BENEFITS
Given that autism is a complex neuro-biological disorder, the majority of therapies to help those living with these condition center on cognitive and behavioral methods. However, to date it is suggested that sport activities including Soccer as a team sport can improve several behavioral outcomes related with ASD syndrome such as stereotypical behaviors, cognition, attention, and social-emotional functioning of these individuals and furthermore beneficially affect well-being and health related issues in an effort to improve the individual’s day-to-day life.
- Control overweight or obesity and inactivity, which occur at higher rates in individuals with ASD.
- Reduce Heart Disease Risk.
- Support poor or delayed motor skills and enhancement of coordination in upper and lower limbs coordinationperceptual issues and their difficulty in balancing.
- Improve weaknesses in posture, movement and strength.
- Reduce frustration and improve their skills in functioning in a peer and group situation.
- Develop social understanding and support to cope in a structured activity.
- Skills in following activity specific rules, keeping pace with the speed of a game and with how players’ roles may change throughout the game.
- Reduces behaviors such as aggression, hyperactivity, self-injury and destructiveness.
- Improve attention span, impulse control, and ease repetitive behaviors.
- Improve social communication skills and Interaction with other individuals since group (and therefore team sport) activities facilitate both social behavior and communication skills but also academic engagement.
- Supports and establish a routine where the child feels safe and less anxious.
- Improves Auditory Processing, and visual communication.
- Increase confidence and consequently motivation to participate in several daily activities and interact with other individuals.