After months of waiting through the off-season, Saturday also marked the all-important registration day for junior football clubs - the chance for kids to secure a spot on a team.

Saturday was the first official registration day for the winter competition with many clubs having additional days in February to sign up.

With most Illawarra soccer clubs experiencing big numbers and high demand, registration during the official period is important to ensure kids are placed in a team.

Unanderra Hearts Soccer Club had a busy first registration day at Wests Illawarra Leagues Club, with numbers up on last year.

Club registrar and canteen co-ordinator Tracey Ongarato said that an information pack with key dates for the season was also handed out with payment.

"The registration day is about welcoming returning and new players to the club," she said.

"Unanderra is a family friendly club and we try and promote the idea of kids participating in sport to be fit and healthy. We aim to make it fun."

The Unanderra Hearts club has another two registration days at Wests Illawarra on Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm and on Saturday, February 7, from 10am to 2pm.

Across the Illawarra, junior registrations increased by almost 800 boys and girls in 2014 and record-breaking numbers are expected to turn out from under 6s to under 17s in 2015.

Players can be registered online through the myfootballclub.com.au website or check with their local club for registration.

The Football South Coast website footballsouthcoast.com lists all member clubs and has links to their websites with the times for the registration days.

Last year 8500 boys and girls played junior football in Football South Coast.