The past few weeks have been intense and productive for the Match Operations department. Following a demanding and, at times, challenging planning phase, we were able to finalise the definitive fixture list for the 2026/27 outdoor season and make it available to the clubs. Numerous factors had to be taken into account – ranging from the clubs’ sometimes conflicting priorities, through pitch availability, cantonal public holidays and school holidays, to last-minute team withdrawals, which required ongoing adjustments to the competition format. We would like to thank all the clubs for their patience and constructive cooperation during this busy period.

At the same time, the licensing process for the new season is in full swing and will be finalised this week. This means that nothing now stands in the way of a smooth start to the championship.

A particular highlight of recent weeks has been the dialogue with the Sports Commission and the clubs. In our joint meeting, we were not only able to clarify numerous outstanding issues, but also set an important course for the coming season – whether in terms of organisational processes, communication between the association and the clubs, or technical and regulatory adjustments. Direct dialogue with the clubs remains a key priority for us, as it is only by working together that we can continuously develop the game.

We are delighted by the ongoing growth of field hockey in Switzerland – more and more children, young people and adults are discovering our sport for themselves. However, this growth also brings new challenges: in particular, finding sufficient playing pitches for all categories and leagues is becoming increasingly difficult. Many facilities are already operating at full capacity, and we are in ongoing dialogue with the clubs to find good, fair and sustainable solutions together – also with a view to the coming seasons.

In parallel with the outdoor season, planning for the 2026/27 indoor season has already begun. Here too, similar bottlenecks in available indoor capacity are becoming apparent, particularly in regions with many active teams. We are aware of this challenge and are already working intensively with the clubs to develop suitable solutions, so that all teams can enjoy an attractive and fairly organised indoor season.

We would like to thank all the clubs, coaches and the many volunteers for their constructive cooperation over the past few weeks, and we look forward to an exciting 2026/27 season!