Autistic Football Club: Inclusive football sport club of people with and without ASD

Background The idea of setting up a sport club with the support of Gruppo Asperger Lazio onlus (a volunteer organization of families and people with ASD), Giuliaparla onlus (a cooperative of services) and Cooperativa Garibaldi... [ view full abstract ]

Background
The idea of setting up a sport club with the support of Gruppo Asperger Lazio onlus (a volunteer organization of families and people with ASD), Giuliaparla onlus (a cooperative of services) and Cooperativa Garibaldi (a cooperative of workers with ASD) is born from the football tournament organized in WAAD 2015 when one mixed team of people with ASD, voluntary educators and parents played.

Rationale
Most people of each age is involved because football is very popular, meeting point between educators and people with ASD. Being a team sport it naturally promotes social skills. Competitive sport fosters competition. A sport club gives a sense of responsibility, makes its members active, facilitating inclusion, self-determination, self-advocacy, autonomy. Inclusion is further enhanced joining FIFA regulations and not disability special ones. Sport promotes psychophysical well-being.
Scientific monitoring by Psychology Faculty of Sapienza University of Rome administering observation procedures under/over 18 based on Social Responsiveness Scale model. Motor skills assessment by qualified personnel.

Main points
Team and sport club are composed of men and women, with and without ASD, educators, family members and also people who don't deal with autism.
Weekly trainings from October till June at SS Romulea, an accredited football centre. Monthly friendly matches, competitive tournaments, recreational activities, members meetings.
The project also involves: professional football players and coaches; a team of people with and without ASD that manages events communication; associations and cooperatives in ASD field.

Conclusions
The project applies UNCRPD article 30 for participation in recreation, leisure and sport and aims to future participation in competitive leagues and to include other persons with and without ASD forming an adults team and a kids team.

Author and co-authors pay for participating in the project, they are active in a voluntary manner, the support of associations and cooperatives covers sports materials and some of the costs of sports training. [ view full abstract ]

Author and co-authors pay for participating in the project, they are active in a voluntary manner, the support of associations and cooperatives covers sports materials and some of the costs of sports training.