Our oldest son is an Aspie with a special interest in sport and fitness. Despite having both fine and gross motor skills issues, compounded by the usual social and communications hassle, he's managed to master riding a bike (five years but he got there), learn to swim (quite well and with good endurance) and has played rugby (in local club teams) for six years. He does weight training three times a week, cardio circuits twice a week, and does cross-country runs three times a week. The mental health workers and psychologists who work with his social skills group say his physical skills are outstanding compared with most Aspies—largely down to his obsession with his getting his form 100% correct. It might take him years to get something right, but if that's what it takes…
However, as he heads into his mid-teens he's finding it increasingly difficult to take part as sport clubs and coaches don't want Aspies (swimming club wouldn't take him, football didn't work, current rugby coach is very negative etc.) The majority of players are very good—seeing his idiosyncracies as no different to the rituals of professional athletes—but club officials and coaches find it too difficult, to challenging and too threatening to have "one of this mental kids" in their sport. On top of that, we're in a rural part of Scotland so there's a shortage of sporting opportunities and facilities. So, I contacted Scottish Disability Sports regional manager to see if there were sports that might be more welcoming/inclusive of Apsies.
I was astonished when she replied to say that autism doesn't fit the disability classifications of the Paralympics and Commonwealth Games, therefore sporting people with autism fall outwith the remit of Scottish Disability Sports. I find it bizarre that people with autism are regarded as able bodied when it comes to sport—the condition is known to be associated with deficiencies in motor skills, compounded by communication and social skills issues, but it's not seen as a sporting disability.
So, if Scottish Disability Sports can't help as autism isn't a sporting disability, what are we supposed to do to help our son get into a sport that's genuinely inclusive of Aspies?
Parents
Former Member
This is a really difficult question. I played squash for many years pre diagnosis. I played with a regular squash partner most of the time and lost 99% of the games! i always put this down to him being more keen and competitive. Now that i have the dx i am beginning to think i was never going to be that good as i was always going to a bit less skilled with the finer motor skills.
In hindsight I think squash was a sensible choice for an aspie as it is one on one and you don't have to do the whole social bit that goes with a lot of team sports. It never bothered me too much that i lost as i just enjoyed the exercise and it allowed me to vent some of the aggression that built up from time to time.
How much does he want to win? is he comfortable doing it just for fun?
This is a really difficult question. I played squash for many years pre diagnosis. I played with a regular squash partner most of the time and lost 99% of the games! i always put this down to him being more keen and competitive. Now that i have the dx i am beginning to think i was never going to be that good as i was always going to a bit less skilled with the finer motor skills.
In hindsight I think squash was a sensible choice for an aspie as it is one on one and you don't have to do the whole social bit that goes with a lot of team sports. It never bothered me too much that i lost as i just enjoyed the exercise and it allowed me to vent some of the aggression that built up from time to time.
How much does he want to win? is he comfortable doing it just for fun?
