Autistic Kids Compete in Structured Basketball Mini-Games | Adaptive Sports Training

Описание: This video shows autistic kids competing in structured basketball mini-games as part of an adaptive sports training program focused on skill development, independence, competitiveness, and real-world skill transfer.

This 31-minute session shows how I teach basketball through structured mini-games designed specifically for children with autism and developmental differences.

In this video, Meaty and Rodger (autistic clients) compete against their cousins Hijab and Koran in one of our core training games: “Make It, Take It.” The game is simple on the surface, but intentionally built to train multiple skills at once.

Game Structure:
Each player must make shots from behind a small cone. Every made shot earns a cone, which is stacked until all assigned cones are placed onto a large traffic cone. The first player to finish wins and earns a break. The losing player runs down and back on the court and repeats the game until they win.

While playing, the kids are actively developing:

Spatial awareness

Task completion and task analysis

Sustained attention

Rebounding (chasing and retrieving the ball)

Shooting mechanics (from under the basket out to free-throw or three-point range, depending on level)

Organization and sequencing

Competitive awareness

One of the hardest skills to teach is competitiveness—understanding that effort, urgency, and strategy matter. In this session, I teach the kids how to hustle for loose balls, protect their own ball, knock an opponent’s ball away to gain time, and understand the consequences of each action. If a player does not chase the rebound, the other team can score faster and move closer to finishing the game. If the ball is not protected, it takes longer to complete the task and win.

The game also introduces time awareness—recognizing when the game is close to being finished and knowing when to rush because only one more shot is needed to win.

Alongside the kids I’ve worked with for over 2.5 years, you’ll also see newer participants, Julius and Paul, who have been training for about six months. They are currently working on foundational skills such as sustained attention, independence, catching, shooting, and reward-based motivation. With continued training, they will be ready to compete in their first structured mini-game next year.

My approach combines basketball fundamentals, psychology, ABA-based teaching strategies, and years of competitive basketball experience. Although many of the kids I work with are nonverbal and mid-to-low functioning, they consistently outperform neurotypical peers in these games because of the skills they have developed through this program.

My goal is simple: if a family ever stops bringing their child to the program, the training should stay with the child wherever they go.

For example, Meaty attended a carnival last year and entered a basketball shooting game. He made 4 out of 5 shots in a row, more than anyone else there, and won the top prize. This kind of real-world transfer is what I take pride in teaching.

I want every child to be able to step onto any basketball court, play independently, fit in with peers, and have fun—regardless of autism. This program focuses on putting children on equal ground and showing families that their child is capable of far more than they are often told.

Autism is not a limitation—it is a gift that just needs the right training, structure, and love.

Learn More / Enroll

👉 purposefuldevelopmentinc.com


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