How to be a better walking footballer

This article is all about how to be better as a Walking Footballer, to help you improve your game, improve your team and therefore enjoy it more!

 

The article goes into the specifics for certain roles (positions) in Walking Football, however, in over a few separate sections below, I will address one or two key points that are essential to specific outfield positions particularly. You may just want to read my tips on YOUR position!

 

However, this “session” starts by looking at the things that ALL players need, irrespective of position, to improve.

 

FITNESS

Fitness is crucial in any  type of football, and this includes Walking Football; particularly 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 while attacking or defending.

 

Therefore, as a result of this, 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 no running!), but also working on distance and stamina.

 

So, a simple walk on a regular basis will help and is easily accessible, in most areas of the uk!

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

 

The best “mainstream game” teams are always the fittest!!

Look at the great Barca team, not only were they technically brilliant, but they were the fittest too!

There is no reason to believe that this does not apply in Walking Football too!

 

Coaches should not expect people to be “Mo Farah” in terms of fitness levels, just fit enough to be able to speak during a game (see below) and to move into a position to receive a pass in the game, to able to help their team mates out!

 

Another crucial generic area for all positions is the one of:

COMMUNICATION

It is vital, especially in Walking Football, that players are able to not only call for the ball and also to talk to teammates, in order to explain where the ball is going, in order that they are ready to receive it.

 

This sounds obvious, but many football pitches, and games, are too quiet and calling for the ball helps your team mates, especially as controlling the ball is difficult for many players!

Simple shouts like “man on”, or “time”, help enormously and we’ve been doing that, as footballers of all levels, since primary school!

 

Communicating (instructing and shouting) are not “putting your team mates down” but actually helping them and the team!

 

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 move onto, as we usually teach in the mainstream 11 a side game, as Walking Footballers are unable to run at any level.

 

To be honest a lot of players, who are 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 receiving player, rather than straight 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!

 

 

I will move onto the specifics of each position In Walking Football (although these will be by defence, midfield and attack, rather than the specific positions within i.e. full back, centre back, midfield etc) over the next few sections!

 

1. GOALKEEPERS

The ideal goalkeeper is one who is a great shot stopper, and also commands their area and is able to block the angle of a shot. They HAVE to be a loud, clear and constructive communicator too!

Finally they should be a great distributor of the ball, so they are truly, not only the last line of defence, but also the first line of attack!

 

The main difference with goalkeepers to the “conventional game” is that, in Walking Football, they do not have to catch crosses – as the ball is not allowed above head height!

 

My ideal goalkeeper, from football history, for this version of the game would be Peter Schmeichel, however in today's game I would suggest that Alisson Becker (at Liverpool FC) would be an even better choice!

 

The reason that these keepers would be so good, is that they are aware of their area, the goal position, and are great “shot stoppers”, plus, as with any great goalkeeper, they both have a huge amount of bravery.

Shot stopping means using all parts of your body, not just your hands, to protect your goal

If the ball goes out of play, at least you get another chance to stop a goal; remember a keeper’s FIRST (and main) priority is to stop the ball going in the goal. 

Anything else is a bonus!

 

STOPPING GOALS is a priority

So, always know where your goal is and where you are in relation to this.

 

To help with this, mark out “reference” points (without the referee seeing!) in your area so that you are alway on a “virtual line” between the ball and the centre of the goal, then get your hands/feet/body on “that line” and force the striker to shoot wide of you!

 

And, remember, the closer you are to the ball (whilst staying in your area) then the less of a target the attacker has to score past you!

 

DISTRIBUTION

With Allison particularly, a big strength of his game is his distribution; and in Walking Football quick distribution and decision making is vital, otherwise opponents get set and intercept the ball!

 

Never forget, only a team with the ball can score and only a team with the ball cannot let goals in (except own goals - for the clever readers!)

 

Too many keepers try to be too clever and distribute “sneakily”, but losing the ball is the cardinal sin!

