The rules of Walking Football in Madeira, as promoted by the Madeira Football Association (AF Madeira), are adapted from traditional football to promote inclusion, health, and social interaction, particularly for those over 50. They aim to minimise injury risks by eliminating running and physical contact.
Since the beginning of 2025, the Inter Madeira Walking Football (IMWF) has adopted the new Walking Football rules based on those established by AF Madeira. Below are the main rules, translated into UK English, based on official AF Madeira information:
- Each team consists of 5, 6, or 7 players, men and women.
- The pitch is approximately 21 metres by 42 metres (may vary depending on the number of players or available conditions).
- The goal size is 3 metres wide by 1 metre high (may be marked by a bar).
- There is no goalkeeper, so the ball cannot be touched with hands.
- There is no limit on substitutions – players who have been substituted can re-enter.
- The offside rule does not apply.
- Slide tackles and any physical contact between players are prohibited.
- Players must walk, always keeping one foot in contact with the ground; running is penalised with an indirect free kick.
- There are no penalties, only indirect free kicks.
- Players must maintain a distance of 3 metres from the goal.
- The ball cannot be played above the height of the goal’s crossbar (approximately waist height).
- The referee’s decisions are final and must be respected.
- Goals can only be scored from the attacking half of the pitch.
These rules are consistent with those used in regional competitions in Madeira, such as the Regional Walking Football Circuit and local tournaments organised with clubs like CD 1.º de Maio. Since January 2025, IMWF has aligned its tournaments with these AF Madeira rules, moving from the previous “20 Golden Rules” of the European Legends Walking Football, though some additional provisions, such as sanctions with yellow cards (5-minute temporary exclusion) and red cards (permanent exclusion, but substitution allowed), may still apply in specific IMWF events.
In educational projects, such as those at the University of Madeira, slight variations may exist, such as a limit of 3 consecutive touches on the ball and matches lasting 20 minutes (two 10-minute halves), but the core focus remains on mandatory walking and no physical contact.