Wednesday
Over 60s
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Controlled Football is real football at real pace. Run, jog or sprint as you like, just without the knocks, barges and sliding tackles. Skill over strength, every game.
Football,
with the
physical
side under
control
Controlled Football is a new way to play the game. You can walk, jog, run or sprint – there’s no speed limit and no penalty for moving quickly. What’s controlled is the physical side: no deliberate contact, no sliding tackles, no high balls and no heading.
It looks and feels like football because it is football. Passing, movement, positioning and teamwork decide games, not size or strength. You still close players down, make runs into space and compete for every ball – you just do it on your feet and without leaning on anyone.
It’s built on the proven safety rules of walking football, with one big change: you’re free to run.
Walk, jog or run flat out. Play at the pace that suits you.
No barging, no blocking, no slide tackles. Win the ball with timing, not force.
The ball stays below 6 ft and nobody heads it. Pure passing football.
If you love walking football but find the walking rule frustrating, or you play 5‑a‑side or 11‑a‑side but are tired of the knocks that come with it, Controlled Football sits right in the middle.
| Feature | Traditional (5 & 11‑a‑side) | Walking football | Controlled Football |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running | Yes | No | Yes |
| Physical contact | Yes | No | No |
| Sliding tackles | Yes | No | No |
| Heading | Yes | No | No |
| Ball above head height | Yes | No | No |
| Pace of game | Fast | Steady | Your choice |
Simple rules, proper football
Teams. Six or seven a side. Mixed ages and genders welcome.
Move freely. Walk, jog, run or sprint – any time, anywhere on the pitch.
Look where you’re going. Avoid collisions at all times. If there’s a collision, the ref decides who was at fault.
No contact. No deliberate physical contact, barging, blocking or shielding off a barrier.
Stay on your feet. No sliding tackles. Tackle from the front only – never from the side or behind.
Keep it low. The ball must stay below 6 ft (1.83 m).
No heading. Not even when the ball is low.
Goal areas. Outfield players stay out; goalkeepers stay in.
Free kicks. All free kicks are indirect.
Penalties. A short, one-metre run-up.
Out of play. Kick-ins and corners – no throw-ins.
Goalkeepers. Kick from the ground or throw underarm.
Sin bin. Three fouls and you take a short break on the sideline.
Controlled Football is for anyone, at any age, who wants to play football in a less physical setting. It’s a natural fit for over 40s football and over 50s football: players who want more pace than walking football, with less contact than 5‑a‑side. It’s especially popular with:
Who love the game but find the walking rule holding them back.
Still fit enough to run and compete, but done with the knocks and contact of 5‑a‑side and 11‑a‑side.
Coming back after time away, injury or a break from playing.
Different ages, genders and abilities who want to play together safely.
There’s no age limit. Each league, session or competition can set its own eligibility rules.
Weekly sessions in Solihull and Birmingham
Our first weekly sessions are up and running. Just book your place and turn up. Sessions are £5 or £6, and new players are always welcome.
Wednesday
Over 60s
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Over 25s
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Over 50s
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Over 25s
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Want a session near you? Get in touch and let us know where you are.
Yes. There’s no limit on how fast you move. Walk, jog, run or sprint – it’s up to you.
No. It shares walking football’s safety rules, but you’re free to run. It’s a game in its own right, with its own Laws.
No. Controlled Football is non-contact. You can’t use your body to block, barge or hold off an opponent.
Yes – from the front and on your feet. No sliding tackles, and no tackles from the side or behind. It’s about timing, not force.
No. The ball must stay below 6 ft (1.83 m), and heading isn’t allowed even when it’s lower.
Not necessarily. Because you can run, the game moves at a natural pace. You can accelerate, make runs and close players down. The only difference is that the physical side is controlled.
Very. Controlled Football can be played in leagues, tournaments and organised matches – just within rules that keep the physical side in check.
No. Controlled Football suits all ages. It’s especially popular as over 40s and over 50s football, with players who want more pace than walking football. Each league or session sets its own eligibility rules.
Football boots or trainers suited to the surface, shin pads under your socks, and no jewellery or watches.
Controlled Football is designed to sit within the wider football family, not apart from it. The aim is for the Football Association to remain the national governing body, with the Controlled Football Network developing and promoting the format.
Because lots of people want to run, compete and play football, but don’t want the contact and injury risk of the traditional game. Controlled Football gives them that option.
Whether you want to find a session, start one at your club or bring Controlled Football to your league, we’d love to hear from you.
