EFDN Walking Football Conference
On Wednesday, the 20th of September the EFDN Walking Football Conference took place in the framework of the European Legends Walking Football Festival.
The conference focused on broadening the reach of the Walking Football & Sports methodology in Europe and EFDN was delighted to welcome representatives of professional and grassroots football clubs and companies from diverse European countries at the conference venue Papendal in Arnhem. The Walking Football Conference provided an inspirational programme including workshops on how to set up a Walking Football programme and presentations by Fulham FC, Sporting Memories UK and ECA CSR Award Winner Aberdeen FC Community Trust. Additionally, a representative of the national Dutch OldStars programme was present to provide in-depth information on the development of Walking Football in the Netherlands.
In a discussion round, joined by a Walking Football player from KAA Gent, VfL Wolfsburg and the coach of the PSV Walking Football programme, the conference attendees had the opportunity to receive first hand information on the community programme and its physical, mental and social wellbeing benefits.
Additionally, the presentations of Aberdeen FC Community Trust and the Sporting Memories UK programme highlighted to what extent elderlies can be engaged in the community through different approaches that focus on active ageing.
As one of the major highlights, the Walking Football Practitioners Guide, developed by EFDN in cooperation with the 13 partners of the European Legends programme, was released. The guide will soon be available for download. It constitutes a toolkit on how to develop a Walking Football programme for the European sporting community.
