This article is all about how to be better as a Walking Footballer playing in midfield.

 

The first few sections are “non negotiable” if you are to play any outfield position in walking football.

Whatever standard, of every type of football, you play, it is vital you work on fitness, communication or basic technique.

 

FITNESS. 

Fitness is crucial in any  type of football, and this includes Walking Football, as a crucial part of the game is to be able to get into a position in which to influence the game on behalf of your team. 

This can be in attacking or defending. 

 

So, as a result I would suggest that in order to train for Walking Football, it is crucial that players practice walking, not only on a speed basis, but also distance and stamina. 

This will be no surprise to any player who has done preseason training for the "normal" game, where it is crucial that players are fit in order to be involved in the game. 

 

Another generic area for all positions is the one of COMMUNICATION. 

It is crucial, especially in Walking Football, that players are able to call for the ball and talk to teammates, to explain where the ball is going, in order that they are ready to receive it. 

This sounds obvious, but many pitches and games are too quiet and calling for the ball helps your team mates!

 

One other area of particular emphasis in Walking Football, which is contrary to that of the conventional game, is to PASS THE BALL TO a player, not for them to run onto, as they are unable to run at any level, and as we are taught as children in “mainstream football”!

A lot of players, new to the game, find this the most difficult thing to get to grips with, as they are used to playing the ball into the movement of the player, rather than to their feet.

 

TECHNIQUE is crucial, in Walking Football as well as in conventional football, as you have to know how to 

- pass a ball

- shoot

- receive a pass

- block a ball 

- make a non-contact tackle, which is a particular skill itself!

 

MIDFIELD SPECIFICS. 

In Walking Football midfield players should not only be technically strong, to be able to pass the ball accurately and in a timely fashion. They need far more specific attributes, as below.

​

They should also have good stamina levels albeit walking stamina, as they need to support the attacker, as well as getting back to cover the defensive area of the game. 

​

Being able to position yourself, (which is very much a trait of all positions in Walking Football, even more than in conventional football) is crucial as this stops you, like a defender, having to make lots of tackles in reactive situations. 

​

As players in the centre of the park (actually they should be all over the park) they are crucial to team communication (organising and instructing team mates) and they also need to be able to make a cohesive unit by linking the defenders and attackers in your team!

​

As midfield players are also expected to be secondary attackers, it is vital that they can shoot powerfully, along the ground, and accurately, when in the last third, the attacking third. This is vital as they are less likely to be marked as your “strikers”!

​

Midfield players very much have to be able to break down defenders, and a crucial part of this is to create 1-2’s, using wall pass techniques, in order to take opposition defenders out of the game, thus creating overlaps for your own team.

​

They also set the team’s tempo so if they are too slow on the ball the team is easy to defend against but too fast a tempo makes structured attacking (and ball control) more difficult and the likelihood of running more likely!

​

My ideal midfield player from football history for this particular version of the game would be Claude Makalele, however in today's game I would suggest that Fernandinho at Man City would be the best suited.

Alongside him would be a great creative, intelligent, midfielder like Messi (in today’s game) or Johann Cruyff (from history!)

If picking a midfield pair from the premier league today, I would choose Fernandinho and De Bruyne at Manchester City! 

Both can cover huge distances, both have a great first touch, both have great passing ranges, both look to go forward and both can intercept the ball in dangerous areas. 

But most importantly they complement each other and play together week in/week out!

​

So, in summary

As you will see there are many techniques and requirements in Walking Football, that are also needed in the “conventional game”, and although it is done at a slower pace, this often creates more difficulty for the Walking Footballer. 

​

Therefore the need to practice technique is even more vital in Walking Football than in conventional football, as, to be effective you must maximise the opportunity created by possessing the ball!

You need to balance risk and reward as not having the ball enough puts you at risk, but taking too long to make positive moves means the opposition defence can get back into position.

Your midfield players are the key to both “transition”, and tempo, in walking football!

​

Take on all of these tips you will find that you are a better midfield player in walking football, but you will also enjoy the game far more, as 

- your team is more likely to succeed

- you get better enjoyment

- you feel that you are still playing the GREAT GAME OF FOOTBALL

​

All this, despite the game being regarded by some as an inferior version, which it is most definitely is not!!