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 within the United Kingdom with over 60,000 current players.
Chairman of the Bournemouth Walking Football Club Alan Sparkes said:
“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.”
Safety is at the foreground of walking football with the rules designed to enforce this.
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 feels the physical and mental benefits of walking football.
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.”
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