Walking football for menopausal women

WSC: What does the program involve?

NF: The initial cohort on the programme were offered weekly walking football sessions across a 16-week period.

Prior to the launch of the sessions, they received a two-hour educational workshop on the menopause, pelvic-floor health, and sports bras and breast support. Participants were also gifted a Nike branded sports bra. 

The programme now consists of weekly walking football sessions in a fun, friendly, and flexible format.

 

WSC: How many women have taken part?

NF: It’s a hyper-localised programme based in Urmston, Trafford. We had 83 women sign up to the launch event, 63 attended the event and 47 have since engaged regularly in the walking football.

 

WSC: What benefits has this given them and what has the feedback been like?

NF: The walking football sessions allowed participants to newly explore or revisit sport in a non-judgemental environment. 

Not only has the programme supported participants in learning new skills, it has also helped develop confidence, create new friendships, and empowered women to seek new challenges. 

Most reported an improvement in mood, mental health and wellbeing.

WSC: Why is it so important to have this dedicated programme available?

NF: Research shows that physical activity can support women experiencing the menopause. More generally, we know it can support mood, mental health and wellbeing, among other things.

Women In Sport carried out research into the barriers that menopausal women face in accessing and engaging in sport, and we have used these to influence the programme.

Traditional football is not accessible for the midlife woman; they are a unique, but not homogenous, group, and we need to consider varying needs and adjustments. 

Women of this life stage require a different offer that is more flexible than traditional football. 

 

WSC: What are the future plans for the programme?

BL: Initially, we will be working with the local authority in Trafford to roll out the programme across other sites, where there are greater health inequalities. 

Alongside this, we are looking to roll out across different local authority areas, with our ambition being that we would see the programme across all Greater Manchester boroughs.

 

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Participant Feedback

"Initially I thought that, as it was walking football, I would find the physical activity very gentle – however, both myself and other ladies attending soon realised that you could definitely build up a sweat! 

"The process of learning a new ball sport also helped improve my balance and eye-foot co-ordination, as well as body awareness and positioning.

"The social interaction was the greatest benefit of the scheme for me, especially after a serious illness earlier in the year. 

"It provided a great motivator to attend, as it offered the opportunity to make new friends with like-minded women in the local area and have midweek, post-work fun. This, in turn, helped to reduce stress.

"As an NHS social prescriber in my job, I will definitely be recommending any further Manchester FA projects like this to patients and colleagues in the Trafford area."

ANONYMOUS PARTICIPANT

 

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