Vienna celebrates walking football: Sport for the 50+ generation in action!

Vienna celebrates walking football: Sport for the 50+ generation in action!

Wien, Österreich - In 2021, a walking football training was offered by the courier in cooperation with the sports roof association ASSKÖ for the first time in Vienna. The demand was overwhelming and the places were fully booked within a few hours. In the meantime, the group of walking football players has developed into its own club, which offers Walking Football Austria Academy Training. These take place on Wednesdays and Fridays in the morning. Kurier reports that the training sessions are carried out outdoors and then in a hall.

The focus of the training sessions is on the promotion of fitness in old age, which is supported by recommendations by the sports scientist Günter Schagerl and the UEFA. Many participants report on demonstrable improvement in their fitness after just a few weeks. In addition, numerous players have made new friendships through the community-seed sporting activity.

international tournament and community

A special highlight for the Wiener Walking football community will be a tournament in which a selection from Vienna against the Ferencvaros women team is on. This event illustrates the growing popularity of this sport, which originated in England in 2011 and has now spread worldwide. For example, there are over 60 offers for walking football in the Hamburg area. In Germany, Bundesliga clubs like the 1st FC Nürnberg also turn to this topic. The DFB has served employees to support amateur associations in the acquisition of members.

walking football not only established itself as a sport, but also as a social platform. Players are often people with health challenges who put the fun of moving and being sociable by winning a game. After the training, the group "Kört & The Vienna Walking Dads" meets, who presents its own hymn with the chorus "Oh, Walking Football".

Health advantages and rules of the game

The concept of walking football is designed to avoid injuries to older people. Players are not allowed to run and the ball can only be played below the hip. This not only promotes motor skills and tactical thinking, but also contributes to improving coordination. Pharmacies Umschau emphasizes that in contrast to 45 minutes is in regular football.

The players are aware of the health benefits. A study shows that walking football training has a positive impact on blood pressure and body weight of high blood pressure patients and people with heart diseases. Eberhard, the oldest player at the age of 84, also proves that age and health challenges such as Parkinson's no obstacle to stay active.

This aspiring sport not only brings movement into the lives of older people, but also fights social isolation. The participants will not only enjoy movement, but also in the community and the common hobby that they share.

Further information on this sport is available online and available from regional football associations that already offer walking football programs. In Croatia, a similar initiative under the name "Hodomet" is supported, while Scotland even formed its own national team for this variant of football. However, the joy of the movement remains the main focus of the participants, regardless of the national or international aspects of the game. Barmer emphasizes that walking football was also successfully established in Germany and is a health-promoting alternative to classic football.