Walking football

Walking football is a variant of association football that is aimed at keeping people aged over 50 participating in a mild form of exercise and for those previously playing the traditional game. The sport can be played both indoors and outdoors.[1] Walking football was devised as a competitive sport pre-1930, but Steve Bloomer of England football fame refereed the first reported fixture in 1932 between Derby and Crewe Railway Veterans. Coverage of a BBC Sports News walking football session in Bury in 2012 led to several other clubs taking up this version of the game.[2][3] It has since become a current craze.[4][5]

Through the creation of the bespoke website Walking Football United, now thousands of teams and session have been developed all over the UK, with players now featuring in specific age categories - over 50s, over 60, and over 70s. The sport has also proved popular with women and is played from ages over 40 years.

Though based on association football, the laws of the game established by the FA, from standard football, with the main difference being that if a player runs anywhere on the pitch they concede a free kick to the other side.[6][7] This restriction, together with a ban on slide tackles, is aimed both at avoiding injuries and facilitating the playing of the sport by those whom are physically disadvantaged.[8][7] The manner in which the sport is played promotes cardiovascular fitness whilst producing the least stress on the body.[9] It also helps participants maintain an active lifestyle.[10] In walking football the game has the ball not permitted to exceed head height.[11] Different footballs are used in the indoor and the outdoor variations of the sport. When played indoors, a size 4 futsal ball is the preferred option. Outdoor games involve a traditional size 5 football. The size of the pitch can vary to suit different locations. The length should be from 20 to 40 yards and the width between 15 and 30 yards.[12]

The sport came to wider public attention in July 2014, when Barclays Bank aired a television advertisement featuring walking football to promote their services.[13]Two further Barclays promotional short films featuring famous footballers playing the walking format had 5.5 million views worldwide, sparking a further huge interest in the game.

The Governing Body of walking football in England is The FA (Football Association) based at Saint George’s Park. Other home nations, such as Wales and Scotland, have their own governing bodies.

An International governing body was established to help promote and coordinate international matches between nations. This body is the International Walking Football Federation, based in Sutton Coldfield, England They held the very first walking football World Cup at Leyton Orient in 2019.

References
  1. "Older men invited to try out a new sport". The News. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  2. "Walking Football FREEVIEW". Chesterfield F.C. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  3. "Sky Sports to air walking football film in October". Walking Football World. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  4. "Walking sport craze sweeping Surrey and Hampshire". 96.4 Eagle Radio. 7 August 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014.
  5. "Walking Football". Derbyshire FA. 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  6. "Walking football: A slower version of the beautiful game". BBC News. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  7. "Walking Football". Chelmsford City Council. 2014. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014.
  8. "OldStars, nieuw project Heracles Almelo Scoort Voor Iedereen". Almelo's Weekblad. 1 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017.
  9. "Walking Football Club is a Runaway Success For Society Member Mick Quinn". The Society of Sports Therapists. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  10. "Walking football". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  11. "FC Groningen gaat door met het project OldStars" (in Dutch). Ouderen Journaal. 22 July 2014. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014.
  12. "Walking Football". Sussex FA. 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  13. "England legends unite to enjoy Walking Football". Premier League. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
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