The Role of Team Sports Practice in Developing Communication in Children with Autism.

Abstract

The Object of the study aims to identify the extent to which there are statistically significant differences between the pre-test and post-test application of a team sports program on the communication of children with autism compared to neurotypical children. To this end, the experimental method was used on a purposive sample of 8 autistic children. Data were collected using a verbal and non-verbal communication scale and a proposed team sports program. After collecting and statistically analyzing the results, it was found that there are statistically significant differences in favor of non-verbal communication among autistic children practicing team sports. However, no significant differences were observed in verbal communication. These findings were interpreted in light of the sample’s characteristics and the nature and duration of the program. Based on this, the study recommends applying the program to a larger number of autistic children, increasing the duration of the program, focusing on teaching socially appropriate communication skills outside classroom settings, and emphasizing the integration of children with autism alongside their neurotypical peers during daily activities.