It’s better to keep it simple and pass/throw accurately, even if it means giving it to the closest player!

 

Outfield players can also help their keepers by making the effort to get into a position to receive a ball whilst

a) Unmarked

b) Unblocked

This means a bit more physical effort, but is worth it for the benefit of the team! 

But TELL THE KEEPER, where you are, don’t expect him to guess where you are!!

 

 

This next section focuses on another key skill - defending!

(Remember, you CANNOT ever lose a game if you do not let a goal in, and that is a fact!!)

 

2.DEFENDERS

The most effective Walking Football defenders are great at positioning, have great communication skills (as they are unable to do EVERYTHING themselves - no matter how good they think they are) 

Additionally, in walking football, they do not have the luxury of being able to recover any loss, by being quick in recovery, as they CANNOT RUN!

 

I believe that Paolo Maldini would have been a perfect Walking Football defender, as he read the game extremely well; as did Bobby Moore, for those “older” readers of this blog, the England captain in the 1966 World Cup.

 

The reason that I believe Maldini, and Moore, would make the perfect defenders was that they were not only great defenders, but were both great initiators of attacks, and could pass the ball really well.

 

To illustrate this, I would like to use a quote that Maldini once said, as it really shows what is ideal about the type of player that he would make in Walking Football.

His famous (and translated) quote was "if I ever make a great tackle, I have already made a mistake".

What he means by this is that his reading of the game was so good that, if he was forced to make emergency recovery tackle (no matter how good it was), it was “bad” because he had already got his self out of position and in the wrong place to do the right thing, defensively.

 

However the most crucial skill for any Walking Football defender, is to be able to organise the rest of his team and make sure that he stays as central as possible, where he can influence the game most, and be in a position to react to any danger - as this is the top priority of any defender, in Walking Football or Conventional Football!

 

In all honesty, the great Walking Football defender may not always be central, as they will be wherever they need to be, in order to minimise the danger of opposition attacks!

 

To keep it simple they should take a start position (like the keeper) somewhere on an imaginary line between the ball and the middle of the goal! 

Once there they can react to any scenario.

 

The role of the defender is that they must also be aware of their defending team mates, and also opponents, so that they can make sure that while they protect the goal, other players “routes to goal” are covered!

 

To do this great defenders need two key skills primarily

1.      communication skills

2.      great vision and awareness

(Note - neither of these are technical skills but rely on normal “human” senses)

 

To remind, again, you of the defender’s priority - it is to stop goals being scored.

Being the instigator of attack is very much a bonus, albeit a welcome one!

 

So, like a creative midfield player you have to have vision, technical ability to pass the ball accurately and keep possession as you are often the focal starting point of any attack.

However in Walking Football you have to pass without the benefit of the long, high pass (as the ball MUST stay below head height) so passing is more difficult in Walking Football!

 

Some practices to help you defend better!

Firstly, watch TV games to watch the best defenders in the game, especially “sweepers” (as their role is very similar to that of the main defender in Walking Football) - the best examples in the premier league today, and recently, include Rio Ferdinand, Virgil Van Dyke and, strangely, David Luiz (when not making mistakes!)

 

Secondly, use a ball and a wall and practice kicking and controlling a ball, practice kicking the ball hard and low, trying to hit targets - this will help yourself distribution skills

 

Thirdly, walk! 

Go out for walks and build up your stamina and also practice some “speed walking” too

 

 

3. MIDFIELD

In Walking Football midfield players should be strong on stamina, technically strong, and to be able to pass the ball accurately and in a timely fashion.

The first priority is to 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, possibly even more than conventional football, is crucial as this stops you, like a defender, having to make lots of tackles in reactive situations.

 

A crucial part of the role of midfield when in possession is to be able to see things early (visionary) and also pass low, fast and accurately to a target player.

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).

 

When attacking, a midfield player needs to have the creativity of a conventional number 10, whilst never forgetting their role as a “breaker up of opposition attacks”.

