He wants to play baseball; he has fine and gross motor difficulty. Do I let him and worry he won't be able to keep up with the typical kid's? He's too old for tee-ball...
He just doesn't have the coordination, he's okay when I'm at home and we're in our yard because I'm patient and encouraging - worry about a team though. But isn't that part of being a kid is playing a sport of you want to?
Suggestions? Any Asperger's teens: does coordination get better when you get older? He's only 7 right now.
2007-03-22 18:48:59 · 10 answers · asked by Cedar_2006 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Special Education
My son had some problems also. Baseball and basketball were the only sports he had a lot of trouble with, but your son might be different of course. Our son is better at gymnastics, soccer, football, & tennis, and karate so he has played all those sports. He tried baseball and basketball but had such difficulty with those two that he just didn't enjoy it like the other sports. I think baseball takes a lot of coordination which can be difficult for those with fine & gross motor difficulty & my son did not have the desire & motivation to overcome these challenges, so he has mostly played every sport but baseball & basketball. Of course, if your son has the motivation & desire, I do believe that you can always overcome obstacles, but some sports would probably be a little easier than baseball, in my opinion.
There is also a Challenger Sports League, which has special needs kids involved which lets children with special needs kids play baseball and soccer in some parts of the country. My area has a league, and you may want to go on the internet and see if you have a Challenger League in your town also. My son and daughter played last year, and it is a really nice organization.
2007-03-22 19:45:39 · answer #1 · answered by Karen 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Before you sign him up, do your homework on the local leagues and teams. Many areas will have one or two teams that have the kids who may need the extra time and patience. However, if your local team is on that is highly competitive or goes through a try out process to get on the team, then that probably would not be the best team for your son. You can check with other parents of spectrum kids to see what teams they have been on. You can also call the parks and rec department for your locality..they should be able to give you the information you need.
2007-03-23 00:29:24 · answer #2 · answered by Annie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speaking as a mother, a special education teacher and a former youth coach (softball, soccer), I would urge you to be very careful about enrolling a child with special needs in a mainstream team. There are lots of good things about being a member of a team - learning cooperation, being part of a group, learning to put winning and losing in perspective, etc. Unfortunately, many coaches do not have the skills to support players with special needs. And sadly, many coaches have bad attitudes that they teach to their players. Neither of my kids has special needs, but they each were on more than one team growing up where the coaches were just not nice people. Some of them get so focused on winning that they lose sight of the value of just playing your best, working as a team, and getting better. Some were verbally and/ or emotionally abusive. Some did not intervene when they saw that a weaker player was being dumped on by other kids.
On the other hand, my kids both had wonderful coaches who honored each player for what he or she could do, who helped each player develop skills to the best of his or her ability, and who had positive things to say to each player. When I was a coach, we sometimes had players who were less skilled or who had special needs. I always told the players that we were a team, and it was up to all of us to support each other and to help everyone learn to play the game well, because everyone was going to get their playing time. And because that was the tone set for the team, the atmosphere was fun, even if we weren't winning any trophies.
So if you can interview the potential coaches and get of sense of their attitudes, that could help you make a decision. If you do sign your child up, stay in close touch with the coach and find out what you can do to support your child as a member of the team.
You might also consider individual sports. Those who are a bit out of the mainstream socially often struggle with the rules - written and unwritten - in team sports but do much better with sports such as swimming, gymnastics, track and field, tennis, golf, skating, etc. These sports give an opportunity to develop coordination, fitness, and self-esteem without the potential problems inherent in team sports.
Whatever you decide, I hope you and your son both have a very positive experience in sports.
2007-03-24 17:49:38 · answer #3 · answered by sonomanona 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would find out in your town if there is a Recreational League. Talk to the person who will be your child's coach and ask him to get an idea if it is the kind of environment for you son. You never know unless you ask, and you never know until you try what is possible. If the coach seems unreceptive, it might not be the environment for him. If the coach seems like he is willing to handle taking your son, then it's worth it to let him try by all means.
His coordination will get better the more he practices. He may never be the next Thurmon Munson, but as long as he has fun, who cares?
2007-03-23 20:08:25 · answer #4 · answered by coridroz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let your son play baseball, I saw my cousin grow up with Asperger's and he is amazing in my eyes. Sure he doesn't have the best coordination but he loves playing basketball, but everytime he's out there on the court playing with his team mates, he shines. He might not make the basket everytime, nor keep up the the others but he shows his team mates and coaches how the game is played. And that is with heart. If your son loves the game let him play. Sure, look for teams with other autisc playes and that might work out for you and make sure to talk to the coaches and the refs so they know the situation. It all works out in the end. and to your question about the coordination getting better as you age. Yes it does if you work at it. find games and activites that are eye hand challenges, and just have fun.
2007-03-23 08:13:55 · answer #5 · answered by J T 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would elt him try dn be sure teh group running little league knows about his weaknesses as well as his strengths so they can help him. Our local autism society actually has its own team this yr. The kids wanted to play and had a hard time with traditional Little League.
2007-03-23 04:52:01 · answer #6 · answered by chellyk 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can either try to find an understanding coach or you can check to see if your town offers an alternative sports program. My town has a program that does all the sports with children with physical disabilities and mental disabilities and learning disabilities that make regular sports tough for them.
2007-03-24 14:40:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's tough. Most coaches will be very good with him, but the kids... they can be demanding and apply pressure when you doesn't measure up. But if he wants to... and at 7... maybe you should allow it on a noncompetitive team (maybe the Y). Then he'll at least have had the exposure.
2007-03-23 06:49:08 · answer #8 · answered by Lisa A 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
DEFINITELY! He has ADHD so activity can only give him an outlet for that. And the social interaction with the team over time can help give him ideas about social cues for his Asperger's.
2007-03-24 07:35:29 · answer #9 · answered by KP 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes it does and yes you should let him play ball he can do anything he wants to do dont let adhd hold him back as kids get older with or without adhd their coordination gets better
2007-03-23 01:25:37 · answer #10 · answered by shortyb 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