Walking football?

[gareth h]

Anybody else play? (cue the p*ss take!), when Barclays started using their ad showing walking football for the over 50s I nearly closed my account with them.
At the time I was 50 and still playing 5 a side with the boys (I’d played competitively from the age of 14 to 39) But old injuries started to get the better of me and i had to pack it in.
Roll forward a few years and the chap who runs the local gym played WF and persuaded me to give it a try, I have to admit that it took a while to overcome muscle memory and not run when a ball was just out of reach or fly into a tackle.
But now a few years in it’s become a regular part of my week, and it works on many different levels, surprisingly fitness as you are always on the move, balance, and the bks and piss take that goes with team sports.
It’s great to be out having a kick about again.

[bristolracer]

I've never played football in my life, but this appeals for some reason
Be interested to see the replies you get

[48k]

I have an ACL injury and always wanted to try it, but I'm under 50 so don't meet the criteria.

[gareth h]

48k said:

I have an ACL injury and always wanted to try it, but I'm under 50 so don't meet the criteria.

Have a chat with your local group, competitions are over 50 and over 60 but the groups I have played with have been ok with younger players getting involved provided they play within the rules.

[gareth h]

bristolracer said:

I've never played football in my life, but this appeals for some reason
Be interested to see the replies you get

It’s probably a case of finding the right group, some groups are ex players and can be quite competitive, while others are more relaxed and social.

[monty999]

Having played at a fairly good level in my younger days I (reluctantly ) gave it a go a few years ago to have a 'gentle', non-competitive kick-about without the risk of further injury worries .

At first I loved it and when playing with other decent former players the speed of thought, movement and pass made up for the need to run. However, I soon became annoyed at poorer players making up for their lack of footballing talent by breaking out into a 'run' to get to the ball first. This became the norm and certainly not clamped down on (no referee involved) which really pissed me off as I was determined not to break out from walking and play by the rule but I ended up being in the minority.

Also, there seemed to be quite a lot of injuries to calf and achilles as a result of walking very quickly in an unusual action which the body doesn't do in a normal walking action.

[so called]

monty999 said:

...............I soon became annoyed at poorer players making up for their lack of footballing talent by breaking out into a 'run' to get to the ball first. This became the norm and certainly not clamped down on (no referee involved) which really pissed me off as I was determined not to break out from walking and play by the rule but I ended up being in the minority.

I've been thinking about walking football a lot lately for the fitness aspect but I'd be the same as Monty999 if the rules are ignored.

[franki68]

I just go to old Trafford and watch Maguire if I need to see walking football .

[gareth h]

monty999 said:

Also, there seemed to be quite a lot of injuries to calf and achilles as a result of walking very quickly in an unusual action which the body doesn't do in a normal walking action.

I had a few strains and pulls to start with, I think it takes a while for your body to adapt, although you aren’t running there are still a lot of sharp movements which you prob haven’t made since playing when younger.

[272BHP]

I kind of like the idea but not sure how it works in practice.

Surely if a pass is a little out of range you can't help but burst into a little jog?

[gareth h]

272BHP said:

I kind of like the idea but not sure how it works in practice.

Surely if a pass is a little out of range you can't help but burst into a little jog?

That is the muscle memory reaction, it does dull the more you play. And you soon learn that the ball needs to go to feet rather than space

[andyA700]

272BHP said:

I kind of like the idea but not sure how it works in practice.

Surely if a pass is a little out of range you can't help but burst into a little jog?

Exactly, it is just like race walking, where there are so many infringements and disqualifications. Do they have VAR for running in WF?

[gareth h]

andyA700 said:

Exactly, it is just like race walking, where there are so many infringements and disqualifications. Do they have VAR for running in WF?

There’s a sin bin for repeating offenders in competitive games

[272BHP]

gareth h said:

There’s a sin bin for repeating offenders in competitive games

I guess it is a bit like easy sparring in Boxing then - anyone getting a bit fruity gets pulled out straight away to cool down.

I can see how it could work.

[gareth h]

272BHP said:

I guess it is a bit like easy sparring in Boxing then - anyone getting a bit fruity gets pulled out straight away to cool down.

I can see how it could work.

Yep, that’s pretty much it, some competitive games can get a bit fruity, but the social weekly sessions are generally pretty well self policed, there are no tackles from the side or behind either which makes most games pretty much non contact

[Skodapondy]

gareth h said:

48k said:

I have an ACL injury and always wanted to try it, but I'm under 50 so don't meet the criteria.

Have a chat with your local group, competitions are over 50 and over 60 but the groups I have played with have been ok with younger players getting involved provided they play within the rules.

I'm under 50 (just) and have been playing for the last 15 months since our team was founded. I've an arthritic knee or two as well, but it doesn't bother me about playing in competitive matches. I find Thursday night training games what I need.