Walking Football

All over-55s will be welcome at the next session at Penydarren Park which will be next Tuesday, 22nd December, at 10am.

The usual Thursday morning sessions will not be taking place on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve.

As for the result of today's game - I blame the ball boys.

Next weeks Walking Football is on Tuesday at usual time of 10:00am due to Womens International Friendly being played at PP on Thursday.

Walking Football sessions for the over-55s continue at Penydarren Park every Thursday - we've been managing 10 or 11-a-side lately. The normal time is 10am - but this week (on 26th May) please note that it will be at 1.30pm for a 2pm kick-off.

This is due to coverage by BBC Radio Wales. No live commentary though, but to be recorded for a feature on Wynne Evans's show on Friday morning. A programme without compare, I'm sure.

It is for his HOW TOO slot where he learns a new skill every week, the problem is who do we have that is capable of teaching him???? Ha Ha.

Out of curio - can ladies participate in the Walking Football?

We have played some mixed teams, although they were a bit rough for us!

Well, no sign of Radio Wales after all. Not sure why.

Apparently a paint drying competition in Pontypridd proved more exciting!

Solihull Martyr wrote:Apparently a paint drying competition in Pontypridd proved more exciting!

Actually it was an excellent game today with the side I was on winning 6-4. 20 old farts turned up and some good football was played albeit at a Manchester United pace - i.e. slow! I would have thought you are eligible to play, so next time you're down in the Pearl on a Thursday please turn up. We'll slow up for you in case brisk walking is too fast!

Solihull Martyr wrote:Apparently a paint drying competition in Pontypridd proved more exciting!

An obvious comment from a W*** Bank observer.

Just been told by Elvis that there is a tournament next week? so is the walking football off? any details please?

Twyn Jasper wrote:Just been told by Elvis that there is a tournament next week? so is the walking football off? any details please?

As far as I'm aware it'll be business as usual next week.

Thanks OS

Please note the Walking Football session next week will be on Friday (19th August) at 10am instead of on Thursday.

Ta Imp Why the change?

If I was told the reason I can't remember it!

The artificial pitches in Rhydycar would be available on the Thursday Mornings if required rather than be messed about with the regular Thursday booking at the Park.

Merthyr Imp wrote:Please note the Walking Football session next week will be on Friday (19th August) at 10am instead of on Thursday.

*****Pitch Maintenance******

For the benefit of anyone who wasn't at today's session, for the National Walking Football Tournament organised by Game on Wales at Penydarren Park next Monday players were asked to be there for 1030am with an 11am start.

No doubt Elliott Evans will be able to provide any further information if required.

It does get a mention on the Game on Wales website, but seems not to have been updated there since June:

http://www.gameonwales.org/ws-blog/post/1982-national-walking-football-tournament-comes-to-wales

There are also links there to the proper Walking Football rules, many of which we don't usually bother with on Thursday mornings!

