photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

The pink team scores a goal in this game of walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

The senior soccer game at Sports Pavilion Lawrence may be called “walking soccer,” but that doesn’t mean it’s not a workout.

“We had about 5,000 steps in one hour,” says Paula, one of the more experienced soccer players in the group of about 12 seniors, as she checks the Fitbit on her wrist.

She plays in the parks and rec outdoor soccer league, too, “but I’m 57, and I can’t compete against 20-year-old guys anymore. I just can’t. And it’s nothing sexist or anything; I’m just 30 years older.” But with walking soccer, seniors of any age or skill level can enjoy the game, and there are two more free sessions scheduled this month.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

While the more extreme moves aren’t legal in walking soccer, some fancy footwork is still allowed, as Paula demonstrates on July 1, 2026, at Sports Pavilion Lawrence.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

Chris Ellis, center, explains the rules of walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

Chris Ellis is the ref for Wednesday night. He’s British – “Just watched England win their game” – and he says walking soccer began in England about 15 years ago and is big in Canada and some European countries.

The biggest rule change from normal soccer is no running – at least one foot must stay on the ground at all times. Contact play is banned, the ball can’t go above head-height, and there are a few other changes, too, Ellis said: “No offsides, minimal touches; you’re usually limited to three touches per person before somebody else has to play it. And a restricted goalie area.”

“Good defense!” Paula shouts to her teammates as they make a play. “Good tenacity!” Once, she calls out “No violence!”

That’s right – no violence. Even though walking soccer isn’t a contact sport, trips and falls do occasionally happen, and though nobody was really hurt in Wednesday’s matches, the players think it’s only fitting to roll around on the turf and ham it up if it happens.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

A player feigns a serious injury after taking a fall during walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

A fight looks about to break out during walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

Paula says she did get hurt a bit last week, though you wouldn’t be able to tell by how she was playing on Wednesday. “I got injured playing geriatric walking soccer!” she laughs. “And I couldn’t go home and tell my husband, because, you know? I play co-ed for fun, but to get hurt against 80-year-olds?”

The weekly games began in June and there are two more scheduled in July, but she hopes the city’s Parks, Recreation and Culture department and the Senior Resource Center will continue it for longer.

“I just hope it keeps going through the winter months,” she said, “because here you’re getting cardio – I mean, I don’t know how many minutes cardio I had before, but now I’m at 131 — last time I checked I was at, like, eight.”

If you’re 50 or older, you can play walking soccer at 6 p.m. July 8 and July 15 at Sports Pavilion Lawrence, 100 Rock Chalk Lane. There is no entrance fee for these sessions and no other charge; it’s recommended that you wear sneakers and gym clothes, shin guards if you have them, and bring a water bottle.

“This is just fun, you know!” Paula said. “… Anyone can play it!”

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

Players chat and practice before the start of walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

The ball rolls between a player’s legs during walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

Players race to the ball in a game of walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

Seniors compete in walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

The ball sails wide away from the goal during walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

Players vie for control of the ball during walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

A player prepares to shoot in a game of walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

A player celebrates after a goal during walking soccer at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on July 1, 2026.