{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,6]],"date-time":"2026-11-06T17:11:39Z","timestamp":1793985099336,"version":"4.8.0"},"reference-count":67,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,30]],"date-time":"2020-10-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1604016000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Medicina"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In recent years, there has been a renewed attention to lifestyle-based interventions in people with autism spectrum disorder. The positive effects of physical exercise programs have been well documented both in healthy people and in people with disabilities in the fields of psychological well-being, cognitive outcome and medical health. There is much less evidence about the opportunity to attempt a team-group sport for people with autism. Although researchers seem to suggest an overall positive effect, playing team sports for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) means dealing with difficulties in social interactions and limitations in motor functions. This narrative review aims to report studies about the effects, improvements and difficulties that people with autism have to face when they play the world\u2019s most popular team sport: soccer.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina56110585","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,30]],"date-time":"2020-10-30T21:34:47Z","timestamp":1604093687000},"page":"585","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["On the Playing Field to Improve: A Goal for Autism"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"56","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0121-3396","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luigi","family":"Vetri","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care \u201cG. D\u2019Alessandro\u201d, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7371-0228","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Michele","family":"Roccella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"191","article-title":"Inhibition, set-shifting and working memory in Global Developmental Delay preschool children","volume":"21","author":"Smirni","year":"2018","journal-title":"Life Span Disabil."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1391","DOI":"10.1007\/s10072-018-3433-z","article-title":"Standardization and validation of a parallel form of the verbal and non-verbal recognition memory test in an Italian population sample","volume":"39","author":"Smirni","year":"2018","journal-title":"Neurol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Association, A.P. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5\u00ae), American Psychiatric Pub."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1007\/s12264-017-0100-y","article-title":"An Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Heterogeneity and Treatment Options","volume":"33","author":"Masi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Neurosci. Bull."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"112","article-title":"Executive functioning in autism spectrum disorders: A case-control study in preschool children","volume":"23","author":"Carotenuto","year":"2019","journal-title":"Curr. Pediatr. Res."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Marotta, R., Risoleo, M.C., Messina, G., Parisi, L., Carotenuto, M., Vetri, L., and Roccella, M. (2020). The Neurochemistry of Autism. Brain Sci., 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci10030163"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Precenzano, F., Parisi, L., Lanzara, V., Vetri, L., Operto, F.F., Pastorino, G.M.G., Ruberto, M., Messina, G., Risoleo, M.C., and Santoro, C. (2020). Electroencephalographic Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Characteristics and Therapeutic Implications. Medicina, 56.","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina56090419"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2016.05.016","article-title":"Parenting stress among parents of children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders","volume":"242","author":"Craig","year":"2016","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.ss6706a1","article-title":"Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2014","volume":"67","author":"Baio","year":"2018","journal-title":"MMWR Surveill. Summ."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1080\/02701367.2011.10599785","article-title":"The effects of physical activity and physical fitness on children\u2019s achievement and cognitive outcomes: A meta-analysis","volume":"82","author":"Fedewa","year":"2011","journal-title":"Res. Q. Exerc. Sport"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1097\/00001504-200503000-00013","article-title":"Exercise and well-being: A review of mental and physical health benefits associated with physical activity","volume":"18","author":"Penedo","year":"2005","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.3138\/physio.60.2.134","article-title":"Effects of exercise interventions on stereotypic behaviours in children with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"60","author":"Petrus","year":"2008","journal-title":"Physiother. Can."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ferreira, J.P., Ghiarone, T., Junior, C.R.C., Furtado, G.E., Carvalho, H.M., Rodrigues, A.M., and Toscano, C.V.A. (2019). Effects of Physical Exercise on the Stereotyped Behavior of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Medicina, 55.","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina55100685"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"565","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rasd.2010.01.006","article-title":"Physical exercise and individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review","volume":"4","author":"Lang","year":"2010","journal-title":"Res. Autism Spectr. Disord."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"899","DOI":"10.1177\/1362361315616002","article-title":"A systematic review of the behavioural outcomes following exercise interventions for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"20","author":"Bremer","year":"2016","journal-title":"Autism"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1186\/s13052-017-0399-z","article-title":"Long-term outcome of autistic spectrum disorder: A retrospective case study in a southern italian region","volume":"43","author":"Operto","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ital. J. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rasd.2011.09.001","article-title":"Effects of physical exercise on autism spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis","volume":"6","author":"Sowa","year":"2012","journal-title":"Res. Autism Spectr. Disord."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1097\/PEP.0b013e31823db95f","article-title":"Motor activity in children with autism: A review of current literature","volume":"24","author":"Downey","year":"2012","journal-title":"Pediatr. Phys. Ther."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"657","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rasd.2010.08.001","article-title":"The efficacy of an aquatic program on physical fitness and aquatic skills in children with and without autism spectrum disorders","volume":"5","author":"Pan","year":"2011","journal-title":"Res. Autism Spectr. Disord."