Competition Play

COMPETITION GAMES CONCISE RULES
1. 6-A-SIDE
2. 20 MINUTES EACH WAY DURATION (Reduce to 15 mins if playing consecutive games, 10 minutes if 3 or more games, 15 minute straight if playing 5 games)
3. SIZE 4 FOOTBALL / FUTSAL INDOOR, REGULAR SIZE 5 BALL OUTSIDE 3/4G PITCHES
4. NO RUNNING, JOGGING - ON OR OFF THE BALL BY ANY PLAYER
5. LOW IMPACT TACKLING ONLY. NO HEEL, ANKLE RAPPING FROM BEHIND OR SIDE. NO SLIDE-INS
6. NO OFF-SIDES
7. CORNERS, KICK-INS PART OF PLAY IF PITCH POSSESSES TOUCHLINES/GOAL LINES & NO WALLS/BARRIERS
8. REBOUNDS OFF WALLS, BARRIERS PERMITTED IF INDOORS/NO TOUCHLINES/GOAL LINES
9. NO ENTRY INTO PENALTY AREA (except by momentum and no advantage gained) Should a defender encroach into the penalty area deliberately or denies a clear goal scoring opportunity - a penalty is awarded to the attacking team.
10. NO GOALKEEPER EGRESS FROM PENALTY AREA (except by momentum, or if sliding forward whilst making a save & carried self out - ball and upper body still inside area) Should the goalkeeper leave the area to deny a clear goal scoring opportunity or make a deliberate tackle outside of the penalty area, a penalty is awarded to the attacking team
11. ALL FREE KICKS ARE INDIRECT
12. 2MTR EXCLUSION DISTANCE ON OPPONENT PLAYER FROM BALL FROM FREE KICKS, KICK-INS
13. OFFENSIVE FREE KICKS NEAR PENALTY AREA LINE MOVE BALL BACK 2MTRS (allows defenders to position themselves between ball & goal)
14. BALL HEAD HEIGHT RESTRICTION ON ALL KICKS, GOALKEEPER THROWS, DEFLECTIONS
15. BALL DEFLECTED OR SAVED BY THE KEEPER ABOVE HEAD HEIGHT IS GOALKEEPER’S POSSESSION
16. GOALKEEPER MAY RECEIVE BACK PASSES & MAY USE EITHER FEET OR PICK UP & THROW TO PUT BALL BACK IN PLAY
17. GOALKEEPER MAY ONLY THROW USING AN UNDER ARM ACTION
18. GOALKEEPER MUST WEAR A SHIRT OR BIB THAT DISTINGUISHES FROM OTHERS
19. NO HOLDING ONTO WALLS/BARRIER TO BLOCK OR SHIELD BALL
20. 3 FLEXI SUBS – ANY TIME, ANY PLAYER. Substitutions can be made when there is a break in play, the ball is dead or the goalkeeper has possession of the ball
21. NO GOAL DIRECT FROM KICK-OFFS, KICK-INS, DROP BALLS; GOALKEEPERS KICK, THROW, CLEARANCE
22. GOALS CAN BE SCORED FROM ANY OUTFIELD POSITION
23. IF BALL OUT OF PLAY ACROSS BARRIER – KICK-IN TO TEAM NOT TOUCHING BALL LAST BEFORE IT CROSSED BARRIER, 2MTRS IN FROM BARRIER
24. ‘SIN BIN’ IN EFFECT. REFEREE OPERATES BLUE (Sin Bin - 2 mins), YELLOW & RED CARD PROCEDURES
25. PLAYER SENT OFF TAKES NO FURTHER PART IN MATCH. TEAM SUBSTITUTE A SENT OFF PLAYER AFTER 5 MINUTES OR FIRST CONCEDED GOAL – WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST

Some of that's slightly different to the rules linked to from the Game on Wales website (as below).

In our usual Thursday morning games we certainly don't bother about being off-side, but I'm not sure about some of the other rules!

Walking Football: Guidelines

Walking Football is recognised by the Football Association of Wales as an inclusive small sided format of the game. Walking Football is recognised as an opportunity to maximise participation for all groups and to encourage sustained participation for players of all abilities.

The below guidelines are set out to enable a consistent development of Walking Football across Wales and to enable competition to be organised where desired. If a competition is being organised the organiser should define clear rules (within the scope of these guidelines) to the participants prior to the start of the competition.

The Football Association of Wales recognises the recreational nature of Walking Football and encourages flexibility to provide an appropriate and enjoyable experience for all players.

1. Team Size

1.1 Walking Football is recognised as a small sided format of the game.
1.2 A team size of 5 or 6 a-side is recommended.
1.3 The team size can be altered based on the number of participants relative to the size of the playing area.

2. Ball Size

2.1 A size 4 or 5 football is recommended.
2.2 The ball shall be appropriate to the age group and ability level of the players.
2.3 A futsal ball can be utilised on a suitable playing surface (i.e. indoor hard court).

3. Pitch Dimensions

3.1 Walking Football may be played on pitches with or without barriers, indoors or outdoors. Any flat, consistent, free of trip hazard playing surface may be used. Ensure players have foot wear suitable to playing surface.
3.2 The playing area must be rectangular.
3.3 The length of the touchline must be greater than the length of the goal line.
3.4 The size of the pitch should be suitable to the number of players participating.

For competition purposes:
3.5 The playing area should be clearly marked with lines.
3.6 The playing area is divided into two halves by the halfway line.
3.7 A centre mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line.
3.8 A semi-circle penalty area is defined at each end of the pitch - the extremities of these semi-circles should reach the goal line, barrier or wall regardless of whether or not the goal posts encroach onto the playing area.
3.9 A penalty mark should be drawn a defined distance from the midpoint between the goal posts and equidistant from them.
3.10 Where no penalty mark exists penalty kicks can be taken from the edge of the penalty area - midpoint between the goal posts and equidistant from them.

4. Goals

4.1 A goal should be placed at either end of the playing area at the midpoint of each goal line.
4.2 The goal size should be relative to the size of the pitch, number and ability of players - both goals must be the same size.
4.3 It is recommended that a 12ft x 6ft Mini Goal or a 3m x 2m Futsal Goal be utilised.
4.4 The goals may be portable but they must be anchored securely to the ground as per manufacturer guidelines and Health and Safety requirements.

5. Substitutes

5.1 Any number of substitutes may be used at any time (Rolling substitutes).
5.2 Players may re-enter the game (repeat substitutions).
5.3 Substitutions should take place at a suitable break in play.

