@article{760cf0e0aff74eadb2c29f39d0866045,
title = "Can participation in a community organized football program improve social, behavioural functioning and communication in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder? A pilot study",
abstract = "This pilot research investigated the effects of a community-based organized football program on behavioral, social and communicative outcomes in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In a non-randomized design, 19 children completed the football program and were compared pre- and post-intervention with 21 children who received no comparable intervention (ages 5–12 years). Caregiver-report using the child behavior checklist indicated a significant decrease in total, internalizing, DSM-oriented anxiety and social problems for children who participated in the program, with no change in the comparison group. There were no group differences in socialization and communication scores on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior scale. Results provide preliminary evidence in support of the program, justifying the need for further, more rigorous trials in this area.",
keywords = "ASD, Externalizing, Football, Internalizing, Organized physical activity, Social functioning",
author = "Katherine Howells and Carmel Sivaratnam and Ebony Lindor and Christian Hyde and Jane McGillivray and Andrew Whitehouse and Nicole Rinehart",
note = "Funding Information: The team would like to thank the families who participated in this research study. We thank Moose Toys and J & S Wenig who provided philanthropic funding support for this research. We would also like to acknowledge the Australian Football League, St Kilda Saints Football Club and the Geelong Cats Football Club for their support in this research. We thank Mathew Ling for the R coding assistance provided, as well as the many research assistants, students, and interns who assisted during the initial phases of this and the broader study. Funding Information: NR and JM received philanthropic funding from Moose Toys, MECCA Brands, the Wenig Family, Geelong Community Foundation, and Grace & Emilio Foundation; and industry partner funding from the Victorian Department of Education, to conduct research in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders and inclusion. NR, CH and JM also received funding from the Ferrero Group Australia as part of its Kinder + Sport pillar of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. NR and JM have also previously received scholarship funding from the Australian Football League and industry partner funding from the NDIS. NR has received donations from Vic Health and Bus Association Victoria; and previous speaker honorarium from Novartis (2002), Pfizer (2006) and Nutricia (2007); and is a Director of the Amaze Board (Autism Victoria). None of the companies, industry partners or organizational bodies listed above had a role in this research including the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in writing of the manuscript; and /or in the decision to submit the article for publication. No other authors report conflicts of interest. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.",
year = "2020",
month = oct,
doi = "10.1007/s10803-020-04423-5",
language = "English",
volume = "50",
pages = "3714--3727",
journal = "Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders",
issn = "0162-3257",
publisher = "Springer",
number = "10",
}