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3126","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-016-2854-x","article-title":"A meta-analytic review of the efficacy of physical exercise interventions on cognition in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD","volume":"46","author":"Tan","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1097\/PEP.0b013e318218f149","article-title":"The effects of aerobic exercise on academic engagement in young children with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"23","author":"Oriel","year":"2011","journal-title":"Pediatr. Phys."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"255","article-title":"The effects of exercise intensity on the stereotypic behaviors of individuals with autism","volume":"10","author":"Levinson","year":"1993","journal-title":"Adapt. Phys. Act. Q."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Frolli, A., Ricci, M.C., Tortorelli, F.A., Cavallaro, A., Valenzano, L., Rega, A., Felicia, O.F., and Corrivetti, G. (2020). Emotional Education in Early Onset Schizophrenia and Asperger\u2019s Syndrome. Behav. Sci., 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/bs10090131"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02414814","article-title":"Decreasing self-stimulatory behavior with physical exercise in a group of autistic boys","volume":"10","author":"Watters","year":"1980","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Smirni, D., Smirni, P., Carotenuto, M., Parisi, L., Quatrosi, G., and Roccella, M. (2019). Noli Me Tangere: Social Touch, Tactile Defensiveness, and Communication in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Brain Sci., 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci9120368"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejpn.2018.09.011","article-title":"Gait in children with infantile\/atypical autism: Age-dependent decrease in gait variability and associations with motor skills","volume":"23","author":"Manicolo","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur. J. Paediatr. Neurol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"644","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-007-0430-0","article-title":"Gross motor development, movement abnormalities, and early identification of autism","volume":"38","author":"Ozonoff","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1177\/108835760001500306","article-title":"Successful physical activity programming for students with autism","volume":"15","author":"Schultheis","year":"2000","journal-title":"Focus Autism Other Dev. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"302","article-title":"Enjoyment, barriers, and beliefs about physical activity in adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorder","volume":"32","author":"Stanish","year":"2015","journal-title":"Adapt. Phys. Act. Q."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"305","DOI":"10.1007\/s10566-010-9110-x","article-title":"Therapist and parent ratings of changes in adaptive social skills following a summer treatment camp for children with autism spectrum disorders: A preliminary study","volume":"39","author":"Walker","year":"2010","journal-title":"Child Youth Care Forum"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"695","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ridd.2012.10.003","article-title":"The effects of a Special Olympics Unified Sports Soccer training program on anthropometry, physical fitness and skilled performance in Special Olympics soccer athletes and non-disabled partners","volume":"34","author":"Baran","year":"2013","journal-title":"Res. Dev. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.1097\/WCO.0000000000000541","article-title":"Motor development and delay: Advances in assessment of motor skills in autism spectrum disorders","volume":"31","author":"Wilson","year":"2018","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Neurol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-8749.2008.03242.x","article-title":"Impairment in movement skills of children with autistic spectrum disorders","volume":"51","author":"Green","year":"2009","journal-title":"Dev. Med. Child Neurol."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pedneo.2016.02.004","article-title":"Gross Motor Profile and Its Association with Socialization Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders","volume":"57","author":"Pusponegoro","year":"2016","journal-title":"Pediatr. Neonatol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-016-2934-y","article-title":"Communication Deficits and the Motor System: Exploring Patterns of Associations in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)","volume":"47","author":"Mody","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1179\/2047387713Y.0000000033","article-title":"Relationship between motor skill and social impairment in children with autism spectrum disorders","volume":"60","author":"Hirata","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Dev. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_37","first-page":"184","article-title":"Relationships between gross motor skills and social function in young boys with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"30","author":"Holloway","year":"2018","journal-title":"Pediatr. Phys. Ther. Publ. Sect. Pediatr. Am. Phys. Ther. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"95","article-title":"Motor skills and calibrated autism severity in young children with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"31","author":"MacDonald","year":"2014","journal-title":"Adapt. Phys. Act. Q."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"413","DOI":"10.1177\/0031512516689198","article-title":"Exploring the interaction of motor and social skills with autism severity using the SFARI dataset","volume":"124","author":"Reeve","year":"2017","journal-title":"Percept. Mot. Ski."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1568","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-012-1702-x","article-title":"Motor difficulties in autism spectrum disorder: Linking symptom severity and postural stability","volume":"43","author":"Travers","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1259","DOI":"10.1007\/s00431-017-2951-7","article-title":"Early motor delays as diagnostic clues in autism spectrum disorder","volume":"176","author":"Harris","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. J. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-006-0170-6","article-title":"A comparison of motor delays in young children: Autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, and developmental concerns","volume":"37","author":"Provost","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13982","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.95.23.13982","article-title":"Movement analysis in infancy may be useful for early diagnosis of autism","volume":"95","author":"Teitelbaum","year":"1998","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"565","DOI":"10.1016\/j.braindev.2007.03.002","article-title":"Prevalence of motor impairment in autism spectrum disorders","volume":"29","author":"Ming","year":"2007","journal-title":"Brain Dev."