Gloucestershire FA's Walking Football Week
Gloucestershire Football Association’s
Walking Football Week
10th December 2018 – 14th December 2018
Here at the Gloucestershire FA, we are launching a week in our calendar dedicated to raising the profile of Walking Football. The aim is to highlight opportunities to all who may wish to get involved in this version of the game throughout Gloucestershire and Bristol.
Walking football is an adapted version of the beautiful game aimed predominantly at males and females in their more vintage years, and can provide an array of benefits, such as an improvement in general health, balance, enhancing psychological wellbeing and reducing stress levels. This format of the game is incredibly accessible and is also used across disability football, for injury rehabilitation and for those of any age who don’t feel suited to the full pace game.
In addition, for those that do not wish to actively play the game can engage in other aspects such as team manager, administrative roles or officiating!
Currently over 600 players have participated at 19 weekly sessions and within the 17 teams in the Walking Football League in Gloucestershire. We want these numbers to keep on rising, so that more and more people can experience the benefits of walking football.
Throughout the week we will be give emphasis to different areas and versions of the game and visit many sessions throughout the County.
We will aim to inform people of:
- Who they should speak to get involved in the sport
- Who it is suitable for
- Where the sessions are
- Why they should take part
- When each session takes place
- How they can get involved
- How more people can set up new sessions
If you want to hear more about this, we will be live on these radio stations on these days:
5th December at 5:45pm - BBC Radio Bristol with Geoff Twentyman on The Sports Store
10th December at 3:00pm - BBC Radio Glos with Nicky Price
A detailed itinerary of the week can be found below!
Monday 10/12/18 - Launch Session at Stroud Turn up and play day!
Stratford Park Leisure Centre, 10:00-11:00
An opportunity for people in the area to come and try one of our weekly sessions for free!
Tuesday 11/12/18 – Bristol Walking Football
Horfield Leisure Centre, 10:30--11:30
Our first affiliated local club. Watch former Bristol Rovers player and current broadcaster Geoff Twentyman play alongside Bristol’s finest walking footballers, whilst Made In Bristol TV film the action!
Wednesday 12/12/18 – Disability Walking Football
Oxstalls Sports Park, Indoor Hall, 10:30-11:30
Witness how walking football is being utilised to engage those in care homes in activity that gets them out from their normal surroundings and active!
Thursday 13/12/18 – Refereeing Walking Football
Cirencester Arena, 11:00-14:00
The latest round of the 60+ division of the Gloucestershire FA walking Football League takes place with live streaming of matches and interviews with our best referees. We will also be releasing information regarding the NEW FA Walking Football Referees course and how people can become qualified in the sport.
Friday 14/12/18 – Lunch time, turn up and play session including WFA England walking Footballers. Following this there will be an opportunity to socialise with free teas, coffees and food to help refuel after a hard week of walking!
Gloucestershire FA, 12:30-15:00
Have a go at Walking Football for FREE from 12:30-13:30 with the chance to play with some of the best walking football talent in the country.
It would be great to see as many new faces at these sessions as possible. If you would like to learn more about what we are doing at the GFA regarding walking football then please get in touch.
Contact Jack Stanbury via Support@GloucestershireFA.com or 01454 615888
Alternatively head to our dedicated page on our website, here - Walking Football Week
Competition
If you attend your 1st walking football session this week and get in touch to let us know how it went, you will be entered into a local prize draw to win some Nike Kit for you to wear at any more sessions you attend!
We want to know:
- What sessison you went to?
- What you enjoyed?
- What would have made it better (If anything)?
- Why you wanted to take part in Walking Football?
To give us your feedback email – Support@GloucestershireFA.com
Find your nearest session on our website, here! www.gloucestershirefa.com/players/ways-to-play/walking-football/recreational-walking-football