By: Eva Luo
Walking soccer, or walking football, is played by people from all over the world. The new-fangled sport, and its benefits for both mental and physical health, are winning over both former players and beginners.
This sport, created by John Croot, promoted by Chesterfield FC Community Trust and Steve Rich, an ex- Sunday League player, is designed to be as slow and calm as possible. The game was made for people over 50, but anyone can enjoy it.
There are 1,000 active clubs in the UK. Clubs have also popped up in the U.S. and Canada. There are age groups, such as over 40s, over 50s, over 60s, and over 70s, for both men and women. In 2018, the Federation of International Walking Football Associations, or FIWFA was created for international governing of walking soccer. It will be holding the FIWFA Walking Football World Nations Cup in August 2023.
The rules vary from regular soccer. Players must have one foot on the ground at all times, so they must use walking pace. They also must not contact, or let the ball go over head height, and free kicks must be indirect, as a part of safety. Instead of 11 players, there are 5 or 6 players on each side. The size of the field is smaller. The width is 25 to 37 meters, and the length is 35 to 55 meters.
The benefits that this game offers are abundant. The slower pace keeps injuries from happening as often as normal soccer (usually caused by player contact, falls, and tackles), so people who can no longer keep up with the high intensity still enjoy the game. “The guys really took to it because they were able to reconnect with their teammates, both on the field and in a social setting after the game.Walking soccer opened a door that would have otherwise stayed closed,” said George Gorecki, 62 years old, founder of Walking Soccer Chicago. Walking soccer increases body strength, improves muscular growth and core stability. In just one game, players average around 3,500 to 7,000 steps, or more than a mile.
People with mental health conditions also can find benefits.In a 2022 study, 7 men with conditions such as depression and anxiety who partook in walking football intervention said they saw positive changes in their well-being. They appreciated socializing, making friends, and found a new sense of purpose. Amy Chan Hyung Kim, associate professor of sports management at Florida State University, said that,“Research shows that older adults who play sports have a higher level of self-efficacy and express stronger feelings of personal empowerment, as well as enhanced self-confidence and self-worth.”
Many of the older players of this game have lost their partners, but find a new family in the walking soccer clubs they join. Outside of matches, clubs may go biking together, or try new restaurants. Players have also reached others in their communities, from raising fundraisers for supporting mental health and older people to delivering homemade meals to children in need.
Shaun Sherrick, 62, running the Barnet Walking Football Team, stated, “We are not just a walking football team, we are a football family.”
Sources:
https://historyofsoccer.info/walking-football
https://www.usadultsoccer.com/walkingsoccer
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32671884/
https://thewfa.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/WFA-Rule-Change-10-010820-Copy.pdf