Playing sports when you have autism

Ideas and recommendations for starting to exercise

Raquel Montllor Linares

Mental health activist

It is common knowledge that sports are fundamental to the development of all people. Besides improving our physical and emotional well-being , they also provide leisure and social interaction.

Sport improves overall health, reduces stress, and enhances motor skills. When practiced correctly, it also boosts self-confidence and develops skills such as goal-oriented work and responsibility. And when practiced in a group, it can help improve communication, camaraderie, and teamwork skills.

What benefits do you get from doing sports?

What sport can we practice and how do we get started?

It seems obvious, but the best sport for a person with autism is one they enjoy, not one that their parents, for example, absolutely must like. Generally, we are all more consistent and happier when we practice a sport of our choosing. Once a sport has been chosen, here are some recommendations for getting started:

Start with individual sports: this will allow us to get used to playing sports. The transition to team sports is a very important step that, if taken, can help us connect with other people, but it's essential to choose the right time (and this may not be easy).
Having a structured environment: autistic people like to know when we start, what we are going to do, and when we are going to finish.
Having some supervision is important: autistic people tend to tire easily and become interested in other things. Sometimes, we can even be quite daring. So it's best to have someone who can accompany and guide us during recovery sessions.

Some ideas for individual sports

Swimming. Even those of us who aren't great at coordinating or motor skills can have a good time in the pool. Swimming also allows us to be part of a team through individual practice. Yes, I'm thinking of relay races.
Running. We all run. Jumping and running are two natural human activities. Furthermore, running doesn't require us to develop communication skills, which are essential in team sports. Relay races can also be part of this.

Team sports present significant challenges, such as contact and communication with others, greater coordination, and typically noisier environments.

Walking. The "relaxed" version of running is hiking, which can be done individually or in small groups. Walking allows us to enjoy the surroundings, and, if we do it in a group, we don't have to participate intensely in the conversations that take place.
Horse riding . We, as people with autism, are used to talking about equine therapy. Sometimes we find it easier to communicate with animals than with people.
Bowling. Although we don't usually like the noise that is usually in bowling alleys, a predictable (you throw twice and sit down) and repetitive activity like this can be enjoyable.
Martial arts. These are always regulated activities. They help us develop balance, strength, self-esteem, and discipline; but, in addition, they offer the challenge (which can be positive) of physical interaction with other people.
Motorsports. A highly regulated activity from start to finish, complete with its own symbols (flags, for example). If we're interested, we can memorize the best racing line for each track. It can be very interesting.

Which sport is best for me?

The challenges of team sports

Finding the right moment to take the plunge into a team sport is incredibly important. Team sports typically require a higher level of coordination than individual sports and are practiced in more sensory-intensive environments. Naturally, building relationships and communicating with others is also a challenge. Sometimes it's difficult to choose the right sport, but in team sports, our preferences are just as important as the instructor (or coach) and the group we join.

It is necessary to have properly trained monitors and coaches who:

Support us, but don't overprotect us.
Strengthen our autonomy.
Combine verbal and non-verbal expression.
They understand us and don't unnecessarily infantilize us.
Keep an eye on our injuries.

Sport improves overall health, reduces stress, increases motivation and self-confidence, and, if practiced in a group, helps develop communication, camaraderie, and teamwork skills.

Playing sports has the following emotional implications:

Let's be more motivated.
We feel more confident in ourselves.
Let's have a defense against low moods and isolation.

But we must be aware that people with autism have some difficulties such as :

Adapting to the rhythms and organization of sports activities or practices.
Sharing moments in the locker room or during breaks with other colleagues (we don't know what to talk about during breaks, if there are any).
Understanding social conventions related to the group.
Lack of initiative for communication and peer relationships, or inadequate or failed attempts to establish connections.
Difficulty asking for help or expressing emotions and problems.