New Walking Football program to kick goals for seniors’ health

A new sport has emerged for the over-50s.

Walking Football is the latest craze sweeping the world – now it’s coming to Maroondah!

In partnership with U3A Croydon and the Melbourne City Football Club, Council is launching Maroondah’s first-ever Walking Football program for male and female participants aged 50 years and over.

Walking Football is a modified version of soccer that involves no running or tackling.

Councillor Paul Macdonald encouraged anyone interested to come along to a free ‘Come and Try Day’ at Maroondah Nets in Heathmont on Thursday 30 May 2019.

“Come anytime between 9.30am to 2.30pm and see Walking Football in action and take the opportunity to try it out for yourself,” Cr Macdonald said.

Walking Football weekly sessions will also run every Thursday from 10am to 12noon at Croydon’s John Frost Stadium in Cheong Park, starting Thursday 6 June 2019.

The program is being offered as part of Council’s Active and Healthy Ageing Initiative, which seeks to promote positive healthy ageing for older people living in Maroondah.

“By 2020, over 40 per cent of Maroondah’s population will be aged over 45. This significant demographic shift represents both its challenges and opportunities,” Cr Macdonald said.

“Providing healthy sporting opportunities like Walking Football enables senior members of our community the chance stay fit while having fun.

“For some, it will be an opportunity to re-engage in a sport they had played when they were younger, while, for others, it will be an introduction to this exciting sport.

“Walking Football is just like soccer, but without the running. It offers a great low-impact, team-based exercise, providing physical and mental health benefits and social connectedness for older residents,” he said.

Walking Football is a huge overseas phenomenon, with around 800 clubs in England alone, and has been successfully piloted in a number of Australian states over the past 12 months.

Find out more about weekly sessions or to join up or call 1300 88 22 33 for further information.

Participants must be over the age of 50.