Getting into the Game

Sports Programs for Kids with Autism

Stephanie Patterson, Veronica Smith

• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9781849052498
• eBook ISBN: 9780857005519
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Index: Psychology

Getting into the Game: Sports Programs for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder will help families, clinicians and coaches support children with autism in taking their first steps into sport and recreation.

Participation in individual and team sports plays an important part in children's development and promotes growth in a number of areas. As well as the obvious health benefits, sport also provides the perfect backdrop to teach young people with autism about rules, strategy and teamwork – all invaluable lessons that can be applied to wider society. By detailing six of the most popular sports: cycling, ice skating, swimming, soccer, taekwondo and tennis and including the unique experiences of families of children with autism, it offers all the information, advice and support needed to help get kids with autism engaged in fun and positive sport environments.

This book is an invaluable resource for parents, teachers, coaches and anyone supporting children with autism spectrum disorders in a sport or recreation environment.

PART 1

ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN SPORT

The Basics on How and Why to Get Started

Chapter 1

WHY PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS IS
GREAT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD

What you will learn in this chapter •The many benefits of participating in physical activities. •What is understood about activity levels for individuals with ASD. •Several parent-reported benefits of sport participation for children with ASD.

To begin, we think that it is important to briefly examine the research and anecdotal reports that support the health and lifestyle benefits of sports participation, especially for people with ASD. While much of what we cover in this chapter may seem like common sense, there might be a few gems of information that will convince you (whether you are a parent, a person with ASD, a teacher, or a coach) that participation in sports and other physical activities is beneficial.

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORTS FOR KIDS OF ANY AGE

Across the lifespan there are many paybacks from participation in physical activity and sports. The most obvious benefit is physical: increased levels of cardiovascular fitness, higher levels of muscle endurance, decreased body fat, improved co-ordination, and a slowing of the impact of chronic disease (US Department of Health, 2008). For younger athletes, there is an accumulation of research demonstrating that regular physical exercise influences cognitive development and learning at school (Sibley and Etnier, 2003; Tomporowski, 1986). Just as important, participation in sport and recreation has many known mental health and social benefits. It provides a context for some people to form friendships and to observe growth in their skills and competencies that make them feel good about themselves. For others, it provides meaning and purpose in life (Law et al., 2007). There really are very few negatives about getting exercise. We all know from our personal experiences that we feel better after we’ve had a bit of exercise and (if we don’t overdo it) it’s usually a lot of fun too.

Below, you’ll find a summary of five key research findings about the benefits of sport participation.

1. You will live longer

Countless studies have confirmed the link between regular physical activity and good health and longevity (e.g. Haskell et al., 2007; Lee and Paffenbarger, 2000; Trost et al., 2002). The key to these positive benefits, however, is the word “regular.” The benefits are realized when the activities are frequent enough to make a difference. For example, significant health benefits can be obtained from just 30 minutes per day of moderate (e.g. swift walking) activity. This level of activity reduces the risk of premature mortality in general, and a raft of other significant health concerns like coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. It also improves mental health and is important for bone, muscle, and joint development (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2002).

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (2002), all children are recommended to accumulate 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. However, it is estimated that approximately half of children are considered inactive and do not accumulate this recommended amount in any one day. Sadly, this is not just an American problem. We found reports from Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand that echoed these findings – kids in most developed countries aren’t getting the recommended level of physical activity per day. This phenomenon has become a health concern in most Western countries. Most children, teens, and adults need to get more physical activity to reap the health benefits. Figuring out how to make physical activity a “regular” part of your daily routines, especially for people with ASD, is one of the reasons we wrote this book.

2. You will develop “physical literacy”

By acquiring fundamental movement skills (e.g. running, jumping, throwing) and fundamental sport skills (e.g. hitting a ball with a bat, throwing a ball in a hoop, jumping over a bar) children and teens are able to enjoy a variety of activities, which leads to lifelong participation in sport and physical activity. This knowledge has recently been dubbed “physical literacy” by the Canadian Sport for Life Organization. According to Canadian Sport for Life (2011), “individuals are physically literate when they have acquired the skills and confidence to enjoy a variety of sports and physical activities.” Just like literacies associated with reading and math, physical literacy is essential to getting along in the world.

Physical literacy develops as a result of being physical in a context that supports learning. In childhood, team and individual sport participation provide a context for this learning to take place. Sport instruction places demands on participants to listen to verbal instructions, observe the actions of others, process information quickly, and respond to cues – all within a social context. In some cases physical literacy also involves understanding how to compete or perform well. Physical literacy is acquired through participation in a variety of physical activities where children learn to read what goes on around them, understand their own physical response, and react accordingly.

Without “physical literacy” there is a tendency for children to drop out of sports or opt out of physical activities altogether. Poorly developed physical skill is one of the main reasons that children choose not to participate in motor activities. By engaging in physical activity early and by investing many hours in physical play or sport, children are more likely to develop physical literacy. Participating early in life sets up a positive cycle of events – children develop fundamental movement skills, they experience more enjoyment moving their bodies, and develop more positive beliefs about themselves and physical activity. With this positive outlook there is a lack of perceived barriers to engaging in physical activity and, consequently, children become more confident in their own ability to engage in regular physical activity.

3. You will learn better

There is a growing body of research indicating that time spent participating in sports and physical activity will have collateral benefits in the classroom (Sibley and Etnier, 2003; Tomporowski, 1986). The academic benefits associated with sports participation have been described in a number of ways: better grades, improved academic skills, better attention in class, and more positive attitudes to school. Without getting into a detailed physiological explanation, when we are physically active, certain neurochemicals associated with learning and brain growth are stimulated. As well, regular exercise increases blood flow to the cortex, which enhances oxygenation resulting in better brain functioning. These factors highlight the importance of ensuring that children get sufficient activity to optimize their cognitive functioning, which contributes to improved learning at school and other educational settings.

4. You will stay active longer

Being physically active early in life is strongly associated with being active later in life (Burtton and Martens, 1986; Skard and Vaglum, 1989; Weiss and Ferrer-Caja, 2002). Researchers have found that teens who do not learn the fundamental movements associated with sports tend to engage in few physical activities as adults. Active adults, on the other hand, report regular sports participation as children and feel more confident in foundational physical skills of balance, agility, and strength. So, learning foundational s...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Endorsement
• Of Related Interest
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword By Connie Kasari
• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Part 1 Active Engagement In Sport : The Basics On How And Why To Get Started
• Part 2 Sports For New Athletes With Asd : Basic Skills, Strategies, And Ongoing Adapted Programs
• References
• About the Authors
• The Contributors