A controversial new walking football rule looks like it could be introduced for the 2025/26 season. The new directive from UEFA is being passed down to The FA and could be adopted by all walking football leagues in the country.
The new rule will restrict players to just five touches when in possession. Presumably this is to reduce contact and “running”. It’s a change which is likely to cause differences of opinion.
We learnt of the new rule, slated to come into force in the 2025/26 season, through a recent WFA newsletter. After looking through the UEFA and FA websites we were unable to find specific reference to the new rule, but the WFA March newsletter states “…the FA has to implement the recent UEFA directive, which will ban dribbling and impose a 5-touch restriction.”
…the FA has to implement the recent UEFA directive, which will ban dribbling and impose a 5-touch restriction.”
The Walking Football Association, March Newsletter
The FA and the WFA have different laws of the game. The WFA maintain a desire to have a unified set of laws, but feel there’s still some work to do on that front. It should be noted that the Dorset Walking Football League (in which Dexter Sports compete) play to The FAs Laws of the Game (LOTG).
Some leagues and competitions have ‘local’ rules which they feel benefit their competition, and that’s fair enough. Of course the issue with local rules is when teams from different places compete, maybe in a regional cup or charity event, these things need to be thrashed out early doors, otherwise they often need to be ironed out during the course of the early matches!
So almost certainly the game would benefit from some unified laws, but we may need to wait a while longer before we see that happen.
What are your thoughts on the possible introduction of a five touch rule in walking football? Leave your comments below…
Disclaimer
This article has been created and published in good faith. Any expressed opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of Dexter Sports Walking Football Club.
Reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of publication. You should expect the information to become outdated the older the article becomes.
7 Responses
Can’t see how the five touch can be implemented with just one official, players will take advantage and movement will become quicker off the ball. Will need at least one other set of eyes.
I referee three touch sessions with no problems.
Once again, interference from organisations who only exist to promote their unwanted and self proclaimed authority; to make uninformed and inconceivable changes that further destroy what the majority had formerly enjoyed.
Football of all kinds, is a simple game being destroyed by imbeciles who have little experience of actual participation.
What a stupid law, dribbling with the ball is a skill which can open up defences. This law in my opinion will close games down or entice players to rush or push their way into position.
It’s a simple game that for my ladies team lasts 12 mins , stop messing about with it.
A couple of points for clarification.
1) the rule is in law 12 of the UEFA LOTG for competitive walking football:
“touches the ball more than five times without
the ball being played by another player;”
2) The UEFA LOTG for WF are recommendations and only mandatory for games affiliated with or organised by the UEFA:
“To ensure consistency and clarity, UEFA recommends
using the following Laws of the Game for competitive (as
opposed to recreational) walking football matches. They
are mandatory for any matches or competitions that are
organised or affiliated with UEFA.”
From personal experience as a referee as well as a player, I see that limiting touches reduces non-walking and increases the team play.
I referee friendly matches involving my local team. They like to play three touch football, which I do not support. I find when I am refereeing their games, in my head i am constantly counting 1,2,3,4. If I apply the 6 second goalkeeper possession rule , I am then counting 1,2,3,4,5,6. If I caution players I have to remember the number of times a player has committed an offence. To concentrate on the game and keep counting in my head is becoming more difficult. I have been told of some new rules, but have not received any confirmation of these,
One is that the one step rule is now replaced with a 1 metre rule, and the other is that tackling is allowed as long as it is not over excessive,
Does anyone know about these rules?
I intended to start the WF for senior soccer players in my country. I was only the soccer player. Do I have to pay any membership fees or any off the legislation expenses for starter this program?