Getting People with Autism to Enjoy Sports

Other than the benefits of improved physical health and motor skills, sports also help to improve mental health, decrease negative self-stimulating behaviors and provide learning opportunities for social skills.

It is known that everyone benefits from doing sports because of the many physical health benefits such as increased cardiovascular fitness, strengthened bones and toned muscles. Sports also help to improve mental health by increasing self-esteem and allowing one to develop social skills such as acceptance of others, social inclusion and better communication skills.

For people with autism, sports can be a good platform to improve gross motor skills and encourage social inclusion. Sports that require teamplay will allow people with autism to make friends which may lead to an improved social life, increase independence and become less reliant on caregivers. They may also develop higher self-esteem and gain confidence. Sports can also become a healthy outlet for them to release stress and frustration instead of negative self-stimulating behaviors. Therefore, with all the benefits mentioned above, the playing field can become a therapeutic and beneficial platform for people with autism.

Find Out What They Like

People with autism tend to have limited interests, and exposure to different sports helps expand their interests. They could be taught to try out new sports in order to find out what they enjoy. This can be done through either online videos or games, such as the Wii system, which simulates various sports similar to real-world games.

Decide if Team or Individual Sports are More Suitable

Team sports such as basketball and soccer create opportunities for social interaction. This may help people with autism to slowly integrate into the society as they observe and learn social cues, and improve communication skills. There are autism-specific sports teams available in some communities and they provide a friendly environment for individuals with autism to be exposed to sports. Singa Champs, an organization in Singapore that aspires to improve the self-esteem and social interaction of youths with autism through sports, offers sporting programmes such as soccer, basketball and multi-sports.

While team sports allow people with autism to pick up values such as teamwork and leadership skills, some people with autism may prefer individual sporting activities such as hiking, golf or cycling as they will be able to participate without social interactions that might cause stress.

Adapting to Environment

People with autism tend to be sensitive to sensory information such as noise, light or touch. For example, some of them may prefer dim lighting as compared to bright lights. Therefore, since certain environments may be overwhelming for them, it is important to check the surroundings and slowly let them adapt to the environment. Potential distractions in the environment can be removed if possible or adjusted to a level they are comfortable with first. For example, only bring out the equipment needed to prevent clutter or dimming the lights a little so that they will feel more comfortable. A tip is to deliver new or unfamiliar activities in an environment they are familiar or feel comfortable with so that they will feel less anxious and can concentrate better.

Use Positive Reinforcements

When achievements and efforts are recognised, it reinforces desired behaviors and allows individuals to gain confidence. This also allows a relationship to grow between the individual with autism and the person giving positive reinforcements. It is, however, important to make sure that the praises are not exaggerated. Exaggerated or insincere praises that fail to reflect an individual’s true ability may backfire and make him feel that he has to do well to be accepted. These individuals may also feel insecure and fear trying lest they fail. Therefore, instead of “you’re so talented, you’re perfect!”, praises such as “you worked really hard for that, well done!” may be given.

Break Down the Tasks

Make sure the activity is achievable by breaking down the activity into smaller manageable tasks, and giving simpler and shorter instructions. For example, when teaching an individual with autism how to eat ice cream, the steps can be further broken down into simpler tasks such as opening the refrigerator, taking out the ice cream tub, removing the lid of the ice cream tub, taking a spoon, scoop ice cream, eat ice cream. When individuals with autism are taught in small steps, it is easier for them to follow through and prevent meltdowns that stem from overwhelming input.

In conclusion, individuals with autism are highly encouraged to play sports as it brings many benefits and provides enjoyment at the same time. Despite their limited interests or sensory sensitivities, it is still possible to get them to explore new things and adapt to different environments.

Written by: Guat Shin

References

Recreation. Autism Speaks. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.autismspeaks.org/activites-children-autism

Sport - a guide for sports coaches and clubs. National Autistic Society . (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/leisure/sports/sports-coaches