Soccer is one in every of those sports that we sometimes have to offer up after we grow up. All of the running, kicking, and pivoting places great demands on the body, especially on our balance and joints. But a brand new trend helps people get back on the pitch, or in some cases, start playing for the primary time. It's called walking soccer.
What is Walking Soccer?
Walking soccer is played exactly because it sounds—players can only walk as they pass and kick the ball across the pitch and check out to get it to the opposite team's goal, and their Always have no less than one foot involved with the bottom.
The walking soccer pitch is smaller than a standard-sized playground, and the goals are smaller and smaller. Each team can also be smaller, with seven people playing at a time as a substitute of 11.
The ball can also be different: a size 4 “futsal” ball, which is smaller and fewer bouncy than regular soccer balls.
Benefits of Walking Soccer
Walking soccer is a gentler type of exercise, but it surely's still full of health advantages. It's an excellent method to socialize, get your every day steps in, stay energetic and exercise at a pace that's comfortable to your body. And play reinforces essential skills.
Another profit: By kicking and passing the ball through the game, you maintain your ability to generate power. “As we get older, if we're not participating in sports regularly or doing resistance training, one of the biggest things we lose is the ability to generate hard or fast forces. “The strength required to have the option to do something like push up a chair and the repetitive motions of standing football can potentially help preserve your abilities,” says McEnroe. are
Being energetic in a sport like walking soccer also helps protect the cartilage cushions contained in the knees, called the meniscus, that are liable to tears after age 50. McEnroy says.
Football Hazards Walking
In regular football, the foremost risks are lower limb injuries, particularly ankles and knees.
McEnroy says we don't yet have statistics on the variety of injuries people experience while playing walking soccer. His concerns for players include sprained ankles. enlarged male tears; flare-ups of knee arthritis; and falls leading to wrist, arm, or elbow fractures.
Prepare for sports.
If you're inquisitive about playing walking soccer, you'll need good balance, endurance, and powerful legs and core muscles. If you haven't exercised shortly, seek the advice of your doctor, after which deal with the fundamentals of fitness: take every day walks and begin a resistance training program.
If you're already energetic, McEnroy recommends that you simply first practice walking and kicking a ball on the bottom that resembles a soccer pitch to ensure that you're on the ball. Are comfortable with it. And start paying extra attention to strengthening the quadriceps muscles within the thighs, the gluteus muscles within the hips, and the gastrocnemius muscles within the calves. “Strong muscles are essential for injury prevention,” says McEnroy. “Begin football walking training at least six weeks before you plan to play.”
Once you're playing games recurrently, warm up before each match. McEnroy suggests walking across the pitch and playing passes with a teammate to mimic the left and right movements in the sport. Don't forget to stretch after a match to maintain your muscles long and supple.
Move of the Month: Squat and Overhead Toss
Stand along with your feet apart. Hold a medication ball with each hands at chest height. Bend your hips and knees, and sit down. Do not allow your knees to increase beyond your toes. Stand back. As you rise, toss the ball overhead, catch it, and convey it back to chest height. Repeat 10 times.
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Want to try it?
Walking soccer is amazingly popular all over the world and is just beginning to catch on within the United States. More than half a dozen states have already got teams in place. You can find more information concerning the game in your website. United States Adult Soccer Association.
Photo courtesy of Ultimate Walk Soccer Club