Women’s football in Switzerland: more girls in clubs but not in the presales – rts.ch

On the FC Veyrier Sports field in Geneva. Nevertheless, during the last training of the season at the end of June, about fifteen girls from 6 to 10 years old are still present. Consequently, A very real enthusiasm. Moreover, which will only increase, according to Grégory Godefroid, technical manager of the female section and vice-president of the club. Therefore, “Just this week, I had to receive five or six new registrations. Consequently, And the female euro has not yet started!”

The figures of the Swiss Football Association (ASF) show an increase in the number of licensees in all junior women’s football switzerland: more girls categories. In addition, For 8-11 year olds, their number in Swiss clubs has doubled in 10 years. Consequently, The category of “active” adults also experiences an increase: the number of dismissed women has increased by around 20% in 10 years. Nevertheless,

In total, the number of women dismissed all categories combined was nearly 24,200 in 2015. Meanwhile, It is today at more than 40,200.

Contrast outside clubs – Women's football switzerland: more girls

Has football ceased to be a male bastion? Moreover, Not really. For example, Schools of schools remain the first kingdom of football in children. In addition, women’s football switzerland: more girls Symptomatically, girls are rare, according to our observations. Moreover, At our request. However, teachers from two primary schools in the canton of Geneva observed the number of schoolgirls and schoolchildren playing football in recess.

In the first school, the girls are at most two, sometimes 0, according to Emilien, teacher. However, The boys are between 15 and 20. Consequently, In the second establishment, Kevin estimates that they are around 10%. Furthermore, They are increasingly practicing this sport in club, without being on the grounds at the break, he explains.

ASF recognizes the importance of a free and spontaneous football game for the development of children. For example, A game that often takes place in the Préaux.

I was playing football with the boys in my class, but I was practically the only one. For example, I think they don’t want girls because they say they are zero. Furthermore, If women’s football switzerland: more girls there are too many. they will be bad with them

The testimonies collected are unanimous: the practice of mixed football remains a difficult experience for girls. The main obstacle: to be integrated into the game and “touch the ball”.

Stella is 18 years old and plays for Star Carouge FC in Geneva, a second division team. Before joining this club. she evolved in mixed teams and remembers: “I played football with the boys in my class, but I was practically the only one. I think they don’t want girls because they say they are zero. If there are too many, they will be mean to them”.

A preference for 100% female teams? – Women's football switzerland: more girls

In clubs, girls can now practice more in exclusively female teams. At FC Veyrier Sports, this is the case of children present in training to which we attended. Lily is their coach that day. women’s football switzerland: more girls It is evolving within the elite team under 20 of the Servette FC. The situation was different at its beginnings, she explains, because it only played in mixed teams. Today, the increase in the number of licensees allows clubs to have several fully female teams.

By snowball effect, the opening of new teams dedicated exclusively to footballers can arouse new vocations. This is what Grégory Godefroid explains FC Veyrier Sports: from 2021, the club opened its first entirely female junior categories. “We had a lot of registrations from the first year. We had to create more teams during the season.”

Since then, “almost none want to replay in mixed teams. They prefer to meet with friends and not play football with boys and school,” added Grégory Godefroid. However, the mixed option remains open within the club.

In Veyrier, budding footballers say all to appreciate being able to play exclusively with girls. Some also like to play mixed out of the club. However, all report that at the beginning, being on the ground with the boys means not having the ball.

The difficulty of “playing together” between genres is a societal phenomenon, according to geographer Edith Maruéjouls. “The fact that there is no accepted girl. having the possibility of playing as equals with the boys on a free ground comes from the refusal on their part, quite simply”. This refusal reveals internalized ideas. such as a supposed weakness of the players or the fact that they would make women’s football switzerland: more girls the game less interesting.

