Coaching Walking Football – Drills, Tactics & Tips with Chris King

This episode is based on the book Coaching Walking Football by Chris King — available now on Amazon in paperback or ebook:👉 https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbookIn this episode, we continue our Walking Football–specific warm-up sequence and break down exercises 6 to 10 — all designed to prepare players safely and effectively without high impact or running.We cover:A controlled activation drill to wake up hamstrings and glutes.A balance-friendly lift-and-step movement that opens hips and engages the core.A great whole-body drill that mobilises hips, groins, shoulders, and thoracic rotation.A fun, social, football-specific exercise that gets players passing, thinking, moving, and working together at walking pace.We also explain why rondos are so useful — improving movement, decision-making, defending, and confidence — and mention where to find deeper Rondo material in the Soccer Rondos book series.By the end of this episode, you’ll have a complete, safe, enjoyable warm-up routine perfectly suited for older Walking Football players.👉 Grab the full book, Coaching Walking Football, on Amazon:https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook6. Heel Flicks (Hamstring Curls)7. Slow High Knees8. Side Steps with Arm Swings9. Short-Pass Rondo

This episode is based on the book Coaching Walking Football by Chris King — available now on Amazon in paperback or ebook:👉 https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbookBefore any Walking Football session or match, a proper warm-up is absolutely essential — especially for older players where hamstring and hip injuries are common. In this episode, we break down the Walking Football–specific warm-up and walk you through the first five key exercises.You’ll learn:A simple, low-impact way to loosen the upper body and get blood flowing safely.Why dynamic mobility is crucial for preparing the hips, hamstrings, and glutes.A controlled, hamstring-focused movement that prevents strains.A coach-friendly drill that teaches controlled movement, balance, and safe stretching.A low-depth lunge variation designed for older players, improving balance and activating key muscles without impact.We also cover warm-up setup options, spacing, pacing, and how to make the warm-up more social and enjoyable — important for building team chemistry in Walking Football groups.👉 Get the full book, Coaching Walking Football, on Amazon:https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook1. Gentle Walking & Shoulder Rolls2. Leg Swings (Front to Back)3. Straight-Leg Walk (Frankenstein Walk)4. Hamstring Scoop Stretch5. Walking Lunges with Hamstring Activation

This episode is based on the book Coaching Walking Football by Chris King — available now on Amazon in paperback or ebook:👉 https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbookIn today’s episode, we break down one of the most important areas for any new Walking Football coach: understanding the rules. Whether you’re coaching complete beginners or a mixed group of older adults, knowing the core regulations will help you run safer, smoother, more enjoyable sessions.We cover the essential rules with real coaching examples you can apply straight away:Why keeping one foot on the ground matters, how to spot running, and simple ways to correct it (including fun reminders like “walk like a penguin!”).How to enforce a safe, friendly environment with no bumping, barging, or blocking using the body.How to teach safer ways to win the ball and what to say when someone slides in.Typical match lengths, how to manage fatigue, and when to take breaks.Why 5v5 and 6v6 formats work best — and how to run multiple small-sided games when you have big numbers at training.How removing the offside rule simplifies the game and keeps older players more involved.Why this rule exists, how to enforce it, and what to do when someone lifts the ball too high.By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear, practical understanding of the official Walking Football rules — plus examples you can use at your next session to make coaching easier, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone.👉 Get the full book, Coaching Walking Football, on Amazon:https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook🚶‍♂️ 1. Walking Only – No Running🤝 2. No Physical Contact🛑 3. No Slide Tackles⏱️ 4. Shorter Game Durations⚽ 5. Smaller Team Sizes❌ 6. No Offside⬇️ 7. Keep the Ball Below Head Height

