Walking Football is a unique small-sided ball game created by John Croot in 2011. It’s similar in some respects to Association Football and this is what makes it such a great sport. When playing the sport, all of the skills you have learned will come flooding back. Memories will come back too because the game is familiar. It’s the game you love and remember but played in a new way.
This site should give you all the information you need to start playing. Plus, it should help you in finding a club that is close by.
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The biggest difference, as the name suggests, is there is no running. Walking football is played at walking pace, with players not allowed to run. This includes with the ball or off the ball, and includes jogging. You can ‘walk’ as fast as you want and walking as described in the rules is “one foot must be in contact with the ground at all times.”
One other big difference to association or 5-a-side football is that it’s classed as non-contact sport. Although tackling is allowed, this must be done with no contact.
We play on small pitches with small goals and games are normally 6-a-side. it can be played indoors, on 3G or 4G artificial grass pitches or on natural grass. As in 5-a-side the ball must not go overhead height and all free kicks are indirect.
The threat of pain, discomfort and injury is reduced due to the combination of a slower pace and reduced contact. This allows people who have loved the sport all their lives to once again safely get back to playing. It also introduces the sport to people who perhaps have never considered playing before.
Walking football is an excellent way of staying fit and healthy. Studies have shown it can be effective in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. It can produce high aerobic activity with marked improvements in fat oxidation and aerobic power. There are also substantial mental health benefits.
Walking football was conceived as a sport to be played by the over 50s in men and over 40s in women. We now have thousands of players up to and including people in their 70s and 80s playing on a regular basis.
The rules have been devised in such a way as to allow the game to be played safely by participants in older age groups.