Sport for a child with Autism???

Question

My 5 year old Son has ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder), and I always intended (when he was a baby) to get him into a sport such as football, rugby,gymnastics etc.

But he is quite shy and introverted, and finds it hard to follow complicated rules and instructions.

I would like to take him somewhere where he can participate in a sport or pastime of some kind, which he will enjoy and get him out of the house and away from the computer!

Does anyone have any experiences/ ideas?

thank you x

Answer 1

When my son, with ASD,  was little he found ball games and sports really unappealing. He couldn't follow the instructions and had poor coordination. Swimming was his thing! He loved to be in water and had no fear. He learnt to swim very easily due to being so relaxed in the water. He was a natural at canoeing.

As he grew older we tried other sports, other successes were horse riding, which he loved, and trampolining, roller-blading and cycling.

He is now 25, living in a farm community and working with highland cattle and horses.

Good luck.

Answer 2

KH is right, a lot of children with an ASD love swimming. They love swimming because they can put their heads under the water and block out other sounds. Also it is a completely different sensation to anything else. If your son has sensory difficulties swimming is a good place to start. Other children love horse riding as yet again it is different to anything they usually do. Most children with an ASD do not enjoy team games as they do not understand all the social cues involved with them. My own child loves to swim and is now a very strong swimmer although she spends nearly all the time with her head under the water. Try different things with your son and find out what he enjoys. Most sports do run clubs for less able or disabled children and this is usually a good place to start as there are usually less children at these clubs. I am sure your son will find something he enjoys and maybe you will be able to enjoy it with him. Good luck.

Answer 3

Many answers have suggested swimming, which is fantastic sport.

I am a Youth & Disability support worker, but I am also a qualified swimming instructor, and have taught many children with disabilities to swim.

Swimming is self disciplined and children can learn "at their pace", there are less rules, small group of people, so therefor less chance of social cues being missed. The only down side to swimming is it can be a bit noisy (especially in a in door pool), picking a quite time would be better.

If you choose to go with swimming, please take your son to met his instructor few times, while there you can gage how he is reacting to the sounds around him, and talk to him about how much swimming is, by doing these few things, will make the transition into the pool much easier. As he progresses and he will change instructors, so be sure you ensure he knows, and mets the new instructor a few times prior to the class.

Autistic children can participate in team sports, but they need to be supervised at all times, as they sometimes don't understand the rules of a team sport, as well as the social cues, such as waiting for their turn etc.

But there are some really fantastic sporting bodies/groups that do have special needs teams, which provide team sports, at a base level. It maybe worth trying out a few sessions, to see if this will suit your son, most sporting bodies/groups are happy for you to do this, before you sign up, as it can be a bit expensive to signing up, and find out he is finding it difficult to fit in.

Good luck

Answer 4

some towns have things such as Buddy Ball where a non special needs peer assists the special needs child

call your state/county office of the disabled

Special Olympics

Answer 5

Kids with autism often do best in sports where they can participate more as individuals, rather than in team sports.  Gymnastics, swimming, skating, track, biking, horseback riding, hiking, and bowling are all good places to start.  

If you decide to try team sports, consider leagues that are organized for kids with special needs (Special Olympics,  Challenger baseball, TOP or VIP soccer, etc.)  I would be very cautious about signing your son up for your neighborhood tee ball or soccer team;  unfortunately, many coaches (and parents of players) are insensitive and unkind to players who are less skilled, and it can definitely damage a child's self-esteem to be put into a situation where he is criticized and made to feel inadequate.  

For many years, I worked as a recreation leader for kids and adults with special needs, and I was amazed at the number of people who participated in our bowling league.  You would think that the noise would be upsetting, but that was rarely the case.  Many bowling alleys have "gutter bumpers" of some sort, so that children or bowlers with special needs won't constantly get gutter balls.  And bowling is relatively inexpensive, compared to horseback riding, gymnastics, and swimming lessons.  Hiking and jogging, of course, don't need any equipment other than appropriate footwear.  

I would suggest that you expose your son to several of these activities and see which seems like a good fit for him.

Answer 6

Our autistic student is on a swim team. He also participates in local special olympics groups which have year-round athletic activities, and he has also joined the local community sports teams.

Team sports are not really the best idea, but I had a student years ago that loved baseball and it worked for him.

Answer 7

For an organized sport look for little league challenger division.  It is for special needs kids with disabilities.  The kids have 1:1 buddies to help them.  It is social and they learn some fundamentals.  They also learn how to be a part of a team and a good sport.  These organizations are usually government funded so it is free.  They are hard to find out about.  My 7 y.o. son with autistic spectrum disorder (PDD.NOS) just joined his first baseball team.  Free uniforms and all he has the hat, socks, pants, and jersey with name on it.  The youngest on the team is 4. They play 2 innings don't keep score and he bats off a tee though some are pitched to.  Also free, and country wide I believe is TOP soccer.  In addition to that some form of martial arts is good.  Most spectrum kids have some sensory issues, and low muscle tone so it is really good for that. Swimming is a great sensory experience but you probably are looking for something more structured and at 5  I doubt he could handle the gun being shot even if he could do the swimming, lessons are good though. For special olympics you need to be 8.

Answer 8

i coached a girl like that in gymnastics.. enroll him in a really low level class that has low numbers of kids.. but first talk to coaches..

Answer 9

My son loves to swim and he loves horse back riding.  I have a friend who has a son who is doing great in Karate and soccer.  It depends on the child and his ability to follow instruction, wait turns and follow rules.  Try your local "Y" and see if they have a gymnastics program or something like that.  Baseball is not a good choice.

Answer 10

my best friends little brother is autistic and loves it when we take him swimming, (he can wear armbands if he cant swim)if you go to a fun session you can use the floats and things to help him make up his own games, and you get to spend quality time with him. Just kicking a ball around, doesnt have to be football, can be fun, badminton is good as long as you dont bother with the rules too much! just playing catch or frisbee etc is normally quite good fun, for my friends brother anyway, i get a bit tired!

hope there is something useful in there that helps. good luck x

Answer 11

Try swimming,

I have a friend who is Autistic and he goes swimming alot and he loves it and says he has loads of fun and forgets he is doing exercise.

Answer 12

swimming

horseback riding

karate (many kids i know on the spectrum have succeeded in this sport with the right teacher)

tee-ball

Interview multiple teachers/organizations...or ask your school/other paretns of kids on the spectrum or support organizations what places work best w/ kids on the spectrum.