“Don’t just think about it. Do it. Do it. Do it.” (Remember the Participaction theme song from our childhood?) It still holds true today. Don’t let anything stop you when it comes to putting your kids on a local baseball team, getting them geared up for golf, or signing them on for Swim Club. Getting your child involved in sports programs is a great idea. This is even more important if your child has autism. There are so many benefits that can help aspects of the condition. It can improve physical fitness, enhance their social skills, help them regulate their emotions, and foster a sense of inclusivity. However, with a neurodivergent child, traditional sports settings may not always meet their unique needs. 

Here are ten effective strategies to adapt sports programs to better serve children with autism Burlington.

1. Focus On Individual Goals

Every professional athlete has their own set of stats, which include their personal bests. For instance, they might count their greatest number of hits per game, or runs batted in. When it comes to your child with autism, make these PBs the metric that counts. Winning isn’t everything. Set personalized goals based on each child’s abilities and interests. Competing against yourself can enhance motivation and provide a continuous sense of achievement. Make the goal to play better this time than you did last time. And that’s it. In this way, you can celebrate small successes to boost confidence and encourage continued participation, regardless of skill level.

2. Modify Equipment and Rules

Three strikes and you walk. Why not? You can make things a little easier for the kids with autism. One of the ways that we suggest doing that is by adjusting the equipment and rules to make sports more accessible. Some examples of this are modified pitch counts, using tees and softer balls, and smaller strike zones. If you get the okay to modify game rules, be sure to focus on participation rather than competition. It doesn’t have to be every game. Just the special ones. Making little adaptations can help neurodivergent children feel more welcomed and engaged.

3. Simplify Instructions

If you’re going to make changes to the game, it helps if you are the coach or assistant coach on your child’s team. If not, you can still demonstrate what you mean from the sidelines, or write up suggestions from home. With any change, how you explain the new rules to your child and the other children will become imperative. Communication is key. Use simple, concise language when giving instructions. If there is a more complicated task, break it down into smaller, bite-sized steps and, if you can, demonstrate each step visually. This can help children better understand what is expected of them.

4. Use Visual Supports

Who has time to read in the dugout? Keep it simple. Put up colourful, illustrated posters as visual aids for your child and the other kids with the rules of the game and inspiration. They can include: What to do at what time (looking at you, on-deck), reminders of how sportsmanship works, and modifications to the rules that are in place to level the playing field for children with autism. Visual aids can be pictures, diagrams, or videos. Overall, they are instrumental in teaching sports skills. At Monarch House, we find that these visual tools provide concrete references, making it easier for children to grasp concepts and rules, which may be challenging for them to understand through verbal communication alone.

5. Implement Peer Buddy Systems

Introduce your child and the other kids on the field to the Big Buddy system. At Monarch House, we always encourage parents and educators to pair their children with autism with supportive peers. This works in school as well as during practices and games. They can learn a lot from each other. Big Buddies can provide social support, encouragement, and guidance. It’s a win-win situation as the system fosters friendships between the ages and makes it less of an intimidating environment to learn teamwork and social skills.

6. Create a Structured Environment

Most sports are highly organized with rules and prescribed behaviours for each step of the game. This formula could be a real boon for your child. Children with autism often thrive in structured settings. Whether it’s the pre-game stretch, or pop-flies to warm up, most coaches and assistants will already have established clear routines and predictable schedules during practices and games. This ritual can be comforting. Off the field, use visual schedules or charts to outline activities. This can help your child anticipate what comes next and reduce some of the anxiety they may be harbouring.

7. Encourage Sensory-Friendly Options

You need to really put yourself in your child’s place and think of all the things they are going to touch, hear, and see throughout the game. When it comes to children with autism, one really needs to be mindful of sensory sensitivities. The dugout can be a sensory-friendly environment. Make sure the children have sunglasses and lots of water. Consider noise-cancelling headphones during the yells of the cheers of when the kids are at-bat. Maybe some new grip tape for the bats. Allow breaks during practice for children to manage sensory overload, and listen to their needs during practice or the game so they can feel more comfortable.

8. Incorporate Social Skills Training

At Monarch House, we can help with social skills groups to prepare your child for any sporting events that may be coming down the pike. We can role-play scenarios and help ease their anxiety before a big event. It’s never a bad idea to integrate social skills programs with sports practices. We can make use of similar, structured activities that promote communication, cooperation, and problem-solving. Getting your child around their peers in an active environment is a win-win when it comes to socialization and fitness. It’s a great way to help children with autism develop essential social skills in a supportive context.

9. Emphasize Fun And Enjoyment

Participation trophies get a bad rap. The heart is in the right place though. At the end of the day, it’s important to remember to prioritize fun over competition. It’s all about making sure that everyone has a good time. Parents, coaches, and caregivers can do this by creating a positive and encouraging atmosphere where participation is valued as much as winning. Put the emphasis on beating those personal bests. Overall, it’s best to find games and activities that are enjoyable for all children. Pick the best one for your child which will help them develop a love for physical activity.

10. Engage Parents And Caregivers

Chances are, you’re not a lone voice in the wilderness. There has to be other parents out there that want to re-emphasize fun over ferocity. Do what you can to involve other like-minded parents and caregivers into the sports program. Build a network, or a support group. Monarch House can help with this. Regular communication can address specific needs and preferences for your children. We offer parent coaching and ways to organize workshops or information sessions to educate families. Working together, we can find ways to support your child’s participation.

At Monarch House we have a dedicated team of professionals committed to ensuring your child’s foray into sports is a successful one. Our behavioural therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and psychotherapists can help you with suggested modifications to their recreational activities, role-playing interactions on the field, and preparing for the necessary social skills. Adapting sports programs for children with autism requires empathy, creativity, and a commitment to inclusivity. By putting these strategies into practice, parents, coaches and organizations can create an environment where all children feel empowered to participate and valued at the same time. Through these adaptations and modifications, we can enhance the sports experience for children with autism Burlington. Not only that, this inclusivity also serves to enrich the lives of all the other participants. These harmonious events foster understanding and camaraderie in every community.