6. Kick Off

6.1 Is taken in the centre of the playing area to start the game and after a goal has been scored. 6.2 The opposition must be 3 yards away from where the ball is placed.
6.3 In recreational play - the game can be restarted from the goalkeeper after a goal has been scored.

7. Ball In and Out of Play and the Method of Scoring

7.1 Laws 9 (Ball in and out of play) and 10 (The method of scoring) apply to Walking Football.

8. Off-Side

8.1 There is no off-side (Law 11) in Walking Football.

9. Kick In

9.1 Although Law 15 (The Throw In) applies this should be taken as ‘kick in’ by placing the ball on the touchline.
9.2 Kick ins are only applicable where it is deemed practical and necessary. Where pitches are indoors/arenas/sports halls the ball may be played off the touch line wall.
9.3 The ball is dead if it is stationary outside the touchlines (in netting, baggage) and becomes the Goalkeeper’s possession of the team who were NOT last to touch the ball.

10. Corner Kicks

10.1 Law 17 (The Corner Kick) applies to corner kicks except the opposition must be at least three yards away.
10.2 Corners kicks are only applicable where it is deemed practical and necessary. Where pitches are indoors/arenas/sports halls the ball may be played off the goal line back wall and no corner kick is necessary.
10.3 The ball is dead if it is stationary behind the goal line (in netting, baggage) and becomes the Goalkeeper’s possession.

11. Free Kicks

11.1 Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct) applies to free kicks although they are all indirect and the opposition must be at least three yards away.
11.2 No sliding tackles are allowed at any time.

12. Height Restriction

12.1 No height restrictions apply for the ball when in play.
12.2 A height restriction rule can be introduced if appropriate and agreed prior to play.

13. Goalkeepers

13.1 Can handle the ball in their goal area and there are no restrictions on the number of steps they may take holding the ball.
13.2 The Goalkeeper cannot leave the goal area - Should they do so the opposing team receives a direct free kick from the penalty mark.
13.3 When handling the ball in the goal area can either throw the ball under arm or kick the ball from the floor - Should a goalkeeper throw the ball with an over arm action a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the penalty mark.
13.4 Players can pass the ball back to their own goalkeeper, for the goalkeeper to handle the ball. 13.5 A Goalkeeper cannot score direct from the penalty area unless the ball has struck or deflected off another player on the pitch.

14. Goal-Kicks

14.1 Goal kicks are taken when the ball crosses the goal line after last being touched by the attacking team.
14.2 Goalkeepers may take the goal-kick from the floor from any position within the penalty area or restart play with an underarm throw.
14.3 Goal kicks are only applicable where it is deemed practical and necessary. Where pitches are indoors/arenas/sports halls the ball may be played off the goal line back wall and no goal kick is necessary.
14.4 The ball is dead if it is stationary behind the goal line (in netting, baggage) and becomes the Goalkeeper’s possession.

15. Players in the Penalty Area

15.1. No outfield players are allowed in the penalty area during open play.
15.2 Where a defending player deliberately enters the penalty area a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the penalty mark.
15.3 Where an attacking player deliberately enters the penalty area the ball is awarded the opposing goalkeeper to restart play in the usual manner.

16. Walking

16.1 All players must not run or jog at any time during the game.
16.2 In the act of moving a player must have one foot on the ground at all times.
16.3 If a player is penalised for jogging or running the opposition is awarded a free kick (indirect) from the position the offence started.

17. Match Duration

17.2 The match duration can be set as required it is recommended the minimum match duration is 10 minutes (two halves of 5 minutes).
17.1 The maximum match duration should be 60 minutes (two halves of 30 minutes).
17.2 The match duration should be appropriate for the ability level of players participating.
17.3 In competition - at the completion of the usual match duration – the competition organiser should define the method of deciding a winner; either extra time or penalty kicks or a combination of both should be utilised. This procedure should be made clear to participants prior to the start of the competition.

18. Players of Mini Football Age

18.1 Any Walking Football competitions organised incorporating players of Mini Football age (Academic Years 1 – 6) must be organised in a format appropriate to the FA Wales Mini Football Regulations. Guidance should be sought from the relevant Area Association.

Yes you are right Mal, however Elliot said to use the rules from www.walkingfootballunited.co.uk and we have the same there as what you have added plus an easy breakdown bit at the end as I have posted, I do not know if there is much difference when we struggle to breathe enough to quote the rules?

I just know I shall never be able to remember all that lot!

Weather supposed to be bad for the day, so will pop down the Leisure Centre for the gym and a swim, then call up to the plastic clod and hope the tournament goes ahead.

Great effort by all players in both the A & B Teams involved today representing Merthyr Walking Football Team.

Onwards & upwards for Merthyr A who won the tournament & will represent Wales in the UK Finals in Hartlepool.