Playing Sports With Autism

A child with ASD may have a hard time with some aspects of team sports

I find that the best way to prepare is to be honest with the coach and other parents about the diagnosis-once they know, they can help!

• Understanding the rules: most kids with ASD do well in a structured environment, but not so well with abstract language. In basketball for example, some of the courts are multi functional, having a multitude of lines. Sometimes, the teacher or coach does not clearly show the child which lines they must stay in. In baseball, a coach may say "now tag him with the ball" (heard it!) The child may interpret that as "hit him with the ball- or throw the ball at him" Points, when not displayed and in different amounts seem arbitrary, and rules that get you a foul must be very precise for the child. Learning these is challenging for a lot of kids, but for a kid with ASD, it may take a few months longer.
• Exclusion: Unless the child has a gift for the sport in question, a child with ASD is most likely to be picked last, to have the other children complain about playing with them or to have the entire team avoid passing the ball to them. They may be ridiculed for mis understanding the rules, often when the adult is not looking, the others play keep away. They may be very passionate about the sport, maybe even be really good at it, but not really given the chance to participate.
• Winning and losing: This is a tough concept for kids with ASD because of their rigid thinking. They thought they would win. When they do not, it is not just upsetting. It is a tragedy- they not only lost the game, but they may feel as if they lost control, there is something that has drastically changed in the world by them not winning. This is a very important lesson for them but you should be prepared. They may "cause a scene" they may very well throw things and scare (or accidentally hurt) another child. If they do lose, watch carefully to see what their response is. If it is escalating, do some damage control like separating them from the other kids so that A. no one gets hurt, B. the kids can't point and laugh.
  
  Winning can be just as challenging. "We" did not win- "I" did. The excitement may take over and they begin to rub it in (without meaning to). The team mates may become angry that the child with ASD is taking all of the credit.
• Throwing and Catching: ASD often comes with sensory problems and co-ordination problems. The child may fumble the ball a lot more when they are excited. Maybe a lightly weighted shirt or belt will help, protective gear in football can be heavy enough to do the trick as well. Coordination problems may also cause the child to trip over their own feet a lot.
• Injuries: Often people with certain forms of ASD experience lax ligaments and altered sensitivity to pain. This makes sports injuries not only more likely, but more urgent to have examined. For example, a child without ASD who trips and injures their knee will likely know that they have injured themselves. A child with ASD may fall and injure themselves and take a few minutes of running around to notice the severity- at which point a partial tear may have become complete.
  
  Add to that mix some ADHD and you should bring a first aid kit and emergency contact info with you to every practice- even the casual practices.
• Sensory Overload: If your child with ASD makes a team, they may do exceptionally well at practice but because of the sensory challenges that usually accompany autism they may experience sensory overload that the games... bright lights, motion, smells, horns, scuffing sounds, cheering sounds etc. If they make the team (or even before they try out) , then I strongly recommend that you speak to the coach about having them attend another team event and walking out onto the field or court during the commotion (throw up the ball or something) just to be sure that they are ok with it. If they experience the overload/ shutdown at their own game, the emotions and memories may be too strong overcome that year.

Some kids with ASD have extra advantages!

Some in the form of symptoms

• Flexibility: Lax ligaments have their drawbacks, but they also allow for greater flexibility!
• Strength: Wow! A lot of kids on the spectrum are extremely strong! Some studies have suggested that more muscle fibers are activated simultaneously causing them to be extra strong, this does however have a negative effect of endurance.
• Speed: Running faster than a speeding bullet! Also some kids on the spectrum have heightened reflexes during certain types of activities, hopefully the sport would be one such activity!
• Determination: They want to succeed SO much! If a child with ASD has found a sport that they are passionate about, good luck stopping them! It may become the new obsession- replacing train wheels or dinosaurs! Make sure not to let them overdo it though!
• Brutal Honesty: When they have more experience in a game, kids with ASD are quick to point out a "stupid gameplan". They will also let people know if someone has cheated or if another player (who is being stubborn) appears too injured to play. They love the game and will not see anything bad happen to it!
• Memory: With a little experience, a child with ASD may be able to start remembering which player on the opposing team has certain strengths, weaknesses or repetitive moves, this can really help the team to plan accordingly!
• Aim : Some kids with ASD have terrible aim when trying to do it visually. Just for fun- if your child struggles with that, have them shut their eyes, physically assist them and then have them do it alone... kids with ASD have amazing muscle memory! Some do great visually, trial and error is all that is required to determine how your child aims best!

Kids with ASD can get a lot out of team sports!

• Structure: Each team member has a job, the coach is in charge. There are an abundance of rules which, once understood, give the child a few hours of absolute stability with the crucial sabotage of routine included! The stability is such that even a disruption in way the game is going is better tolerated than daily life- the rules are absolute and despite a little hiccup in the points, the game itself remains the same.
• Friends: Team mates share a special bond. It may take longer for a child with ASD to be accepted by the team, but once they are they will have more friends, many of whom begin to act as "guardians" away from the game as well.
• Respect: Having ASD in such a social world is challenging. Joining a team and persevering despite those additional challenges helps the child earn respect, as they begin to feel more respected, they feel pride and further excel in their chosen sport, earning more respect!
• Confidence: I can't think of a better feeling than looking at my son with a huge smile on his face as he says "I did it!" "I am good at Basketball!" He walks with his head higher now, greets people better than he used to and even speaks at school. He is good at so many things, but to him, it had to be a sport. He is improving everyday, next year he wants to try out for a team! (right now the neighborhood kids play with him for about 2 hours three days a week- they are on teams and he is keeping up!)
• Physical benefits: I think you know the health benefits of physical exercise!
• Social Skills: Complex situations like congratulating the winner or saying good job to the losing team are very challenging for kids with ASD, the team environment helps them grow into it. They learn more conversation skills, and unfortunately, locker room talk.

Independent Sports are great too!