Walking Football League

Background Walking football was imagined to encourage older people (50+) to become more physically and socially active and is popular on a local level. The Walking Football League (WFL) project aimed to help the sport become more sustainable and attract players through establishing competitions to serve the needs of different individuals and organisations, highlighting health benefits, and developing a formal strategy to grow the game across Europe, moving it into the national and international arena. Objectives The main objective of WFL is to grow the sport of walking football through designing and testing a practical methodology for establishing walking football teams and leagues on a local, regional, and national level. Key factors for review include the impact on participant health and the sustainability of competition structures (including standardised rules). By training grassroots coaches and creating partnerships the project will raise visibility and increase participation at all levels. Implementation The WFL was implemented in Norway, Hungary, Germany, Scotland, Portugal, Spain, and England, with 9 clubs involved. Some already had walking football teams established, with others starting from scratch. Each club was required to test and evaluate the methodology across 4 seasons and attend (or host) international tournaments at the end of each season. In addition, they were actively involved in creating local and international partnerships, to spread the agreed standards at all levels. Achievements Throughout the WFL project, 891 players were provided with opportunities to participate. Across Europe, over 1,310 sessions, 350 matches, and 270 social activities were organized. As part of the project, various Walking Football rules were tested and refined, culminating in the development of unified regulations to be implemented across the entirety of Europe.