A players quick guide to The Basic Rules of Walking Football:

1. Walking is defined as having one foot on the ground at all times and is characterised by placing the heel of the foot down first, keeping a straight front leg and not moving about (forwards, backwards or sideways) on your toes.
2. There is to be NO CONTACT. A free kick will be awarded.  Repeated contact will be penalised by a blue card and 2 mins ‘sin bin’ or in severe and dangerous cases an immediate red card.
3. If play is stopped by the whistle, it must restart with a whistle.
4. Players must walk at all times.  A player deemed to be not walking, either on or off the ball, anywhere on the pitch will be penalised with a free kick.
5. Unsportsmanlike conduct such as kicking the ball excessively hard towards another player, verbal abuse or aggressive behaviour will result in a free kick or in extreme cases  a straight red card.
6. Tackling from behind or round the side will result in a free kick.
7. Any tackle where the referee deems that  excessive force has been used, will result in a free kick (it’s better to intercept the ball than attempt a tackle).
8. Slide tackling is not allowed and will result in a free kick.
9. Play stops immediately if a player is injured or falls.
10. All free kicks are indirect
11. Keeper must stay inside his area.  If he leaves his area a penalty is given.
12. If in the course of making a save, the keeper pushes the ball above head height and it stays in play, the ball is returned to the keeper to try again.
13. If the keeper pushes the ball above head height but it falls into the goal, a goal is awarded.
14. If the keeper pushes the ball above head height and it goes behind the goal, a corner is awarded.
15. If a defender steps into the area, a penalty is awarded.  If an attacker steps in, the ball is awarded to the keeper
16. Keepers may kick the ball from the floor or roll the ball underarm, out of the area.
17. There is no limit to the number of times you can pass the ball back to your keeper.
18.  For all free kicks or penalties, you may only take one step before kicking the ball.
19. If the ball leaves the side of the pitch, the opposition my kick or roll the ball back into play.
20. The ball must remain below head height (referees discretion).  A free kick will be awarded if the ball is deemed high. This includes deflections.
21. There is no offside rule
22. Heading the ball is not allowed.
23. Playing the ball whilst whilst on the floor is not allowed.
24.  Referees judgement is final and the referee will be deemed to be correct about all decisions!

Click here to download full Walking Football Association rules: Revised April 2022