SCIENTIFIC research has shown not only physical, but also mental benefits to playing walking football including reduced stress and improved cognitive function.
This has led to an exponential growth of walking football participation in the United Kingdom with over 60,000 regular players.
Chairman of Bournemouth Walking Football Club Alan Sparkes explained:
“For me personally, I come onto the football field, we start a game and I’m not thinking about anything else in my life other than the game and what’s happening and that is surely a great way for helping mental health as a bit of a release.”
“When COVID finished, we got a big influx of members. It’s because walking football is becoming better known you’ve now got ex-players who are keen to come down and give it a try.”
Safety is at the foreground of walking football as players are not allowed to kick the ball above head height or run and can only tackle from the front.
Goalkeeper for BWFC, Dave Stoneman, is aged 68 and has felt the physical and mental benefits of walking football with these rule changes.
He said: “I’ve lost at least two stone since I’ve joined and when you’re playing you forget all of your worries and just concentrate on the game.”
“In some of the games that we play we’ve got players of all abilities and ages and it’s very inclusive.”
BWFC have both men’s and women’s teams and host both competitive and social matches for people at every skill level. To contact the club with any enquiries, click here.
Watch the full video package below:
