Walter Ayres Boal (March 26, 1879 – 1955) was an All-American football player and hammer thrower in the late 19th century.

Boal was unlike most of the Harvard football players of his era, who were drawn from the ranks of the elite eastern preparatory schools.

[2] At the start of the 1898 football season, sports writers credited Boal with being the only player on Harvard's line that the coaches could depend on.

In Harvard's 1898 victory over Ivy League rival Penn, Boal blocked a kick and even scored a touchdown after recovering a fumble.

One writer noted, "Last year, he was very effective running with the ball, but this season his leg kept him out of the game for so long that he has had to work hard to get back into his old form.