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"664","DOI":"10.1002\/aur.1408","article-title":"Motor deficits in children with autism spectrum disorder: A cross-syndrome study","volume":"7","author":"McPhillips","year":"2014","journal-title":"Autism Res."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroscience.2015.08.040","article-title":"Differences in the use of vision and proprioception for postural control in autism spectrum disorder","volume":"307","author":"Morris","year":"2015","journal-title":"Neuroscience"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"656","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2018.00656","article-title":"Autism, Joint Hypermobility-Related Disorders and Pain","volume":"9","author":"Cohen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"655","DOI":"10.1111\/1469-7610.00054","article-title":"The severity and nature of motor impairment in Asperger\u2019s syndrome: A comparison with specific developmental disorder of motor function","volume":"43","author":"Green","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dufek, J.S., Eggleston, J.D., Harry, J.R., and Hickman, R.A. (2017). A comparative evaluation of gait between children with autism and typically developing matched controls. Med. Sci., 5.","DOI":"10.3390\/medsci5010001"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1227","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-010-0981-3","article-title":"Motor coordination in autism spectrum disorders: A synthesis and meta-analysis","volume":"40","author":"Fournier","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"948","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-006-0235-6","article-title":"Quantitative assessment of neuromotor function in adolescents with high functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome","volume":"37","author":"Freitag","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_52","first-page":"361","article-title":"Molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders, ADHD and autism","volume":"57","author":"Sandu","year":"2016","journal-title":"Rom. J. Morphol. Embryol."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1694","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-009-0813-5","article-title":"Fundamental movement skills in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder","volume":"39","author":"Pan","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"209","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-009-0854-9","article-title":"Fundamental movement skills and autism spectrum disorders","volume":"40","author":"Staples","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3290","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-019-04050-9","article-title":"Efficacy of group-based organised physical activity participation for social outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"49","author":"Howells","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"434","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2014-093885","article-title":"Health benefits of different sport disciplines for adults: Systematic review of observational and intervention studies with meta-analysis","volume":"49","author":"Oja","year":"2015","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1186\/1479-5868-10-98","article-title":"A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for children and adolescents: Informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport","volume":"10","author":"Eime","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsams.2017.09.595","article-title":"Effects of physical activity on executive functions, attention and academic performance in preadolescent children: A meta-analysis","volume":"21","author":"Bosker","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Sci. Med. Sport"},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Huijgen, B.C., Leemhuis, S., Kok, N.M., Verburgh, L., Oosterlaan, J., Elferink-Gemser, M.T., and Visscher, C. (2015). Cognitive Functions in Elite and Sub-Elite Youth Soccer Players Aged 13 to 17 Years. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0144580"},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"761","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2020.00761","article-title":"Deliberate Soccer Practice Modulates Attentional Functioning in Children","volume":"11","author":"Moratal","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vestberg, T., Gustafson, R., Maurex, L., Ingvar, M., and Petrovic, P. (2012). Executive functions predict the success of top-soccer players. PLoS ONE, 7.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0034731"},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Beavan, A., Chin, V., Ryan, L.M., Spielmann, J., Mayer, J., Skorski, S., Meyer, T., and Fransen, J. (2020). A Longitudinal Analysis of the Executive Functions in High-Level Soccer Players. J. Sport Exerc. Psychol., 1\u20139.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2020.101677"},{"key":"ref_63","first-page":"4","article-title":"A community-based, adaptive soccer program for children with autism: Design, implementation, and evaluation","volume":"30","author":"Hayward","year":"2016","journal-title":"Palaestra"},{"key":"ref_64","first-page":"485","article-title":"Motor and psychosocial development in children with autism spectrum disorder through soccer","volume":"48","author":"Cei","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Sport Psychol."},{"key":"ref_65","first-page":"454","article-title":"Training Soccer Skills to Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder via Peer-Mediated Behavioral Skills Training","volume":"13","author":"Chambers","year":"2020","journal-title":"Behav. Anal. Pr."},{"key":"ref_66","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1401","DOI":"10.1111\/jar.12620","article-title":"The Game of Life soccer program: Effect on skills, physical fitness and mobility in persons with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder","volume":"32","author":"Barak","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Appl. Res. Intellect. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_67","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.13220","article-title":"The \u201cFootball is Medicine\u201d platform\u2014Scientific evidence, large-scale implementation of evidence-based concepts and future perspectives","volume":"28","author":"Krustrup","year":"2018","journal-title":"Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports"}],"container-title":["Medicina"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1648-9144\/56\/11\/585\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T10:27:20Z","timestamp":1760178440000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1648-9144\/56\/11\/585"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,30]]},"references-count":67,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,11]]}},"alternative-id":["medicina56110585"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/medicina56110585","relation":{},"ISSN":["1648-9144"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1648-9144","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,30]]}}}