The sports department used the Houtem Fit day to introduce two new sports. — © Chris Bosseloo
The sports department of Sint-Lievens-Houtem used the Houtem Fit day on Monday to include two new, accessible sports in its program. From now on, enthusiasts can also enjoy a game of walking football or pickleball.
The sports department organized a Houtem Fit day in the De Fabriek sports center on Monday. In the morning, enthusiasts could participate in the existing weekly range of sports such as gymnastics, line dancing, curvebowl and yoga, as well as in additional sports such as step aerobics, stabilization exercises and cornhole. The sports department simultaneously launched walking football and pickleball, two new sports that will now be included in the annual offering.
Annual program
“Today we are presenting our annual program during Houtem Fit,” says Laura Van Geyte (32), sports promoter of the municipality. “With us, people can come and exercise for a full year with one subscription. Everyone can participate in sports every day without obligation. We use this day to put all existing sports in the spotlight and we also show two new sports that we will offer from New Year.”
“The two newest sports in our range are walking football and pickleball,” says Laura. “Pickleball is an accessible, padel-like sport that is played with a pick and a kind of hockey ball. The same rules apply to walking football as to regular football, but the players are not allowed to walk. Today about sixty people showed up and we are very happy with that.”
Fewer injuries
Gerrit De Winne (64) thinks walking football is great. “It’s only my first year playing the sport,” he says. “It’s just a super fun experience. I have been playing the sport in Lede for a while now, but I am happy that I can now also go to Sint-Lievens-Houtem. I used to be a football player, and that is one of the most underestimated sports for injuries. With walking football, the sport remains the same, only we take it slower and that way we run little or no risk of injuries.” (Read more below the photos)
Walking football involves walking rather than running, which reduces the risk of injuries. — © Chris Bosseloo
Pickleball is a cross between badminton and tennis and is a lot more accessible. — © Chris Bosseloo
Pickleball
Hilda (68) has been playing pickleball in Lede for more than a year. “It’s a fun sport,” she says. “The sport is very successful. It’s a bit of a combination of tennis and badminton, but much more accessible. Pickleball is therefore a nice alternative. It is quieter, everyone can play it and we are not dependent on the weather because it is an indoor sport.”
If you would like more information about the sports offered by the sports service, please visit: https://www.sint-lievens-houtem.be/houtem-fit.