Free Session If You’d Like To Try Walking Basketball

Published on: 2 Nov, 2015
Updated on: 2 Nov, 2015

Walking basketball is a sport aimed primarily for those over the age of 50, and more and more people are taking part all the time.

Sessions in Guildford are held at the Spectrum leisure centre on Mondays from noon to 1pm, and at the Surrey Sports Park on Wednesday and Fridays from 10.30am to 11.30am.

Walking basketball is proving to be a popular sport for those over the age of 50.

If you’d like to give it a go, go along to either venue and your first session will be free. Further sessions cost £6 at Spectrum and £5 at the Surrey Sports Park.

Walking basketball is run throughout the UK by Bridget Hayward and Creon Raftopoulos. Bridget said: “This is a sport suitable for all ages, sizes and abilities from over-weight children who cannot run to those over the age of 70 – and is a lot of fun.

“Players can average 3,500 to 5,000 steps in an hour’s session and burn on average 500 calories.

“We are already working with local GP referral schemes to offer their participants something different to play and it is proving to be very popular. We have just started working with Mind, the mental health charity. Our Merseyside branch is also working with its local NHS in rehab and with mental health groups.

“We have recently run walking basketball sessions for Pennington Solicitors at their Sportability day which was run for four local special needs schools.

Bridget added that older people who take part most often like the sense of camaraderie being part of a team brings, and they all go off for a coffee afterwards which is great for their sense of well being and mental health.

A high level of coaching is also ensured.