Walking Football: Design a Session for Older Adults

In groups, students design a walking football session for a senior center, with a warm-up, an adapted game and safety measures, and test it on classmates who simulate the limitations of that audience. The project links planning healthy physical activity with community service.

How to play

1. Introduce walking football: one foot on the ground at all times, no contact, ball below hip height and running is a foul (3 min).
2. Each group of five designs a 15-minute session on the card with a warm-up, game and cool-down, and includes three safety measures (8 min).
3. Two groups test their session for 6 minutes each with the rest of the class, who play with agreed simulated limitations, such as no fast turns or kicking with only one leg (12 min).
4. The groups acting as participants rate the session on the card for clarity, safety and fun (4 min).
5. Each group writes down one improvement for the next version of its session (3 min).

Rules

• Nobody runs during play: a foul is called as soon as both feet leave the ground.
• The ball may not go above hip height.
• Simulated limitations never include blindfolds or moving without support.
• No physical contact and no challenges from behind.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: serves as the group's accessibility expert and checks that the session suits people using walkers or canes.
• Autism: assigned the warm-up part, with a visual template to fill in.
• Ankle or knee injury: joins the low-intensity game test or referees.

Learning goals

• Plan a physical activity session adapted to a specific audience.
• Apply safety measures for older adults.
• Value sport as a tool for health and community service.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 20
• pinnies: 15
• balls: 6
• cards: 6
• goals: 4

Teacher tip

If you can, get in touch with a nearby senior center: running the best session there gives the project real meaning and is a powerful experience for students.

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