FA Walking Football Event

FA Walking Football Event: Driving Growth and Building a Future

The FA hosted an insightful event last week to launch its gameplan for the development of walking football. The session was well-organised and focused on creating a sustainable future for the sport. Below is a summary of the key points and discussions from the event.

The FA's Gameplan for Walking Football

The FA introduced a structured six-step plan designed to elevate walking football across England. The focus is on increasing opportunities, ensuring consistency, and empowering the community to play a greater role in shaping the game. The six key areas include:

  1. Expanding Participation: Creating more opportunities for players through competitive matches and casual sessions.
  2. Developing Competitions: Growing the FA Cup for walking football and equipping counties to form accredited leagues.
  3. Improving Rule Consistency: Recruiting and training more referees while aligning interpretations of the Laws of the Game.
  4. Fostering Connections: Strengthening collaboration among providers across England.
  5. Building Commercial Partnerships: Developing relationships to support and promote walking football.
  6. Amplifying Community Voices: Enabling players, clubs, and other stakeholders to influence the development of the sport.

The plan also outlined two levels of focus:

  • Competitive Football: Expanding structured competitions, such as the FA Cup, and providing counties with the resources needed to establish and grow leagues.
  • Sessional Football: Encouraging social "turn up and play" sessions, with a focus on inclusivity and partnerships with organisations like health trusts and age-related charities.

The FA emphasised that while they will provide regulation, processes, and tools, delivery will ultimately depend on County FAs and individual clubs.

Commitments and Initiatives

As part of their gameplan, the FA announced several initiatives:

  • An annual commitment plan to track progress and provide updates.
  • A Walking Football Week in spring to raise awareness and encourage participation.
  • Increased exposure for walking football through other formats and channels.
  • Creation of a distinct identity for walking football.
  • A dedicated hub of resources via the digital platform Team Walk.

There was also discussion about introducing regional competitions, which could help bridge the gap between grassroots and national-level play.

Team Walk: A Digital Engagement Platform

The FA introduced Team Walk, a new online platform designed to support walking football. This platform will provide resources, engagement tools, and a forum for players and clubs to connect and discuss the game. It represents an important step toward fostering collaboration and giving the walking football community a stronger voice.

Governance and Collaboration

The FA has formed a Walking Football Advisory Group, which will inform their strategy and decision-making. This group, comprising key stakeholders from across the walking football community, will rely on input from platforms like Team Walk to guide their work.

The FA also highlighted the importance of collaboration, emphasising that while they will set the framework, delivery will rely on partnerships between County FAs and clubs.

National Team Discussions

Although the national walking football team was not part of the official agenda, a separate conversation provided insight into the FA’s perspective. The FA acknowledged the growing interest in national teams and welcomed the opportunity for more players to represent their country. However, she emphasised that the FA’s current focus is on engaging the thousands of players already participating in walking football, rather than prioritising a small, elite group.

The FA also noted the challenges of establishing a national team, citing the complexities faced when launching the England Futsal team. Despite these difficulties, she expressed a willingness to have further conversations about how local initiatives might fit into the national picture.

Next Steps and Opportunities

If we were to engage with the FA further, it would be essential to approach with a clear objective or proposal. Potential options include:

  1. Educating the FA: Sharing details of our initiatives, such as how we promote inclusivity, develop talent, and support a meritocratic structure.
  2. Exploring Partnerships: While funding is limited, we could discuss collaboration opportunities that align with the FA’s priorities.
  3. Seeking Recognition: Proposing that we act as the representative national team, demonstrating self-sustainability and alignment with FA governance standards.

Conclusion

The FA’s renewed commitment to walking football is a positive step forward. Initiatives like the six-step plan, Team Walk, and the Walking Football Advisory Group demonstrate a clear intent to support the growth of the sport.

As walking football evolves, maintaining open dialogue with key stakeholders will be crucial. By aligning our efforts with their vision, we can help ensure the sport thrives at every level, from casual players to competitive athletes.

Walking football has immense potential, and with the FA’s increased focus, the future looks promising.