Kirklees Active Leisure has unveiled an innovative new way to get people into sport at Batley Sports and Tennis Centre in Howden Clough – walking football.

In walking football, all the skills of the game are the same, but no one is allowed to run.

The idea behind the scheme is to encourage people to get involved who may otherwise not want to play football due to lack of fitness or skills.

Led by Football Association qualified coaches, the sessions are open to members of the public and people who have been referred by their GPs. Kirklees hopes that the idea will act as a springboard to get people who have never played before, or not exercised for a long time, into mainstream football.

“Walking football is a safe and effective way of exercising,” said Damien Ives, who will be running the sessions.

“A variety of skills are covered in each session as well as exercises to improve balance and co-ordination. The emphasis is upon making people feel comfortable at their own level in returning to, or taking up, a sport.”

Walking football is the first sport to be run under Kirklees’ Sport4Life banner, which was designed to encourage adults who haven’t played sport for a while back into regular participation. It is being funded by Sport England. Details: www.kirkleesactiveleisure.co.uk