Hockey can help improve your fitness, boost your mood, and build strength and balance. It’s also a great way to meet new people and feel part of a team.
Walking hockey offers the same great benefits but at a slower pace. It’s perfect if you want to stay active and enjoy the game without running.
Whether you enjoy fast-paced matches, walking hockey, or wheelchair hockey — or just love watching the game — there’s always a way to be part of the action. Hockey is a fun and exciting way to keep active, stay connected, and feel good.
Hockey is great for your heart and fitness. Running and quick movements help keep your heart strong and build stamina. Start slowly, warm up first, and always wear the right safety gear to stay safe.
Hockey helps build strength in your legs, arms, and core. Pushing, hitting, and changing direction makes muscles stronger. Warm up first, practise good technique, and rest when you need to.
Hockey helps improve balance and coordination. Moving quickly, stopping, and changing direction helps you stay steady on your feet. Start at your own pace, practise good footwork, and wear the right footwear to stay safe.
Walking hockey follows special rules designed to keep it fun and safe for everyone. You can find the full set of rules from World Walking Hockey: World walking hockey rules
It can be hard to know where to start when trying to move more. Everyone begins at a different point, depending on how active they are, how easily they move, and how strong they feel.
To get started, choose the option that best matches what you usually do on an average day in each column below. Look at your daily activities, mobility, and strength to find a sensible place to begin. Then click on the ‘see results’ button to reveal where you should start.
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If you enjoy watching hockey, you can still move while the game’s on! Try marching on the spot, doing a few bicep curls with light weights, or sit-to-stand exercises during breaks. Every bit of movement helps. Want more ideas? Try these chair-based exercises.
Not ready to play yet? That’s okay. Doing gentle balance or strength exercises while watching can keep your body strong. You could also go watch a live game — walking around the pitch and chatting with others is a great way to move more.
Walking hockey is a great way to enjoy the game without running. It’s slower, social, and safe — many people with long-term health conditions love it. You’ll meet new friends and keep your skills sharp.
Walking hockey is perfect for staying active at your own pace. It’s all about teamwork, skills, and fun — with no need to run. Keep enjoying the game and feeling great. You might also feel able to join a club and start training or playing at a level that you feel comfortable.
If you enjoy walking hockey and want a new challenge, you might like to join a veterans’ league. These are made for older or returning players who still love the game.
Yes! There’s Powerchair hockey and Flyerz Hockey, where people who use wheelchairs and those who don’t can play together.
World Masters Hockey (WMH) is the globally recognised governing body for Masters Hockey, dedicated to organising international tournaments for players aged 35+, fostering lifelong participation, global connection, and elite competition through events like the Indoor World Cup and Continental Championships.
England Hockey’s Walking Hockey programme offers a fun, low-impact version of the sport for all ages and abilities, promoting physical activity, social connection, and confidence through inclusive, non-contact play on smaller pitches.
Walking hockey is designed to help people keep an active lifestyle regardless of age, health and ability.
This site has been put together by specialists in exercise medicine and supported and funded by Nuffield Health Charity. In collaboration with academic experts, specialists in behavioural change, medics across a wide spectrum of specialties, physiotherapists, nurses and most importantly, people living with the symptoms of long term conditions. Through our rigorous academic process we have carefully ensured that all the information on this website is trustworthy and evidence based.
The following organisations have contributed to and endorsed the content of this website.
