Hi John, this is a really good point you raise. We are currently looking into providing more guidance for Walking Football competitions as you have outlined our FA SCOR document doesn't always align with how WF operates. We will share updates and guidance when they are ready. For now, it will be interesting to hear how other WF leagues interpret the current document for their competitions.

Thanks Ellie - as far as Oxfordshire Walking Football League are concerned, we discussed this with Oxfordshire FA and their view for the time being at least was that we should annotate, but not amend or delete any SCOR rules that are obviously at odds with walking football, so for example, rule 20.A states that matches cannot be less than 60 minutes in length, whereas Law 7 of the Walking Football LOTGs state that matches should be between 5 and 30 minutes and additionally the SOCRs refer to half-time intervals, whilst the WF LOTGs clearly state that matches can be without a break.

For this reason we added the folowing as rule 1.C:-

*It should be noted that the “Competition” is a Walking Football Competition played to the FA Laws Of the Game for Walking Football and as such some of the Rules in this SCOR need to be interpreted with reference to the differences between ‘traditional 11-a-side football’ and ‘walking football’

The basic SCOR rules also 'assume' that competitions are played on the traditional home and away basis, whereas our league (and no doubt many others) run on a monthly round-robin basis with all clubs participating in multiply matches on the same day and at a neutral venue....

So, by way of an example, we have annotated SCOR rule 23.E as follows:-

Subject to any limits/provisions laid down by the Sanctioning Authority, Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be paid a match fee in accordance with the Fees Tariff.

Match Officials will be paid their fees and/or expenses by the *home Club immediately after the Competition Match. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

* It should be noted that the “Competition” is played at a neutral venue with all teams attending and participating is a round-robin event on each occasion, rather than individual matches played on a traditional home and away basis. As such, the Competition Organiser will be responsible for paying the referees.

Hi John, really interesting to see how you have adapted this thank you and will take into consideration within our review.

Thanks,

Ellie

Glad to be helpful and happy to get involved further if required.

One other section that would need looking at is 23.C, as typically matches are not played with assistant referees:- 

Where assistant referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club assistant referee. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

* It should be noted that the “Competition” is a Walking Football Competition played to the FA Laws Of the Game for Walking Football and as such this rule needs to be interpreted with reference to the differences between ‘traditional 11-a-side football’ and ‘walking football’

Generally there are too many sections where the threat of a fine exists for rules that are at odds with walking football!

Glad to be helpful and happy to get involved further if required.

One other section that would need looking at is 23.C, as typically matches are not played with assistant referees:- 

Where assistant referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club assistant referee. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.

* It should be noted that the “Competition” is a Walking Football Competition played to the FA Laws Of the Game for Walking Football and as such this rule needs to be interpreted with reference to the differences between ‘traditional 11-a-side football’ and ‘walking football’

Generally there are too many sections where the threat of a fine exists for rules that are at odds with walking football!