By: Amy Jin

Previous soccer players and new ones find the sport of walking soccer a notable sport with benefits for mental and physical health.

Gary Clark, a soccer player who started playing at age seven and is now 68 years old, loves the sport of soccer. Unfortunately, though, he had knee surgery that prevented him from ever playing the sport of soccer again.

He says, “There was a sense of loss at not being able to go out and partake in my passion.” ( The Washington Post)

The sport of soccer involves intense physical demands that older individuals and those with injuries cannot fulfill.

The sport involves deceleration, acceleration, turns, and stops, which can be detrimental to a player’s knees and ankles. The soccer field is also very large (74 by 115 yards), meaning players run approximately seven miles every game.

With so much running already involved in the sport, many people shrugged off the idea of a variation of it with no running, but now it has become a global sensation.

Walking Soccer’s Rules

In 2011, the sport of walking soccer (football outside the U.S.) was launched by the Chesterfield FC Community Trust in Derbyshire, England, as part of an initiative to make soccer more inclusive for older people.

The sport is played on a smaller field than normal soccer (55-65 yards long, 35-45 yards wide), with five fewer people on each team than in a normal soccer game (6 people per team).

With or without the ball, players can’t jog or run at any time s. One foot must always be on the ground and all the other rules were created to highlight player health and safety. Examples include that “tackling is only allowed with no contact, all free kicks are indirect, and the ball must never go above head height.”

Walking Soccer is Becoming Popular

In England, there are about 600 walking soccer clubs for men and women.

The Federation of International Walking Football Associations (FIWFA) is also in England, and includes other members from different countries such as Nigeria, South Korea, Australia, India, and Italy.

Clubs of this sport have also formed in the U.S. in places such as Southern California, Seattle, Chicago, Vancouver, and many other regions across the U.S. and Canada.

Physical and Mental Benefits of Walking Soccer

Most people who participate in the sport of walking soccer find that it has many health benefits, both physically and mentally.

Mr. Clark says, “I have lost weight playing, so I think that’s a good sign.” He has played with the Tri-City Walking Soccer Club for approximately a year. Clark logs 13,000 to 18,000 steps per game, but note that most players log about 3,500 to 7,000 steps per game.

Research from 2020 states that walking soccer “may have health benefits and help build social connections.” Other research states that walking soccer can also reduce body mass. Due to these benefits, researchers have concluded that walking football is a great public health activity that is useful for both healthy individuals and those with medical conditions that have limited exercise options.

Walking soccer also benefits mental health. A 2022 study showed that when seven men with mental disabilities (anxiety and depression) played walking soccer together, they reported several positive effects on their health. “They enjoyed socializing, developed new friendships and felt a renewed sense of purpose.”

In 2019, Amy Chan Hyung Kim (Associate Professor of Sports Management at the University of Florida) reported that “sports participation may enhance life satisfaction, social life and personal psychological status for older adults.”

Professor Kim recommends that those who are ready to try out walking soccer should “talk to their primary care physician before diving in, since playing sports comes with some risk.” After a consultation, she suggests checking with senior centers and the area’s recreational departments for walking soccer facilities and other sports.

Other Benefits of Walking Soccer

From the looks of things now, walking soccer isn’t going to be as popular in North America as in Britain, but American players can learn from British clubs that walking soccer can benefit both older adults and members of their community.

In London, the Barnet Walking Football Team, run by Shaun Sherrick (age 62) since 2015, contains players ranging in age from 50 to 87, for a total of 140 players in all. The men on these teams often go out to eat together and go on cycling trips.

Together, the team has “visited individuals living with dementia to chat about soccer over tea, spoken to students at schools and delivered home-cooked meals to children in need.” Players from the team also help fundraise for organizations that support older people and those struggling with mental health issues.

“We are not just a walking football team, we are a football family” Sherrick states.

With Credits to: The Washington Post https://eb18600f7bb2916037f5ee8e636ce199.cdn.bubble.io/f1690134838548x129056601873389400/What%20are%20the%20rules%20and%20health%20benefits%20of%20walking%20soccer_%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf