{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,9]],"date-time":"2026-09-09T05:06:55Z","timestamp":1788930415080,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788739200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100015082","name":"Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente M\u00e1rtir","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100015082","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03d7a9c68","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Children"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level 1 face barriers to sports participation that remain insufficiently understood. Methods: This qualitative study explored parental perspectives on barriers and facilitators to physical activity following participation in a multicomponent physical activity program (MCPAP). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 parents (11 mothers, 6 fathers) of boys aged 8\u201312 years with ASD Level 1 who completed a 12-week MCPAP in Valencia, Spain. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Seven themes were identified, capturing both barriers and facilitators: (1) parental fears and previous negative experiences; (2) parents\u2019 accounts of their sons\u2019 avoidance of physical activity in relation to bullying and social exclusion; (3) methodological barriers linked to non-adapted teaching approaches; (4) challenges with non-specialized professionals; (5) limited availability of programs specifically designed for children with ASD Level 1; and (6) location and accessibility concerns; and (7) parent-perceived facilitators and outcomes associated with the MCPAP, including transfer to natural contexts. Conclusions: Parents described children with ASD Level 1 as an \u201cinvisible population\u201d with regard to existing sports opportunities. Parents further perceived that specialized programs with trained professionals, adapted methodologies, and small-group formats supported their sons\u2019 sustained engagement in physical activity. These findings reflect parental interpretations and were not triangulated with standardized outcome measures.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/children13091206","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T09:23:37Z","timestamp":1788773017000},"page":"1206","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Parental Perspectives on Sports Participation in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 Following a Multicomponent Physical Activity Program: A Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0146-753X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marina","family":"Conesa-Molina","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School, Catholic University of Valencia, San Vicente M\u00e1rtir, 46001 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9807-052X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mar\u00eda Dolores","family":"Grau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Psychology, Catholic University of Valencia, San Vicente M\u00e1rtir, 46001 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"project-administration","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"supervision","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"resources","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1915-9906","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Pablos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, San Vicente M\u00e1rtir, 46900 Torrent, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"supervision","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"validation","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2172-4652","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Elvira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, San Vicente M\u00e1rtir, 46900 Torrent, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"project-administration","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"supervision","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1373","DOI":"10.1080\/09638288.2018.1526334","article-title":"The Role of Physical Activity and Body-Related Perceptions in Motor Skill Competence of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder","volume":"42","author":"Chu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Disabil. 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