ADHD children and organized sports

[BaylorFan]

Have a 6 year old with ADHD been on medication for about 9 months seems to be working he is very athletic I am just curious does anyone else have children that play organized sports? If so do you find that even though they have a lot of ability sometimes they have difficulty understanding the concept or do really well in practice but when it comes to the game and the crowd they get nervous and shy and don't preform as well?

[anirush]

One grandson played T-ball. That was a disaster, too slow moving so he was always getting distracted. Both boys did Taekwondo. Actually a teacher recommended it when one was diagnosed with ADHD. They both reached black belt levels although it took the younger one much longer, he had trouble mastering forms. But one of the directors of the studio was also a special ed teacher so experienced in working with anxiety etc. which both have.

Now one is in marching band in high school. The other has not done anything for awhile because of some health problems.

[Pennywink]

My son isn't terribly athletic, so we haven't pushed sports too much. We tried soccer briefly - he did like practice, but like you said, did not enjoy the game.

Some sports can be better for kids with ADHD than others - but really whatever they are passionate about is likely going to be the key, as they can hyperfocus on that.

In our area we do have a non-competitive soccer for kids. No games really, just practice & such. For my son, we focus more on non-competitive activities like hiking.

[jmhunter1014]

My 8yo son (ADHD Combined Type w/behavioral component - impulsivity/social-emotional dysregulation) has played baseball since he was 4 - he's very good at it and absolutely loves the game! He struggled at first with parts of the game before he was medicated - either getting upset (sometimes to full blown meltdown) when he struck out, or when the ball didn't come his way while out in the field; but we (and his coaches) have been working with him to keep a positive attitude, and meds have definitely helped with that piece. Plus, you can't beat the comraderie that comes with playing a team sport.

We started with just summer teeball 4 years ago, but after his first single-A summer season, at his request, we signed him up for AA fall ball last year, where he was the only 7 year old on a team of 8 & 9 year olds. Fall season is a lot more competitive than summer and he actually performs better with the stricter coaching and added pressure of keeping up with his teammates. We're actually in the middle of his 2nd year of fall ball as we speak. He has also expressed a desire to go out for Majors next summer (which requires tryouts if under the age of 9).

I think if your kiddo is athletic and there's a sport that (s)he loves, by all means support his/her desire to play! (S)he might surprise you! Best of luck in your decision.

(Also, side note/encouraging fun fact: I read somewhere that a lot of professional athletes, at least in baseball, are actually ADHD kids!)

[Portlandparent]

We tried just about every sport and activity we could with my son, who is now 10yo. Prior to medication he was not able to participate like his peers, hated going, and his confidence took serious hits. After medication this completely turned around for him. He's not the sharpest and most talented kid on his team but he loves every minute. He still struggles with symptoms of ADHD and ODD, especially at evening practices, but the quality of coaching has improved as he's grown older and the guidance he's getting from them has been more effective than dozens of counseling sessions combined. I realize sports aren't for every ADHD kiddo but for us the benefits now have been so worth all the battles, struggles, and uncertainty we experienced when he was younger.

[CoffeeTalk]

Organized sports all the way!!! My son just started playing flag football. He played baseball for years but it was too slow for him. Sure sometimes he is distracted. He takes his helmet off when he shouldn't, misses plays because he is fidgeting with his mouth guard and is often last out on the field but it's fun and super laid back and so good for his self esteem. Baseball was too slow for us but I think kids just have to find their sport or sports that they like. I have to say my son gets set in his ways so I have to encourage him to try new things.

[Luluisaac15]

My son has been playing soccer since he was three. Absolutely loves it. He is now 7, and made it to the U9 youth academy ( he doesn’t take medication). Coaches know how to re-direct him during practice when he might not appear as focused. During game time, he is fully focused on the game

[GoCougs]

My 7 y/o (ADHD Combined & ODD) has tried flag football and tball. Tball, he sat down and would wonder all around the field doing anything but what he was supposed to do. He finally ended up going to the playground and basically removed himself from the team. We didn't push it because at the time, we were still trying to get him regulated. We choose our battles.

Flag football was ok, but he would not listen and could not concentrate either. He took this year off from flag football, but his identical twin brother (non-ADHD) continues to play, so he goes to the games and watches now. He does like that.

But, he is athletic and if he could gain focus, I believe he would do really well in sports if we can obtain the concentration. We will probably give it another shot down the road.

He asked if he could join a Lego club at school. I found him one and he will start that in November. He is looking forward to that. I guess that is all I can really ask for!

[CoachMomNS]

My 15 year old son with Impulsive presentation ADHD is very athletic and loves sports, but he struggles with negativity, low frustration tolerance and emotional dysregulation. We work hard to help him manage these aspects of his disability, and for much of his life I have been his coach. Now that he is older and playing at a higher level, and playing high school sports, my current struggle is with getting his coach to understand that the difficulties he has managing his emotions when he gets hit in a game, or when a ref makes a bad call are related to the ADHD. Its not "antics". He started on a higher dose of Concerta in September and didn't have any problems the first few games of the season in November, but then they had a frustrating game against a tougher opponent and he lost his cool. He cried on the way home from the game. He said "I thought I was better". It is so heart-breaking as a parent to see him struggle like this.