Autism Soccer: What’s the Best Sport for your Child

Kids need to do exercise, and what a better way to do it than practicing sports?

Parents know better than anyone how important physical activity is for their children, and they usually encourage their inclusion in the wonderful world of sports from a young age. However, what most of them don’t know is that there’s more than one type of sport and that each and every single one of them has pros and cons for every child. From the most outgoing and expressive, to the calmer and relaxed, you have to make sure the option you pick is the right one for your child to get the most out of it, as beyond the physical exercise, it has to be something that motivates and impulses them to be better and to enjoy themselves freely. For this reason, I’ve compiled a list of sports and their characteristics to help you make up your mind and decide what fits best your child’s needs.

Baseball: The All-American sport is a loved one for both kids and adults and it has the potential to show them the importance of working individually for the same goal. It also requires them to focus and keep a vigilant eye on everything in the diamond. From the ball to the teammate wishing to steal the base, there are lots of elements that require speed and eyes on the price. Kids who are reserved benefit from practicing this sport, as it makes them interact with buddies for short periods of time, allowing them to relate in their own terms.

Swimming: Water is one of the best elements to play for kids, and swimming proves to be a sport that can help them not only to relax but to get the much needed physical exercise. Splashing in the water helps increase muscle tone and flexibility while having a small impact thanks to the nature of the sport itself. It also helps them control their breathing and offers overall increased health as kids need to work with the entire body. Kids who are bursting with energy can have a great time practicing this sport, while it teaches them mindfulness and to be in control.

Soccer: This is one of the most physically demanding sports out there. It requires kids to sprint in a field, often of natural grass. It offers a significant improvement in balance and coordination, as it requires the full use of the body. Stamina is also boosted, as it’s needed to participate in this activity. It is also great for boosting interaction, which is crucial to get the ball across the field and to score. This sport requires interaction in order to get a meaningful outcome. This is especially good for reserved kids, as it helps them gain confidence and create a structured friendship with others.

Basketball: The fact this game is incredibly easy to set up, makes it a great sport to practice at home. It requires concentration and quick movements and keeps the whole body engaged in the motions to take and move the ball around. While kids can form teams and play collaboratively, they can also practice shooting and dribbling at home with a hoop (which is easily installed) and a ball. These movements help to gain strength in the upper part of the body and hand-eye coordination. Kids that are disorganized and overly active can benefit from practicing this sport as it requires quick movements and helps them drain the extra energy while helping them focus on an easy task.

What other sports do you think kids can benefit from? I’m sure that by now you know many other options they could enjoy too! Here at Autism Soccer, we know the importance physical exercise has for children and that’s why we encourage them to participate and interact with others in their own terms while also helping them feel confident and safe with their teammates. Contact us to learn more about this incredible organization!