coach is. And that doesn’t always depend only on the club, but also on who makes themselves available there. Good facilities help too, of course.’
Nic Keller, co-founder of 360Football
Parents on the sidelines: what helps and what hurts
You are your child’s most important person, on the football pitch too. That is exactly why the role you take on the sidelines matters: that of a fan, not a coach.
‘Encouraging is fine, but don’t shout in too much, and never anything negative. Don’t tell your child where to pass or shoot, and don’t draw negative attention to yourselves. Many parents are over-motivated, and that does nothing for the child. It even leads to a child looking over at their parents first after a mistake, because the father or mother gets worked up every time. That’s not the kind of behaviour we want. It’s extremely counterproductive for the child and, to be honest, embarrassing too.’
Nic Keller, co-founder of 360Football
This is in line with the official recommendations. In children’s football, the SFV recommends a spectator zone that creates physical and emotional distance between parents and the pitch. And the canton of Zurich’s toolbox for sports parents, on which Swiss Olympic’s parents’ toolbox is also based, is clear: no instructions from the sidelines.
| What helps | What hurts |
|---|---|
| Cheering, praising effort and fair play | Shouting instructions (‘Pass!’, ‘Shoot!’) |
| Staying in the spectator zone | Coaching from the sidelines or walking onto the pitch |
| Reacting the same way, win or lose | Glorifying wins, dramatising defeats |
| Accepting the referee’s decisions, respecting opponents | Criticising the referee, opponents or teammates |
| Raising questions with the coach later, in private | Criticising the coach in front of your child |
| After the match: a hug and a listening ear | Analysing the match on the drive home, comparing your child with others |
According to the Zurich toolbox, feedback after the match should be encouraging and positive. Spotting sporting weaknesses is the coach’s job. A simple question like ‘Did you enjoy it?’ therefore often opens more doors than any analysis. And if something really isn’t right, such as your child being treated with disrespect, raise it calmly and in private. If boundaries are crossed, the independent reporting office Swiss Sport Integrity can advise you.
Changing clubs: when it makes sense and when it doesn’t
Changing clubs is a big step for children: a new team, new coaches and often a longer journey. There are good reasons for it, but also good reasons not to switch too early.
‘Switching makes sense when something isn’t right: training sessions keep getting cancelled, the quality of training isn’t good enough, or you never play and never get called up. That happens less often with the younger ones. But if you miss professionalism, the level doesn’t suit the child or the organisation isn’t right, a switch can be worth it. I wouldn’t force a change of club very early on, though. The child has their friends there, and a club close by makes a lot of things easier.’
Nic Keller, co-founder of 360Football
| Consider switching if … | Consider staying if … |
|---|---|
| training sessions keep getting cancelled | the frustration is fresh, for example after a bad match |
| the quality of training is consistently not good enough | the problem can be solved with a conversation |
| your child never plays and is never called up | your child feels at home in the team with their friends |
| the level or the organisation clearly isn’t right | the new club would be much further away |
What applies when changing clubs
- G, F and E juniors: since the 2024/25 season, transfer requests for these categories can be submitted all year round. Transfer deadlines no longer apply in children’s football.
- From D juniors upwards: transfer deadlines still apply for older juniors. The new club’s youth coordinator or your regional association can tell you the exact dates and procedure.
- Leave properly: notice periods and fee rules are set out in your current club’s statutes.
- Footeco is not a transfer: if your child is accepted into the SFV talent programme, the licence stays with the home club. Find out more in Footeco explained. How scouts spot talent is covered in How to get scouted in football.
If your child wants to move to a bigger club with performance teams, the route usually goes through a trial session. You can read how to go about it in How to get a trial in football.
My child often sits on the bench
Few things hurt parents more than a child who mostly watches at the weekend. First, it’s worth looking at the rules: in children’s football (G to E), the SFV concept says the coach should play every child equally often. For D juniors, the SFV implementing provisions 2026/27 require at least two quarters per player, goalkeepers included. From C juniors onwards, there is only a recommendation to play at least one half. So if your child is constantly left out in the younger categories, a conversation is in order. With older players, it’s part of the game that not everyone plays the same amount.
‘There are always phases like this, and it doesn’t mean you should give up football straight away. You can motivate the child and tell them: better times are coming. Push hard in training, give everything, get better, make yourself impossible to overlook, be present and fight your way through. Only if none of that helps would I consider changing clubs.’
Nic Keller, co-founder of 360Football
What you can do
- Listen: ask your child how they experience the situation and what they would like.
