Sporting Participation

As it has passed twenty four hours since you posted I thought I'd make the effort of posting something that might get others to come on board.

Team sports are social environments. I thought maybe this is where Tony Attwood's "The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome" could come in handy: "all the attributes of a good friend are the same as for a good team member" (p83 - this is part of his background explanation of social understanding and friendship for adolescents). Also "the most successful team does not necessarily comprise the best players, but the most cohesive members"

In short if you are not good at socialising and forming friendship bonds (which is one of the really big issues if you are on the autistic spectrum) you will always have trouble getting to participate in team sports.

Me - right through life I ended up in the Z-team, if there was one, or the dregs that went cross-country running to give us something to do while the team players got on with team skills. And yes I did go the whole hog running where I was told to - not like most of the others in this category who ducked out early on the route for a ***, or sneaked into a pub.

Reason - my face didn't fit, I had no coordination, no real idea what was going on, so I was a disaster in any team.

You may be different and able to play cricket. You may be really good at it. But you may find most teams don't want good players they want good social buddies.

However you don't have to be in a social group to play cricket, you could make yourself available in other ways. You could volunteer as a groundsman at your local cricket club and get invited to play with the team on the odd occasion that might lead to something better. Or if you have good bowling or batting skills you might be able to get involved as a coach.

But I suspect you will have to look for some other way in that doesn't initially depend on social acceptance. Teams are often formed by word of mouth, mate of a mate in a pub, people from the same old boys network. With an autistic spectrum background you have to find non-social ways of getting involved.

But hopefully someone can come in with more positive suggestions.....

As it has passed twenty four hours since you posted I thought I'd make the effort of posting something that might get others to come on board.

Team sports are social environments. I thought maybe this is where Tony Attwood's "The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome" could come in handy: "all the attributes of a good friend are the same as for a good team member" (p83 - this is part of his background explanation of social understanding and friendship for adolescents). Also "the most successful team does not necessarily comprise the best players, but the most cohesive members"

In short if you are not good at socialising and forming friendship bonds (which is one of the really big issues if you are on the autistic spectrum) you will always have trouble getting to participate in team sports.

Me - right through life I ended up in the Z-team, if there was one, or the dregs that went cross-country running to give us something to do while the team players got on with team skills. And yes I did go the whole hog running where I was told to - not like most of the others in this category who ducked out early on the route for a ***, or sneaked into a pub.

Reason - my face didn't fit, I had no coordination, no real idea what was going on, so I was a disaster in any team.

You may be different and able to play cricket. You may be really good at it. But you may find most teams don't want good players they want good social buddies.

However you don't have to be in a social group to play cricket, you could make yourself available in other ways. You could volunteer as a groundsman at your local cricket club and get invited to play with the team on the odd occasion that might lead to something better. Or if you have good bowling or batting skills you might be able to get involved as a coach.

But I suspect you will have to look for some other way in that doesn't initially depend on social acceptance. Teams are often formed by word of mouth, mate of a mate in a pub, people from the same old boys network. With an autistic spectrum background you have to find non-social ways of getting involved.

But hopefully someone can come in with more positive suggestions.....