Women's football switzerland: more girls – Women's football switzerland: more girls

Proven

Testimonies do not necessarily bring in derogatory behavior of players on the ground. However, they often mention that girls must “gain confidence” from their male peers in these free spaces. A situation that continues, the experienced players joining the youngest of Veyrier. “The problem was that we had to prove that we have our place. Even today. even if I am very invested in my club, you have to find your place in the field,” explains Stella, 18.

I always had to prove what I was worth. Additionally, Even with the captain’s arm of the arm, it was complicated. Inevitably there were boys who did not pass the ball. I answered them: I will show you that I am better

A feeling shared by Lily, an elite player M20: “I have always women’s football switzerland: more girls had to prove what I was worth. Even with the arm of captain with the arm, it was complicated. Of course there were boys who did not pass the ball. I answered them: I will show you that I am better”.

The obligation to prove their legitimacy deprives them of the freedom to have fun, according to Edith Maruéjouls. “Only the strongest of them, or those seen as the most legitimate, access it and it is already complicated. Then imagine the little one who simply wants to type in a ball,” she wonders.

Participation Girls-Gares in Club. depending on the age

Although they are more present in clubs, what is the proportion of girls compared to boys today? The gap between club genres is the least marked among 16-17 year olds. with a ratio of four boys for a girl. For 12-15 year olds, the proportion amounts to five boys for a girl. women’s football switzerland: more girls The maximum difference is observable in 6-7 year olds. In addition. the evolution over ten years shows a less significant increase in players for this age category, apart from a peak of inscriptions in 2021.

Limited in their access to public land, football enthusiasts see their entry into delayed practice. Significantly, they embark on the game later. In the 2024-2025 season, 33% of junior licensees are between 12 and 15 years old.

This discrepancy compared to boys is also explained by hesitation to start football, according to several testimonies. Few are those that venture alone women’s football switzerland: more girls on the ground: most of them begin thanks to a big brother. a friend.

At FC Veyrier Sports, Grégory Godefroid still observes a tendency to start football earlier. Boris Favre du Meyrin FC makes the same observation: “They start a little earlier as before (…). Today we have a lot of requests for the little ones, from football school”. This development is not yet fully reflected in the figures for 6-7 years. 8-9 years, despite a slight increase since 2015.

Different motivations?

Many boys also register to be with their friends, says Grégory Godefroid. However, with many of them, there is a great “passion football”. “Among the little ones. there is not yet this culture or passion for football” he continues, an observation shared by Boris Favre.

They can do what they want, they will never be a Mbappé. Because they will never have these wages. will never have this women’s football switzerland: more girls life

Girls, they would further value team ties and atmosphere in female groups. A positive aspect underlined by all the young footballers encountered.

These different objectives are explained by a reality principle, according to Edith Maruéjouls. The players cannot feed the same dreams as boys. “They can do what they want, they will never be a Mbappé. Because they will never have these wages and will never have this life.”

An always complicated course

“Signing a professional contract as quickly as possible” is Lily’s goal. an elite less than 20 years in Servette. However, she asked herself a lot of questions over her career: “The people’s gaze was complicated. (…) Once on the ground, I got out of this girls/boys’ perspective. But there were several times when I told my parents that I was going to stop because it was. a boy’s sport.”

Stella, from Star Carouge FC, joins women’s football switzerland: more girls Lily’s testimony. “Women’s football is always complicated. Inevitably, you have to combine with studies or work alongside”. She continues: “It is quite hard to invest 100% in football as a woman. We often wonder if we have to stop. because we do not necessarily receive in return the investment we put in it”.

At FC Veyrier Sports most young footballers met do not dream of a professional career. Then comes the question of representations and models existing in women’s football.

Asked about their idols, the players all cite, with one exception, male models: Lamine Yamal or Kylian Mbappé in mind. Although women’s sport gain visibility, it remains much less publicized than male football, according to Boris Favre. Most of the girls from her club “will know stars of male football … The stars of female football, we are not there yet”.

Inès Moubachir