Coaches' Attitudes towards Youth Sport Participants with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

While research has begun to explore athletes with physical disabilities, there is a marked void in the research literature surrounding athletes with ‘invisible’ disabilities such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Individuals with ADHD may exhibit restlessness, inattentiveness and excessive motor movement. Within the sport arena, these children may have difficulty following directions, remembering strategies, and staying on task. Coaches will likely respond with some type of corrective behavior, but these behaviors will be guided by their attitudes towards these athletes. Therefore the purpose of this study was to begin exploration into coaches' attitudes towards athletes with ADHD. Results found that coaches with previous experience working with athletes with ADHD reported more positive attitudes and these coaches were most likely to have known a child had ADHD due to parental communication. These findings underscore the need for improved coaching education to meet the needs of all children able to participate in youth sports.

Effects of a Summer Treatment Program on Functional Sports Outcomes in Young Children with ADHD

“…Consequently, children with ADHD may be invited to join group games less often. In fact, even coaches of youth sports report significantly less positive attitudes about including these children on their teams (Beyer et al 2008). …”

Youth Sport Experiences of Individuals With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…People with ADHD may require individualized attention from coaches and particularly strong interpersonal relationships, as they benefit from having compassionate and knowledgeable adults in their lives who accept them as they are, do not focus on their problems, and find ways to help them learn (Bartlett, Rowe, & Shattell, 2010;Shattell et al, 2008). However, youth sport coaches receive little training regarding coaching athletes with ADHD (Beyer et al, 2008). The current findings could therefore inform educational initiatives for coaches to increase their awareness of how to adapt to the needs of individuals with ADHD.…”

“…Beyer, Flores, and Vargas-Tonsing (2008) surveyed 221 volunteer youth sport coaches in the United States to examine their attitudes toward athletes with ADHD. Coaches with more experience coaching athletes with ADHD had more positive attitudes than less experienced coaches.…”

Disability sports coaching: towards a critical understanding

“…These studies frame disability as an individual flaw that is manifest in deficits in adaptive behaviour that gives rise to narratives of fear, and creates challenges for coaches to overcome (e.g. Beyer, Flores & Vargas-Tonsing, 2008;Conatser, Block & Lepore, 2000;Hammond, Young & Konjarski, 2014;Rizzo, Bishop & Tobar, 1997). These assumptions position disability firmly within the person, the athlete being the "problem" (DePauw, 1997) to be fixed, normalised or rendered docile through coaching practice.…”