An appreciative inquiry into coaches’ perspectives on the inclusion of young people with autism in sport clubs in Ireland

Abstract

Background: Young people with autism spectrum difference (ASD) engage in fewer physical activities and participate less frequently in sport than their peers. To date, research has focused on the barriers to the participation of individuals with ASD in community sport and there is a noted absence of coaches’ voices in available literature.

Aim: Positioned within a social constructivist paradigm, this qualitative study aims to identify facilitators for the inclusion of young people with ASD in sport clubs.

Methods: Underpinned by the socio-ecological model, this study applied appreciative inquiry to explore coaches’ perspectives and experiences regarding the inclusion of young people with ASD in their clubs. Thirteen coaches representing eight different individualised sports participated in remote semi-structured interviews. A number of inter-related factors within the club environment were generated through reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings: Current strengths were linked to the sporting context, supportive relationships, and coach qualities. The ideal inclusive club required deliberate resolution with a focus on the needs rather than labels of young people with ASD. The prospective pathway to attain this inclusive setting was noted to warrant increased education, enhanced collaborative practices and improved club organisation. Trepidation was also developed as a finding whereby coaches discussed the inclusion of young people with ASD with fear and uncertainty.

Conclusions: Results indicate that guidance on the inclusion of young people with ASD in clubs is in its infancy and warrants further education on both macro and micro levels. The implications of this study may inform policy and practice across sporting and educational psychology domains and will be of interest to a wide audience, transcending from macro-level organisations including national governing bodies of sport and disability organisations to the micro-level of sport clubs and leisure centres. The employment of appreciative inquiry which focused on positive coach and club attributes was an appropriate method of inquiry.