Walking Football

Walking Football is no stranger to international events and tournaments, both competitive and uncompetitive. One of which is The Almelo City Cup in the Netherlands.

Huib Rouwenhorst has been involved in the organisation of the tournament since it's creation and has witnessed it's growth over the last decade.

As the tournament has attracted international teams since it's first run, Rouwenhorst shared his thoughts from an organisational point of view, saying: “We said we had to make a tournament that when the players leave, they say that next year they want to be there again (return).

“For us it’s very important to have good organisation. The players are more important than the organisation itself. You make it for them and you have to do everything to pleasure them.”

He added: “In the first year we had maybe eight teams from England. After that, there were teams from Germany and Belgium.

“How it is now, we have teams from France, Italy, Poland, Belgium, England, Germany, Scotland etc.”

There is no doubt now that the Almelo City Cup has cemented it’s place in the Walking Football calendar, but Huib described how the difference in rules across Europe has caused issues when bringing people together to play the game.

On how the tournament has dealt with conflicting rules, he said: “In the first year, there were a lot of problems with teams saying they didn’t want our rules.

“But we’ve said that when we’re in England, we play with their rules. When they are in The Netherlands, you have to play Dutch rules.

“In the last few years, more and more English people have said they like the Dutch rules. The Dutch rules are more simple and that means less discussion against the referees.

“Recently I was asked if I want to have a meeting with people from different countries about making one set of rules for the world. I said no, at this time it’s not for me.”

Whilst Huib is seemingly not a fan of a globalised ruled set for Walking Football, he did propose his own preference, saying: “I think the rules from England for a competitive place (i.e. Walking Football World Cup).

“The Dutch rules are being played in Germany, Belgium and Poland (amongst others). I think the Dutch rules are used more for recreational games.”

Women's Walking Football

Whilst women's Football has seen a monumental growth in recent years, women's Walking Football has been on a similar journey.

Although the original players of Walking Football were mostly male, the female game has taken off too, citing the same physical and social benefits as the main reason for participation.

Alyss Jackson coaches the Spirettes Walking Football team, a women’s-only side linked with the Senior Spireites.

Speaking on the importance of Women’s Football and the reasons for its growth, Jackson said: “It’s future proofing, because it gives women of all-ages the opportunity to carry on playing even if you feel like your body can’t take 11-a-side anymore.

“Walking Football – by all means it’s not easy, you certainly know that you’re exercising and playing sport, but it’s that bit slower, that bit less physical.

“They (the players) are like a family.

“The comments you get from the women are about how much it means to them; how much they’ve made friendships and just brought people together through something that they never would have deemed possible.”

Generally, in the United Kingdom, most Women’s Walking football teams are for those aged 40+ and Huib Rouwenhorst compared the European scene with that of the UK.

He said: “(A lot of) Ladies teams were starting in 2019 or so, in England. My question was, why do you start at 40 years?

“They told me that in England, there is a long story with women’s teams not being as big as men’s teams. They were thinking that you could get more ladies by starting from 40 years.

“At our club, we also started in 2019 for those over 40 and at the moment we have 30 members, but most of them are over 50 and they have never played football before.

“In England, women are going to watch the England women’s team. But our (Dutch) ladies are going to the dancing, not to the football. That is our big difference.

“In Holland we have maybe six ladies teams and in England they have maybe 100 or more with both competitive and recreational. We (Holland) only have recreational.”

The Rules

One of the main areas where Walking Football differs from other sports, is the rules.

Played only at an amateur level, Walking Football has not received platform governance.

Consequently, the sport has, and is, being played under different rule sets, not just across the country but around the world.

In England, the governance is split with some people playing under the rules of the WFA (Walking Football Association) and some under the FA rulebook.

As a coach of Walking Football, this can become difficult, particularly when playing against sides who usually play under different rules.

On the governance situation in England, Alyss Jackson said: “In this country there are two sets of rules for Walking Football (WFA & FA).

“You play different clubs around the region and some go by one set of rules, some go by the other.

“They aren’t massively different but obviously when it comes to playing competitively it can be a bit challenging at times.”

John Croot also downplayed any potential rules issue, adding: “I don’t see it as an issue. As long as it’s getting the outcomes of people playing it, they’re enjoying it, they’re playing it in the right spirit.

“That’s more important than whether a goalkeeper can go out of a six-yard-area or not.

“I know that a lot of places on the continent don’t play with goalkeepers.”

The differing governance and rules around the world is understandable for a new and amateur sport, but the reasons for such a situation in just one country has more depth to it.

Croot discussed how the FA were not initially interested in Walking Football, prompting the establishment of the WFA.

He added: “When it started gathering pace, I contacted the FA and they didn’t want to know.

“Now it’s grown to what it is, they’ve brought a strategy out, they’ve claimed to be the national governing body of it. It’s interesting that when I contacted them in the early days I was turned away.

“I welcome their involvement; I just question as to why they can suddenly feel they’re the governing body of it when they didn’t want to know.”

On whether the sport can continue with two governing bodies, Croot said: “I think it can. Darts has got two governing bodies; I think boxing has as well.

“I tend to not take it too seriously to be honest!”

As a coach in the sport, Alyss Jackson added: “Personally, I think it’s frustrating; not wanting to support something from the outset because they initially couldn’t see what benefits it could bring.

“The fact it incorporates a massive age group means that it’s going to involve a lot of people. So, I’m glad it’s opened their eyes to what benefits it really does have for the population as a whole.”