MWF and EFDN Rules

The MWF (Madeira Walking Football) plays according to the EFDN (European Football for Development Network) Walking Football Rules & Regulations

WALKING FOOTBALL RULES & REGULATIONS

The 20 Golden Rules of European Legends Walking Football

1. The match is played with six players per team on the pitch (6 vs 6).
2. The size of the pitch is 21 meters by 42 meters.
3. The size of the goal is 3m (wide) and 1m (high) (3x1m)
4. There are no goalkeepers
5. All players need to keep a distance of 3m from the goal during the game.
6. Players are permitted to change throughout the game. The number of substitutions is unlimited. A player who has been substituted may return as a substitute for another player
7. There is no offside rule.
8. Tackling and physical contact is forbidden.
9. Players must always be walking, as defined as “always having one foot on the ground”. If a player runs, the referee will award possession of the ball to the opposing team.
10. There are no penalties. Only indirect free kicks. All players must keep a distance of 3 meters.
11. It is not permitted to play the ball above the crossbar.
12. If the ball is played outside the pitch side-lines, the ball will be placed at the spot where it went out, and the player kicks the ball back into play. All players from the opposing team must keep a distance of 3 meters.
13. If the ball is played outside the pitch goal line, a corner kick will be awarded. The ball will be placed at the nearest corner and the opposing team must keep a distance of 3 meters from the corner.
14. After each goal, the game starts again with a kick-off in the centre of the field.
15. Teams cannot score from their own side of the pitch.
16. If a goal is prevented in an illegal manner (such as with hands or by running to the ball), the goal will be counted as valid.
17. The referee can exclude a player for verbal abuse or continuous foul play. Another player will substitute the excluded player.
18. If a player receives a yellow card, the player needs to leave the pitch for 5 minutes but can be substituted by another player.
19. In case the player receives a red card, the player is excluded from the rest of the game but can be replaced by another player.
20. A referee’s decision regarding the facts or a situation in the match are final. The decisions of the referee must always be respected.

Walking Football is a growing sport and sessions are currently taking part in all corners of the European community. As the sport grows to include more events and festivals, Football Association’s and Walking Football groups are beginning to establish Walking Football guidelines and regulations. As a result, the rules of the game vary slightly across Europe.

The European Legends programme and its 13 professional football partners have worked together to compile a list of rules and regulations from across Europe and devised ‘The 20 Golden Rules of European Legends Walking Football’