- Let your child ask: older children can ask the coach directly: ‘What do I need to work on to play more?’ It shows commitment and gets concrete answers.
- A calm talk with the coach: not straight after the match and not in front of your child, but with some distance and with open questions.
- Targeted work: if pace, the weaker foot or ball control is lacking, targeted training achieves more than frustration. Whether extra one-to-one training is worth it is something we answer in Private football training for children: does it make sense?
- Check the category: if your child plays up in an older category, a season in their own age group with more playing time can achieve more.
- Only then switch: if nothing changes over a longer period, switching clubs can be the right move (see above).
My child doesn’t want to play football any more
Every sport has phases when the motivation dips. What matters is understanding the cause before you decide anything. Ask openly and listen: is it the team, the coach, the bench, too many commitments, or is your child simply interested in something else at the moment?
One possible reason is pressure. The canton of Zurich’s toolbox for sports parents states that excessive expectations can weigh on a child, and if expectations are not met, feelings of guilt and anxiety can even develop. Its advice: encourage enjoyment, because ‘joy is the opponent of fear’.
‘A child who generally has no motivation of their own to give it their all in football should be allowed to decide for themselves. Football isn’t everything. There are lots of other sports and things you can do.’
Nic Keller, co-founder of 360Football
A break or a different sport is not a failure. Varied exercise is valuable at this age anyway, and the door to football stays open. If, however, your child talks about fear, exclusion or disrespectful behaviour, take it seriously and speak to the club.
Does your child want more, need new confidence or spend too much time on the bench? In personal training with 360Football, our coaches assess where your child stands and work with them on exactly the things that will help them move forward at their club. With lots of ball work and enjoyment instead of pressure. One-to-one or in small groups, at 16 locations.
FAQ: football for your child
What age can my child join a football club?
From the G juniors, so at around five. In the 2026/27 season, that means children born in 2020 and 2021. Some clubs run a kids’ club or a football school for younger children. An early start isn’t a must, though: it’s more important that your child moves in lots of different ways and enjoys it.
How old are G juniors?
Five to six years old. What counts is the year of birth: in the 2026/27 season, children born in 2020 and 2021 play in the G juniors.
How much does a football club cost for children?
Each club sets its own fees. Three examples for the current season: at FC Oetwil-Geroldswil, G juniors pay CHF 280 a year, at FC Bremgarten the G to E juniors also pay CHF 280, and at FC Kloten CHF 450. Some clubs add a one-off joining fee, plus kit and travel.
How do I sign my child up for a football club?
Usually via a form on the club website or through the youth coordinator. You’ll need your child’s personal details and, as a rule, their AHV number for Jugend+Sport. If the club has a waiting list, your child is added to it and invited to a taster session as soon as a place becomes free.
What can I do if the football club has a waiting list?
Sign up early, ask several clubs nearby and bridge the time with a kids’ club, a football school or other sports. Getting involved as a coach or helper supports the club, and some clubs give priority to helpers’ children.
Can my child change clubs at any time?
For G, F and E juniors, yes: since 2024/25, transfer requests can be submitted all year round. From D juniors upwards, transfer deadlines apply. Ask the new club or your regional association about the dates.
How should parents behave on the sidelines?
Cheer, yes; coach, no. Stay in the spectator zone, praise effort and fair play, accept the decisions of the referee and the coach, and skip the post-match analysis. Working through mistakes is the coach’s job.
What should I do if my child doesn’t want to play football any more?
Ask about the reasons and take the pressure off. If there is a solvable problem behind it, for example in the team or with the coach, talk to the club. If your child’s own motivation is missing for good, they should be allowed to decide for themselves. A break or a different sport is absolutely fine.
Sources: SFV, Ausführungsbestimmungen Kinder- und Jugendfussball 2026/27 (implementing provisions for children’s and youth football) · SFV, Information No. 39/2023: abolition of transfer deadlines for children · mobilesport.ch/SFV, children’s football: training priorities · mobilesport.ch/SFV, children’s football: match days II · mobilesport.ch/SFV, children’s football: the child at the centre · mobilesport.ch, EHSM/SFV: children’s football – hurdles to joining a club · mobilesport.ch: promoting variety for children · hepa.ch/FOPH/FOSPO: health-enhancing physical activity · Canton of Zurich sports office: toolbox for sports parents · Swiss Olympic: guidance for parents and guardians · Canton of Fribourg: J+S in brief · SRF News, 21.04.2026: thousands on waiting lists · Club information: FC Oetwil-Geroldswil, FC Bremgarten, FC Kloten. All sources in German. Last updated: October 2026.
