1 Walking Football Principles The game is aimed at men and women over 50. Players who wish to participate do not need any football skills. The game will embrace the FA 4-corner model and will include: Technical Corner: targeted at improving agility by unopposed ball practice, developing game skills and craft. Physical Corner: targeted at improving fitness by movement skills such as balance, coordination, receiving the ball, dribbling, turning, and kicking of the ball. Psychological Corner: targeted at improving wellbeing by interaction with other players, experimenting and learning with others. Social Corner: targeted at enjoying the game and having fun by allinclusive philosophy to enjoy the teamwork during and after the game, developing comradeship and a sense of belonging. Festival and League The main aim of the Cheshire Walking Football league is to increase attendance in the over 50 s by establishing a yearly walking football festival to showcase the game, and to develop walking football leagues within Cheshire. The key objectives will be to increase numbers playing the game by establishing local clubs to play in the tournament and leagues, from which a higher percentage of players in Cheshire over the age of 50 will have the opportunity to increase their health and wellbeing. The objectives for these players will be to improve/maintain cardio vascular conditioning, improve/maintain musculo-skeletal conditioning, improve control and co-ordination, reduce body fat, improve social interaction, improve self-concept and improve the quality of life by reducing lifestyle diseases; and improve the managing of medical conditions and to have fun. Health Screening It is not the responsibility of Cheshire Walking Football League to carry out health checks on players entering tournaments or leagues. It should be presumed that clubs will have their own screening, as amongst the age group of the players some will generally have some sort of medical condition, therefore it is recommended that each team have a qualified first aider.
2 Cheshire Walking Football will provide first aid facilities for matches played and this could be in the form of St John s Ambulance. Warm up To reduce the risk of injury it is advised that players carry out the following: Warm up: walking, short strides to slow jog, side stepping, walking high knees, walking heel flicks, walking heel kicks Stretching: hamstring, calf, groin, hip flexor, back, core
3 Festival/League Rules The Pitch Will be a rectangular Astro turf outdoor pitch. The length of the touchline is greater than the length of the goal line. Optional indoor pitches can be used at local facilities. The recommended pitch size will be 40 x 30 yards and the recommended goal post size will be 6 x 12 feet. There will be a D shaped penalty marked. The Ball A size 5 football is to be used and inflated to the manufacturing guidelines. The ball must be in the shape of a sphere, made of leather or other suitable material. The Number of Players A maximum number 10 minimum number 5 players per team, 6 players on the field to play the game, this to include a goalkeeper. A team of 5 may play or withdraw and forfeit the match. Substitutes A maximum of 4 repeated substitutes per team are allowed. This means substitutes can be repeated during the match to cater for fatigue and to ensure maximum inclusion for all players. The referee shall be informed of the names of all players and substitutes no later than 15 minutes before the start of the game, by completed registration form. Walking Walking is defined as having one foot on the ground at all times, any player that sprints, runs or jogs while the match is in progress will be penalised with or without the ball, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team. Indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team where the offence takes place or at where the player is carrying the ball. Start of Play The choice of ends is decided by the toss of a coin. The team winning the toss decides which goal it wishes to attack in the first half of the match. The other team takes the kick-off to start the match. The Duration of the Match The duration of tournaments will be 15 minutes with no breaks. 2 to 5 minute breaks will take place between each match.