Struggling to plan a walking football session? Not sure how much is too much — or what order to do things in?This week on the Coaching Walking Football podcast, we break it all down in a simple, no-nonsense chat based on Chapters 4–6 of the book "Coaching Walking Football" by Chris King.We cover:🧠 A session structure that works every time⏱️ Why short, varied activities keep energy high📋 How to adapt session plans to suit your group✅ Tips to run training that’s smooth, simple, and funWhether you're coaching your first session or looking for fresh ideas, this one gives you plenty to work with.📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠#WalkingFootball #CoachingMadeEasy #Over50sFootball #WalkingFootballPodcast #ChrisKingBooks

This episode of Coaching Walking Football – Drills, Tactics & Tips with Chris King covers the next four complete training sessions from the book "Coaching Walking Football".Each session includes a warm-up, technical focus, small-sided game, and cool-down. Whether you're working on movement, passing or team shape, this chapter gives you a done-for-you structure to follow or adapt.📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠

📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠In this episode of Coaching Walking Football b Chris King, we take a big-picture look at what makes great walking football coaching — covering the key ideas from Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the book.We chat about why creativity still matters in a slower-paced game, how to think about player development (even at older ages), and what you really need to get started as a coach — gear, mindset, and simple structures that work.If you’re new to walking football or looking to refresh your approach, this episode gives you a solid foundation to build from.📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠

Need session ideas you can run without stress? This episode of Coaching Walking Football – Drills, Tactics & Tips with Chris King covers the first four of eight complete training sessions for coaches at all levels from the book "Coaching Walking Football".Each session includes a warm-up, technical focus, small-sided game, and cool-down. Whether you're working on shooting, passing or team shape, this chapter gives you a done-for-you structure to follow or adapt.📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠

In this episode of Coaching Walking Football, we sit down for an easygoing chat about how to get started with coaching walking football. From adapting sessions to suit different fitness levels, to building confidence in your players, we explore simple, effective tips that can help anyone running a session — whether you’re new to it or just looking to improve.It’s practical, relaxed, and full of insight — ideal for anyone curious about this fast-growing version of the game.📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠

In this episode of Coaching Walking Football – Drills, Tactics & Tips with Chris King, we explore Part 2 of session planning from his book "Coaching Walking Football"— with real-world examples you can use straight away.You’ll get a ready-to-use structure for your training, plus warm-up routines, skill drills, and small-sided games that link together naturally. Whether you’re coaching 5 players or 15, this episode will help you build smoother, more engaging sessions that players enjoy and learn from.📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠

📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠In this episode of Coaching Walking Football – Drills, Tactics & Tips with Chris King, we tackle one of the biggest questions new coaches face: how do you actually plan a training session that flows, engages players, and gets results?Based on Chapter 4 of the book, you’ll learn how to structure your session from start to finish, avoid common mistakes, and strike the right balance between drills and match play. Whether you’ve got six players or sixteen, this one’s packed with simple, adaptable advice you can use straight away.📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠

In this episode of Coaching Walking Football – Drills, Tactics & Tips with Chris King, we dive into Chapter 3 of the book ("Coaching Walking Football"- Chris King)— all about warm-ups. Discover easy, low-impact warm-up ideas designed specifically for walking football players of all ages and fitness levels. You’ll learn how to prepare your team safely, reduce injury risk, and bring energy and focus into every session — without overcomplicating things. Whether you're coaching older beginners or seasoned players, these tips will help you build routines players enjoy and benefit from.🎯 Listen in. Take notes. Get inspired.📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠

New to coaching Walking Football? This episode kicks off a brand new series where author and coach Chris King walks you through each chapter of his book Coaching Walking Football. Today we’re diving into Chapter 2 – “Getting Started as a Walking Football Coach” – covering how to ease into coaching, run simple sessions, and build player confidence from day one. Whether you're a first-timer or getting back into the game, you’ll find practical tips to hit the ground walking.🎧 Grab your whistle — let’s get into it.📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠

WALKING FOOTBALL DRILL - "WALL BALL" | 2 PLAYERS | Soccer/Football Coaching | Focus On: Passing📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠Players take it in turns passing/kicking the ball into the wall. It can either be played along the ground or slightly in the air. It is similar to the racquet game Squash.The players’ aim is to make the ball rebound off the wall, then land or pass through the marked square and go outside the square before the opponent can control it. If it leaves the area before the opposition player can control it the player who kicked it receives one point. Play the first to 5 points and play 3 sets. Who is the best wall baller in the team?!Depending on skill levels, play as many touches as you want. If they are skillful players you may only allow them to have one touch (ie play the ball first time). If they are beginners they can have three touches (ie one touch to control the ball, the second to put the ball where they want and the third to make the pass/kick.𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦⚽ Change the number of touches. Less touches for more skilled players. Unlimited touches for novices.⚽Play it so the ball is in the air and the opponent must play the ball before a certain number of bounces (like tennis). For example, kick the ball against the wall (Wall Ball) or into the opponent's half (Box Ball) and if the ball bounces more than once or twice the ball is dead and the player that kicked it gets a point.⚽Play doubles! (ie with partners 2v2)📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠Website: www.chriskingsoccercoach.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/chriskingsoccercoach#walkingfootball #womenswalkingfootball #walkingsoccer #allabilities #southendfc #essex #fastestgrowingsport #relivingyouryouth #weplayfootball #thewfa #womenswfc #wwf

WALKING FOOTBALL DRILL - "BOX BALL" | 2 PLAYERS | Soccer/Football Coaching | Focus On: Passing📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗣BOX BALL:Simply mark out a large rectangle and divide it in half. It is similar to tennis. Instead of in Wall Ball where the players aim is to rebound it off the wall, players simply aim to pass the ball, landing it in the opponent's half and they win the point if the ball goes out of the opponents half before they can control it (or before a set number of bounces if you are playing it in the air).𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦⚽ As mentioned in Wall Ball, change the number of touches. Less touches for more skilled players. Unlimited touches for novices.⚽Play it so the ball is in the air and the opponent must play the ball before a certain number of bounces (like tennis). For example, kick the ball against the wall (Wall Ball) or into the opponent's half (Box Ball) and if the ball bounces more than once or twice the ball is dead and the player that kicked it gets a point.⚽Play doubles! (ie with partners 2v2).📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠#walkingfootball #womenswalkingfootball #walkingsoccer #allabilities #southendfc #essex #fastestgrowingsport #relivingyouryouth #weplayfootball #thewfa #womenswfc #wwf

WALKING FOOTBALL DRILL - "ATTACKING & DEFENSIVE DUTIES" | 4 TO 12 PLAYERS | Soccer/Football Coaching | 📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗣PLAYERS: 6 to 14 players Set up a game and pair the players up with a player from the opposite team. They are now responsible for ‘man marking’ this player. This simply means if their player gets the ball they are responsible to try and stop them from passing/shooting/dribbling. This drill helps improve both defensive and attacking skills and reading of the play. Plus transitioning from defence to attack and attack to defence.One second your team may have the ball so you should spread out and look to attack or receive the ball. But then if your team loses possession you must find your player and work on your defensive duties.Things to work on when defending are: Positioning yourself close to the player so you can intercept a pass or stop them from passing; position yourself between the opposition player and your goal (this way there is no easy way towards goal for them); reading where the pass is likely to come from (is there a free opposition player that is likely to get the ball?) and trying to intercept the pass.Things to work on when attacking are: Can you ‘lose’ your defender? This may mean that you get on their blind side (off their shoulder) so you can steal a step or two head start on them whichever direction you choose to go; do a shoulder drop or fake step to send your defender in the wrong direction to steal a yard or two; point to where you want the ball passed to so your teammate knows where to pass it to (this may be to your back foot so you can play forward quickly).𝗩𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦⚽ Have the ‘best’ players marking each other so it is competitive. But also switch it up and have more experienced players against less experienced players so that the less experienced players learn from them. ⚽Have small punishments for the defender if the player they are marking scores a goal or sets up a goal (ie 5 lunges, 10 toe taps, etc).📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠#walkingfootball #womenswalkingfootball #walkingsoccer #allabilities #southendfc #essex #fastestgrowingsport #relivingyouryouth #weplayfootball #thewfa #womenswfc #wwf