 

Midfield players very much have to be able to break down opposition defenders (without being able to use speed or dribbling skills, as these can be blocked or are illegal - running is Walking Footballs biggest “no no”!) 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.

 

My ideal midfield player from football history for this particular game would be Claude Makalele, however in today's game I would suggest that Kovacic, or Kante, at Chelsea would be a good choice, as would Fernandinho at Man City.

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

The perfect player would be a combination of both the above (this player has, arguably, yet to exist!!)

 

Some practices to help you defend better!

Firstly, as always, watch TV games to watch the best midfield players in the game - the best examples in the football today, and in the past, would include Duncan Edwards, Frank Beckenbauer and Paul Scholes (who, contrary to rumour, could actually tackle!)

 

Second, use a ball and a wall and practice kicking and controlling a ball; this applies to EVERY outfield role, practice kicking the ball hard and low, trying to hit targets - this will help yourself distribution AND shooting skills

 

Third, walk! 

Go out for walks and build up your stamina, practice especially walking on hills and areas that put pressure on the leg muscles

 

 

4. ATTACKERS

The attacker in Walking Football not only has to have the conventional attributes of any attacker (i.e. being able to hit the target accurately and repetitively).

But, they also have to be very much a striker who can hold the ball up, bringing other players into play, changing the direction of the attack often.

 

The opportunity for a “Jamie Vardy type” striker, who wants the ball over the top, in order to run onto, does not really exist in the game of Walking Football, as it’s very difficult to get the ball behind the opposition defence without passing the ball over head height!

 

However it is crucial that the striker has the awareness, in order to find space behind defenders, in order to get his shots in on a regular basis.

 

It must be remembered that hitting the target is the prime aim of any striker as, simply put, if you are going to score the ball has to hit the target, hitting it at breakneck pace, but off target, will never result in a goal, yet a “dribbling” effort on target still has a chance of resulting in a goal!

 

As in the conventional game, shooting is a crucial part of the game, however the key difference in Walking Football to the conventional game is the lack of a need to be a great header of the ball (for obvious reasons!), Walking Footballers do not need to be great headers of the ball

 

My ideal striker from football history for this particular game would be Pele, as he could play going “both ways”, however in today's game I would suggest that the perfect choice would be Harry Kane.

Kane can hold a ball up, using his strength, but also shoots powerfully, early and accurately too)

 

Some practices to help you defend better!

 

As always, watch TV games to watch the best attacking players in the game - the best examples in the football today, and in the past, would include the two players mentioned above.

 

Use a ball and a wall and practice kicking and controlling a ball; this applies to EVERY outfield role

 

Walk! Go out for walks and build up your stamina, and, as you need to “get away” from markers, practice speed walking too

 

Shooting - practice kicking the ball hard and low, trying to hit targets - this will help yourself distribution AND shooting skills

 

Create space - practice fast movements away from defenders by playing “tag type games” (walking, not running!)

 

So, in summary:

To be a better walking footballer straight away, just do the following:

 

·        call for the ball when you’re in a good position, 

·        don’t assume the passer knows where you are!

·        get as fit as you can (not “triathlon fit”, just fit enough to move a few feet to receive a pass!!)

·        practice controlling and kicking a ball

·        pass it TO the player calling for the ball, not ahead of them!

·        make “pictures” (of where everyone is on the pitch) so you can identify the best route to goal or defend any threat to your goal

·        communicate with your team to help them out, be a “leader”!

 

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 probably even more vital in Walking Football than in “conventional” football. 

So have a kick about (with kids, grandkids, each other etc!) whenever you can!

 

Contrary to what many people may believe, namely that Walking Football is "easy", it isn’t, but effective players “keep it simple”!!

 

But, it’s no more simple than the game we grew up playing and loving.

But, it’s still lots of fun!!

 

Take on these tips and you will find that you are a better walking footballer, 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