No Running Required As Walking Soccer Arrives In North Saanich

Running is off the table, but the ball is still at players’ feet. Peninsula Soccer Association is launching a walking soccer program at Blue Heron Park, opening the door for older adults to get back on the field in a version of the game built around movement, safety and social connection.

The idea did not start in a boardroom. It came from a community member who reached out to the club, asking if it was something worth exploring.

“I looked into it and thought, yeah, that would be very cool,” vice-president and director of adult soccer Melissa Drolet explained. “We want to find ways to give everyone a chance to enjoy the game.”

Walking soccer keeps much of the structure of the traditional game, but with key adjustments.

Players must walk at all times, the ball stays below shoulder height, and the field and nets are scaled down. Games typically run with smaller sides, creating a more controlled and approachable pace.

Peninsula Soccer plans to open its clubhouse during sessions, giving participants a place to gather, take breaks and connect off the field. Drolet said that the social side is just as important as the physical benefits.
“This is a community-based club, run by volunteers,” she said. “Having a space where people can come in, sit down and talk is a big part of it.”
The program will be free to try throughout April, with drop-in sessions scheduled for the 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th. Registration for a spring season in May and June is expected to follow, with the potential to add more sessions if turnout is strong. — Pic credit: Tony Trozzo/Peninsula News Review

“It’s a way to stay with the sport when your body maybe isn’t as capable of running anymore,” Drolet said.

The sessions will run Wednesday mornings from 9 to 11, a window that makes use of fields that are otherwise quiet during school hours. Drolet said that was part of the appeal, both from a programming and community standpoint.

“It’s a different group of people using these fields,” she said. “They were paid for by the municipalities, so it’s nice to see them being used more.”

The program is aimed at women 50-plus and men 55-plus, though flexibility exists depending on interest. No previous soccer experience is required, something Drolet hopes will encourage newcomers alongside former players.

“You can come try it whether you’ve played or not,” she said. “It’s about being outside, meeting people and staying active.”

Peninsula Soccer plans to open its clubhouse during sessions, giving participants a place to gather, take breaks and connect off the field. Drolet said that the social side is just as important as the physical benefits.

“This is a community-based club, run by volunteers,” she said. “Having a space where people can come in, sit down and talk is a big part of it.”

The program will be free to try throughout April, with drop-in sessions scheduled for the 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th. Registration for a spring season in May and June is expected to follow, with the potential to add more sessions if turnout is strong.

Drolet said interest has been engaging so far, but the club is still in the early stages of spreading the word beyond its existing membership.

Gorge Soccer Association, in Saanich, runs similar programming, which has taken off, with multiple weekly sessions and different levels of play. That growth offers a glimpse of what could develop locally if participation follows. “We’ll see what we get and build from there,” Drolet said.

Source: https://peninsulanewsreview.com/2026/03/20/no-running-required-as-walking-soccer-arrives-in-north-saanich/

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