WALKING FOOTBALL DRILL - "RONDO" | Soccer/Football Coaching | Dribbling📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠PLAYERS: 6 to 10 players Rondos are fantastic! A rondo is simply a small square or circle where the majority of players are trying to keep the ball off one or two players (like the old schoolyard game piggy in the middle).For example, you could set up a circle with 6 players around the outside and two players inside the circle. The players around the outside are trying to pass the ball to their teammates while the two defenders in the middle are trying to intercept or block the pass. Note: Players on the outside aren’t allowed inside the circle.If a defender successfully intercepts or blocks a pass they swap with the player that made the mistake.Rondos work on passing, defending, communicating, movement, ball control, body shape, thinking ahead…so many things in such a small space and amount of time. A rondo is my go to drill when I want to get my players motivated and moving. It can be used as the first drill of a training session or as a warm up just before a game.Variations: 1. If you have 5 players play 4v1 in a square. If you have 6 players play 5v1 in a circle. 7 players and up, play two defenders in the middle. Make sure that when you have two players in the middle, the player that has been in the longest goes out when the ball is intercepted even if they aren’t the player that won the ball. This encourages teamwork and shows that you should work just as hard for your teammate as you would for yourself.2. Defenders in the middle can either rotate out: each time they win the ball; or every 3 times they win the ball swap with new players: or keep the defenders in for a set amount of time (ie 1 minute) and then swap them out (see which defender/s can win the ball the most times).📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠ ⁠#footballtraining⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#soccertraining⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#footballcoach⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#soccercoach⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#footballcoaching⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#youthfootball⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#soccertrainingdrills⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#soccercoachingdrills⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#soccerrondo⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#soccercoaching⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#soccerdrills⁠⁠ ⁠⁠#soccerpractice⁠⁠ 

WALKING FOOTBALL DRILL - "GATES" | Soccer/Football Coaching | Dribbling📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbookCoaching Walking Football Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3PLAYERS: 4 to 20 players Set up a large area (the more players the larger the area). Place gates randomly throughout the area (gates should be approx 2 yards wide).Players have a ball each and aim to dribble through as many gates as they can in a set amount of time (ie 1 minute).In the next round, see if they can beat their best effort.This game is great for improving players skills and is very versatile. Players must control the ball while there is a lot of ‘traffic’ around and try not to bump into other players. Players can focus on a particular skill (ie when you pass through a gate turn using the outside of your foot). You can get the players to work in pairs and pass the ball through the gates to each other instead of dribbling through. The options are many so use some initiative and make up whatever rules/variations you need!Variations: Call out a coloured gate and players can now only dribble through those gates.Call out a skill to perform every time they get to a gate (ie a turn with the inside or outside of the foot, 5 toe taps, etc).Players work in pairs and instead of dribbling through the gates they pass through the gate to their partner on the other side.Decrease or increase the width of the gates.📚 Enjoying the podcast? You can dive deeper with my two Walking Football books, available on Amazon:Complete Guide To Coaching Walking Football: ⁠https://mybook.to/walkingfootballbook⁠Coaching Walking Football Volume 1: ⁠https://amzn.to/3uLC4J3⁠#footballtraining⁠ ⁠#soccertraining⁠ ⁠#footballcoach⁠ ⁠#soccercoach⁠ ⁠#footballcoaching⁠ ⁠#youthfootball⁠ ⁠#soccertrainingdrills⁠ ⁠#soccercoachingdrills⁠ ⁠#soccerrondo⁠ ⁠#soccercoaching⁠ ⁠ ⁠#soccerdrills⁠ ⁠#soccerpractice⁠ ⁠#walkingfootball #walkingfootballdrill #walkingfootballskill