Older Capalaba residents looking for a way to stay active and meet new people can join free walking basketball and football sessions, with a six-week community sports programme running through November and December.
The Sport and Talk programme, organised by Redland City Council, offers modified versions of popular sports that allow participants to move at a gentler pace. No previous playing experience is needed, and residents can choose from basketball, football or softball.
Two of the three activities are based in Capalaba, giving local residents opportunities to take part at familiar sporting facilities without travelling far from home.
Familiar sports without the usual pace
Walking sports keep many of the familiar elements of traditional games while reducing the physical demands associated with running and faster competitive play.
For residents who once played basketball or football, the sessions offer an opportunity to return to a sport they may have left behind. Others can learn something new without needing to join a competitive team or commit to a full sporting season.
The programme also places considerable emphasis on conversation and social interaction. Sessions are designed to bring participants together through shared activities, with opportunities to meet others who have similar interests.
According to Redland City Council’s Seniors programme, participants need no previous experience, only comfortable shoes and a willingness to give the activities a try.
Where Capalaba residents can take part
Walking basketball takes place at PCYC Redlands on Degen Road, Capalaba, every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The programme began on 3 November and continues until 8 December.
Sessions are delivered with RedCity Roar Basketball Association and introduce participants to a slower version of basketball that encourages movement, coordination and teamwork.
Walking football is scheduled at Sam Sciacca Sportsfield on Old Cleveland Road, Capalaba, every Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., beginning 6 November and continuing until 11 December.
Capalaba Bulldogs Football Club and Football Queensland are working together to deliver the football sessions, bringing the programme to a local sportsground already associated with community football.
Residents interested in trying a different activity can also join walking softball at Redlands Softball Park in Ormiston. Sessions run on Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., from 4 November until 9 December, in partnership with Redlands Softball Association.
All three programmes are free, with registration information available through the Council’s Seniors webpage.
Earlier programme attracted 42 participants
Sport and Talk first began as a council pilot in April 2026, initially offering four weeks of walking basketball, softball and football.
The trial attracted 42 participants across the three sports, according to council figures released in June. Walking softball proved particularly popular, drawing more than 20 participants during one week, while individual sessions across the activities generally attracted around 15 people.
The response prompted the council to extend the original programme by another four weeks.
Council also reported that two residents who had experienced social isolation were able to reconnect with community activities through the sessions. Some participants attended more than one sport, while others continued attending despite wet weather, when activities were adapted for indoor use.
The latest six-week programme builds on that initial response, with Capalaba Bulldogs Football Club joining the existing sporting partners.
More than a sporting activity
For older residents who no longer participate in regular team sports, finding suitable local activities can be as much about maintaining social contact as keeping physically active.
Sport and Talk is intended to provide both opportunities in one setting, using familiar games to create a welcoming environment for people with different levels of experience.
The programme does not require participants to have previously played the sports on offer, making it accessible to newcomers as well as those hoping to return to a favourite activity.
Residents can find session details and registration links through the Redland City Council Seniors webpage. The remaining activities continue through December, with walking football beginning in Capalaba on Friday, 6 November.
Published 30-October-2026
