Many people deride the game of walking football but I truly believe it is more than “an old man’s game” and many of the good habits needed in this game are portable to the “normal” game that most of us know (11 a side or less)

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Some key transferable skills are

* The importance of communication

* Using movement and awareness to “get past” an opponent (rather than just sheer speed or dribbling skills!

By this I mean the use of the wall pass; using movement off the ball and creating overloads to get past a single opponent, without running (although it can also be used in an 11 a side, with running!)

* Positioning, defensively mainly but also when attacking - get players behind the ball when out of possession and communicate constantly, be prepared to concede possession in “non vulnerable” areas of the pitch

* Possession of the ball increases the chance of scoring more and conceding less!

So make very quick risk/reward assessments when making a pass - only do the “risky” pass when it’s worth it!!
 

My observations of a group that I currently play/work with is that, good as they are, they could be even better, just by

- Encouraging greater communication in team games (it’s no coincidence that the best “talking teams” win most of the games that I have observed (Not complicated talking, just “bog standard things” like “time”, “man on”, “turn”, “shoot” etc)

- Emphasising the need to keep the ball unless a SAFE pass is actually available

- Only pass to someone who calls for it (thus ensuring players call for the ball, which, in turn, helps people with the ball at their feet)

- And, IF someone does call for the ball, players MUST trust them and pass it to them; especially as they (the receiving player) sees the “whole picture” rather than just where the ball is!

- Make short simple passes rather than hopeful long passes - you can only score with the ball and if you’ve got the ball your opponents can’t score!

Simple, but factual!

- When out of possession, get as many players behind the ball as possible!

But always keep one player “up”, to prepare for counter attack (and stop the opposition ALL coming forward!)

- Don’t gamble when defending (diving in), just stay on an “imaginary line” between the ball and the goal, and when defending make DELAY your watchword.

 

Walking football (like the 11 a side traditional game) is a very simple game, when it is done well.

So keep it simple and don’t overcomplicate it!
 

But I think you can, even in your latter years, achieve “football utopia”, and by that I mean:

* good competitive players

* great people

This all applies to youngsters starting out too, if taught properly!
 

My years in the game have taught me that you should always want to win, go out and try to win, but to accept defeat gracefully and in the “right” way!
 

But the principles of football at every age I have encountered does not change - it’s about

- SCORING WHEN YOU HAVE POSSESSION

- STOPPING YOUR OPPONENTS WHEN YOU HAVEN’T GOT THE BALL, AND

- TRYING TO WIN THE BALL BACK TO START THIS PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN!!
 

(C) Tim 2020