Can Walking Soccer take off here?

Wesley Chapel resident Colin Eke grew up playing soccer. He says that in Ipswich, England, where he was born and raised, “football” was more than a game, it was a passion.

The older Eke got, however, the harder the game got. Factor in injuries to his hips, knees and Achilles tendon, and Eke turned to refereeing games. But now, he’s turning to a whole new game — “walking football,” or as it’s called here, soccer. He jokes that this way, “You can play soccer on Sunday afternoon, and when you go to work on Monday, you’re not on crutches.’’

Eke, who is 60, is trying to start what he believes will be Florida’s first-ever over-50 Walking Football League right here in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa. He held a clinic last week at the Benito Middle School soccer fields on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, and is hoping to attract enough players for a 4-team league.

Eke says the concept is no joke – walking football is one of the fastest growing sports in England. He says that everyone should check out YouTube to see how the sport is played. “It’s quicker than you think,” he says.

There is an official organization in England that holds regional and national tournaments – Walking Football United – and the United States Adult Soccer Association will include the game in its Adult Soccer Fest in Denver, CO, July 13-17.

“A good friend in England told me about it,’’ he said. “Most people over the age of 50 can’t run anymore, they’ve chosen to hang their boots up or not play anymore, whether it’s weight, injuries or they’re not fit enough. This game just involves a new mindset.”

Eke is trying to persuade people to that new mindset, hoping to have enough teams for his planned league by sometime later this month — after the COPA America tournament has ended and the Euro Cup is nearing its finale.

“I’ve had some people say ,‘You must be kidding,’’ Eke says. “I just tell them, after five minutes in (of regular soccer), if you’re over 50, you’re either walking anyway, laying on the ground exhausted or wanting to come off for water.”

In walking football, as you might imagine, no running is allowed. You can power walk, but are not permitted to jog, lest you end up being sentenced to two minutes in the “sin bin,” equivalent to hockey’s penalty box.

The game is still quicker than you might imagine (again, check out the YouTube videos if you don’t believe it) and the players need to possess good footwork and solid ball striking skills. Instead of 11-on-11, walking football features 6-on-6 play.

The game is open to men and women. The goals and field are smaller, no one is allowed in the penalty area in front of the net, and there is no offsides, no slide tackling and no over-the-head throw-ins.

“The goal is to let people who love the game to keep playing,’’ Eke says. “It’s still great physical fitness, it’s a great social game and there’s (much less) chance of injury.’’

Eke has run the New Adult Premier Soccer League (APSL) along with partner Miguel Herrera since 2012. Roughly 200 players from the Wesley Chapel, New Tampa and Dade City areas have competed at places like Benito Middle School on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, the Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Rd., and the New Tampa Community Park in Tampa Palms during men’s and co-ed leagues on Wednesday and Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.

Eke hopes the addition of walking football is as successful as the rest of his leagues have been. “The whole point is to get players who are older to be healthy and active,’’ he says. “It’s like a stroll on a Sunday afternoon, so why not kick a ball at the same time?”

For more information about Eke’s walking soccer league and how to sign up, check out NewAPSL.com or email him at Colin@NewAPSL.com or Miguel@NewAPSL.com.

For additional information about the sport of walking soccer, check out WalkingFootballUnited.co.uk.