Walking football is a variant of association football that is aimed at keeping people aged over 50 involved with football if, due to a lack of mobility or for other reasons, they are not able to play the traditional game. The sport can be played both indoors and outdoors.[1] Walking football was devised as a competitive sport by John Croot of Chesterfield FC. Coverage of a walking football session, initially believed to be an April Fools' joke, on Sky Sports News and in a documentary aired on Sky Sports Football in October 2017, led to several other clubs taking up this version of the game.[2][3] It has since become a current craze.[4][5]
There are now thousands of teams and session all over the UK with players now featuring in over 50s, over 60s and over 70s teams. The sport has also proved popular with women over 40.
Though based on association football (albeit with more than 50 differences), the key difference from standard football is that if a player runs then 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 who are physically disadvantaged.[8][7] The manner in which the sport is played promotes cardiovascular fitness whilst reducing stress on the body.[9] It also helps participants maintain an active lifestyle.[10]
In walking football the game was originally played without goalkeepers (though goalkeepers now play in some variations) and, crucially, the ball must never be kicked above 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 used. Outdoor games involve a traditional 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 its services.[13]
The governing body of walking football in England is the Walking Football Association. Wales and Scotland have their own governing bodies.
In 2018 an international governing body was established to help promote and coordinate international matches between nations. This body, the Federation of International Walking Football Associations (FIWFA), is based in the UK.
Although there were discussions about holding the first Walking Football World Cup in England in 2020,[18] the World Cup tournament. will be held in Derby in 2023, with 32 teams in the over 50s and over 60s age bracket. Teams from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe will take part.
Referencesedit
^"Older men invited to try out a new sport". The News. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
^"Walking Football". Chesterfield F.C. Community Trust. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
^"Sky Sports to air walking football film in October". Walking Football World. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
^. 96.4 Eagle Radio. 7 August 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014.
^"Walking Football". Derbyshire FA. 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
^"Walking football: A slower version of the beautiful game". BBC News. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
^. Almelo's Weekblad. 1 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017.
^"Walking Football Club is a Runaway Success For Society Member Mick Quinn". The Society of Sports Therapists. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
^"Walking football". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
^"FC Groningen gaat door met het project OldStars" (in Dutch). Ouderen Journaal. 22 July 2014. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014.
^"Walking Football". Sussex FA. 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
^. Premier League. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Walking Netball". England Netball. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
^"Playing walking rugby". www.englandrugby.com. England Rugby. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
^"Walking Basketball". www.basketballengland.co.uk. Basketball England. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
^ ab"Walking sports". Just Get Active. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
^"Growth of walking football shows no signs of slowing down". Derbyshire Times. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
External linksedit
The Walking Football Association: official website
November 01, 2023
walking, football, variant, association, football, that, aimed, keeping, people, aged, over, involved, with, football, lack, mobility, other, reasons, they, able, play, traditional, game, sport, played, both, indoors, outdoors, devised, competitive, sport, joh. Walking football is a variant of association football that is aimed at keeping people aged over 50 involved with football if due to a lack of mobility or for other reasons they are not able to play the traditional game The sport can be played both indoors and outdoors 1 Walking football was devised as a competitive sport by John Croot of Chesterfield FC Coverage of a walking football session initially believed to be an April Fools joke on Sky Sports News and in a documentary aired on Sky Sports Football in October 2017 led to several other clubs taking up this version of the game 2 3 It has since become a current craze 4 5 There are now thousands of teams and session all over the UK with players now featuring in over 50s over 60s and over 70s teams The sport has also proved popular with women over 40 Though based on association football albeit with more than 50 differences the key difference from standard football is that if a player runs then 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 who are physically disadvantaged 8 7 The manner in which the sport is played promotes cardiovascular fitness whilst reducing stress on the body 9 It also helps participants maintain an active lifestyle 10 In walking football the game was originally played without goalkeepers though goalkeepers now play in some variations and crucially the ball must never be kicked above 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 used Outdoor games involve a traditional 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 its services 13 The governing body of walking football in England is the Walking Football Association Wales and Scotland have their own governing bodies In 2018 an international governing body was established to help promote and coordinate international matches between nations This body the Federation of International Walking Football Associations FIWFA is based in the UK Similar slower paced sports include walking netball 14 walking rugby 15 walking basketball 16 walking hockey based on field hockey 17 and walking cricket 17 Walking Football World Cup editAlthough there were discussions about holding the first Walking Football World Cup in England in 2020 18 the World Cup tournament will be held in Derby in 2023 with 32 teams in the over 50s and over 60s age bracket Teams from Asia Africa South America and Europe will take part References edit Older men invited to try out a new sport The News 14 July 2014 Retrieved 1 August 2014 Walking Football Chesterfield F C Community Trust Retrieved 30 September 2023 Sky Sports to air walking football film in October Walking Football World 27 September 2017 Retrieved 5 October 2017 Walking sport craze sweeping Surrey and Hampshire 96 4 Eagle Radio 7 August 2014 Archived from the original on 9 August 2014 Walking Football Derbyshire FA 2013 Retrieved 1 August 2014 Walking football A slower version of the beautiful game BBC News 9 June 2012 Retrieved 1 August 2014 a b Walking Football Chelmsford City Council 2014 Archived from the original on 15 August 2014 OldStars nieuw project Heracles Almelo Scoort Voor Iedereen Almelo s Weekblad 1 August 2014 Archived from the original on 19 February 2017 Walking Football Club is a Runaway Success For Society Member Mick Quinn The Society of Sports Therapists 22 October 2013 Retrieved 1 August 2014 Walking football BBC Retrieved 7 September 2014 FC Groningen gaat door met het project OldStars in Dutch Ouderen Journaal 22 July 2014 Archived from the original on 6 August 2014 Walking Football Sussex FA 2014 Retrieved 2 October 2023 England legends unite to enjoy Walking Football Premier League 4 September 2015 Archived from the original on 25 October 2015 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint unfit URL link Walking Netball England Netball Retrieved 7 August 2023 Playing walking rugby www englandrugby com England Rugby Retrieved 6 August 2023 Walking Basketball www basketballengland co uk Basketball England Retrieved 6 August 2023 a b Walking sports Just Get Active Retrieved 7 August 2023 Growth of walking football shows no signs of slowing down Derbyshire Times 14 June 2019 Retrieved 30 September 2023 External links editThe Walking Football Association official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walking football amp oldid 1178245598 Walking Football World Cup, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