4 Contact Walking football is aimed at improving agility and wellbeing, therefore only minimum physical contact will be allowed. If contact such as sliding tackles, pushing, kicking is made between two or more players, then the offending player will be penalised and an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team. Penalty If the defender enters the penalty area, a penalty will be awarded and defenders must be 2 meters away from the ball prior to the penalty being taken. The penalty will be taken by performing two steps only. Indirect free kicks will be given: If the ball is higher than 2 meters If a player fouls another player such as kicks, sliding tackles on or off the ball or pushes another player If a player handles the ball If the goalkeeper handles the ball outside the D an indirect free kick 2 meters outside the D to be given. If the Goalkeeper leaves the penalty area If a player is disruptive to other players, at referees discretion Does not play in the spirit of the game, at referees discretion Players Equipment Safety A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player, including any kind of jewelry. Jewelry, which is potentially dangerous, but cannot easily be removed, should be taped. Festival players are advised to wear shin pads and footwear that s appropriate for the pitch being played on. Dropped Ball and offside There will be no dropped ball or offside. Powers and Duties of The Referee The referee enforces the Laws of the Game and will be FA affiliated. Ball in Play When the ball is in play the height of the ball can be no more than 2 meters. Only the goalkeeper can be allowed in the penalty area and can handle the ball. A defending player can pass back to the goalkeeper once, the goalkeeper can pass to the same player once, the same
5 player receiving from the goalkeeper must then pass to another defender. The game resumes by the opposing team rolling the ball from the touch line Corners are kick ins below 2 meters Heading the ball is allowed Ball Out of Play The ball is out of play: When it wholly crosses the goal line or touch line, whether on the ground or in the air. When play is stopped by the referee Goal Scored A goal is scored: When the whole of the ball crosses over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar unless it has been thrown, carried or intentionally propelled by the hand or arm of a player of the attacking side. A goal is not scored if the shot is taken within the defending penalty area. Restart is an indirect free kick by the Goalkeeper The goal scored is registered by resuming the game from the centre spot Festival scoring 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw. Winning Team The team scoring the greater number of goals during a match is the winner. If both teams score an equal number of goals or If no goals are scored then the match is drawn. Team Representative Each team will nominate a point of contact to deal with all matters. Decisions of the Referee The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee may take action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may, at his discretion, expel them from the playing area and its immediate surroundings. The referee will ensure that: no unauthorized person(s) enters the pitch and stops the match. if a player is injured the player is removed from the pitch. any player bleeding from a wound leaves the playing area. any ball used meets the requirements.
6 The referee will make use of timed suspensions to exclude temporarily players guilty of infringements of the laws. In the absence of a second official, the referee should make excluded players aware of the end of their period of suspension. Issuing of Cautions and Timed Suspensions (Sin Bin) Yellow cards and associated cautions are not employed. Referees should instead issue a blue card for caution offences. The issuing of blue card indicates that the recipient will serve an immediate timed suspension (sin bin). The options for disciplining offenders are therefore as follows: Player shown a blue card and temporarily suspended from play Player issued with a discretionary second blue card and temporarily excluded from play Player issued with a red card and permanently excluded from play A blue card offence should always be accompanied by a temporary suspension from play. The period of timed suspension in walking football shall be two minutes. The release of players from a temporary suspension should be at the direction of the referee Recording of blue cards In walking football caution offences that result in a blue card and timed suspension from the match shall not be recorded and reported by the match official. Blue card offences should not be reported back to the FA and there will be no disciplinary fine incurred by the player. Removal of player registration The Management Committee shall have power to make application to refuse or cancel the registration of any player charged and found guilty of undesirable conduct subject to the right of appeal to the relevant County Football Association. Undesirable conduct shall mean an incident of repeated proven misconduct, which may deter a participant from being involved in this Competition. Application should be made to the parent County of the Club the player is registered or intending to be registered with which will cost 35. Discipline Procedure The league is sanctioned by Cheshire FA and operates under The FA s disciplinary procedures for small sided football. This provides protection and peace of mind to teams playing in our leagues.
7 Offenses which will not be tolerated and will result in removal from a league, and will result in further disciplinary sanctions by Cheshire FA include (but are not limited to): - Assault on any Referee or facility or County FA employee. - Any form of racial abuse or discrimination. - Threatening physical harm to a referee. - Violent conduct towards another player. - Foul and abusive language or gestures towards a referee. - Spitting at or unseemly behaviour towards a staff member, referee or player. - Serious foul play towards another player. - Foul and abusive or threatening language directed at another player. Match based suspensions will be in accordance with the disciplinary schedule as set out below: Being dismissed from the field of play for denying a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by physical means or handling the ball. Using offensive or insulting or abusive language/gestures Violent conduct, serious foul play, or attempting to kick / strike at an opponent or any other person More than 10 blue cards in a season Spitting, Serious Violent Behaviour causing injury, Discrimination over ethnic origin, colour, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation & disability 1 fixture day suspension 2 fixture day suspension 3 fixture day suspension Charge for Misconduct processed by Cheshire FA Charge for Misconduct processed by Cheshire FA The above rules and regulations have been developed by Cheshire Walking Football Steering Group on 4 September 2015 Revised 5 October 2015