Why do so many aspies have an intense hatred for sports (excepting martial arts and brainy games)?

[Sabrina]

I enjoy walking, hiking, cycling, ice skating and swimming. When I was younger, also roller skating, and when I was a child, gymnastics too.

My mom signed me in volleyball and tennis when I was a kid, and I dreaded them. The only thing that really stuck with me was being a girl scout.

Everytime I had to play a team sports was horrible (at school, or at the scouts). I never grasped the rules well, and when I was “out there” I was clueless of what to do, because nothing came “spontaneously”, I couldn’t turn off the thinking process, or stop narrating to myself what was happening. I also tended to start thinking of something else, (a lot more interesting than the freaking ball, like the book I was reading) and, of course, that didn’t make me a spectacular player.

I watch gymnastics in the Olympic Games. I’ve watched, in very few ocassions, soccer games during the World Cups.
With the rest of team sports, you name them, and I’ll be running the other way.

I can watch movies about sports, thought.

The question is: Why do people like watching team sports so much? Why don’t they prefer to learn something new, or watch a good movie?

 

[pjcnet]

I absolutely hated playing sport at school because it involved being forced to interact with other people and when I was younger my co-ordination skills were well below average which made me poor at it and this is common in aspies, although I have improved, I also had a special interest in computers from the age of 10 and wasn't interested in anything else, I saw sport as totally pointless and the furthest subject away from computers. We often had to follow stupid instructions on the field which always confused me and I ended up being shouted at, also I was always the last person to be chosen when teams were being picked. The worst was when I had to get into small groups as I was always the odd one out at the end without a group and I hated working with others with a passion, it caused nothing but stress and anxiety. I hated the procedures of getting changed too and being forced to used the shared showers afterwards while feeling extremely uncomfortable with others, plus I often had the teacher shouting at how long I was taking and sometimes I was even bullied in the changing rooms. Eventually I started "forgetting" my kit on purpose because I much preferred the punishment that usually involved writing an essay, often alone, but sometimes I was even left to do homework.

Please note that "football" in the UK is also known as "soccer" in the USA and some other countries:

I think it's ridiculous how much money and resources are spent on many sports, for instance in the UK literally £Millions are spent on a single football player in the English Premier League and that player lives in luxury on a huge income, but what does being brilliant at kicking and controlling a bag of air around a field do for our civilisation? Look at it another way, if we were trying to survive an apocalypse, what good is being brilliant at football? Also I see supporting of such sports as bringing out our primitive human tribal instinct, especially when so called "fans" fight each-other and genuinely show hatred towards "supporters" of other teams, to myself it is pathetic.

I don't get excited by watching sporting events and I don't really care who wins even if it's my country playing because it honestly doesn't matter in any way what-so-ever, it is pointless to me. In fact last time England were playing an important game in the World Cup I took advantage and went shopping because it was like a ghost town. So what even if England won the football World Cup? So a small team of players win, how does that effect England itself? It doesn't. Major sporting events are very commercialised however and many companies use them to make money from making merchandise to bars/pubs promoting them.

I did give sport a chance for a short time when I went to a few major football matches with a friend who was really into it and was to my surprise genuinely upset when his team lost, but it still didn't captivate me and I soon reverted back to my usual interest. I can see sport as good to keep people fit and if other people enjoy watching or playing sport then I don't have an issue as long as they don't adversely affect other people like hooligans do, but that's all. Also you don't have to be a good at sport to keep fit.

Regarding martial arts, I think that's partly because aspies are more often bullied and therefore think about self defence as a way to combat it and also to feel safer when going out, even I considered it when I was younger, but it would have been just for this purpose.

PS: My youngest brother who is on the very low functioning end of the autistic spectrum is surprising excellent at controlling a football which goes against the usual trait of having poor coordination / motor skills. In fact along with drawing it became a special interest and he can still spend many hours controlling a football with his foot. Unfortunately however he could never come close to comprehending the sport or any rules, plus he couldn't and wouldn't play with other people.

 

[watersprite]

I haven't read the other responses. I like watching certain sports on tv (on computer screen) once in a while. I do not hate sports. I like moving about. In fact I grew up skiing, hiking, backpacking, running trails, riding my bike, riding a tiny little trail-bike, swimming, some canoeing and sailing, and playing volleyball. I dropped out of dancing. bleh.
I was not friends with any of the players, and all those other activities one can do pretty much on one's own.
Maybe the fact that there was access to solo activities that made them appealing to me.


I still love those activities.
edited to add:
I just freaking ignore all the boring sports.

 

[WereBear]

Because it's boring?

Because jocks can be the worst kind of bullies?

Because we are forced into it in school?

Because a lot of people act like it is the hugest of deals while it is really a hollow ball full of air going different places?

Because it makes people act weird but they think we are the weird ones?

 

[onlything]

Noise. Chaos. People running around like headless chickens. People laughing at you after you do something wrong. Plus I'm sorry to say but all females during my school life were simply pathetic with their worries about breaking nails or sweating and it definitely didn't make team sports more appealing.

I think though that I started really hating them when one of my teachers started bullying me publically when after my growth spurt I messed up and got patellofemoral pain syndrome. So no, I was not going to play with dedication.

Ugh. Sore topic.

I do like skiing, martial arts and watching ski jumping though.

 

[Sabrina]

BTW, I adore that my kids don’t like team sports either. When I went to a talk in their school, about extra curricular activities, the person talking said “and parents are expected to go to the matches, and support the team”, I started to secretly panic, wishing “OMG! I hadn’t thought of that! Please God let my son prefer anything else! Not soccer! Not team sports!” and my prayers were answered .

 

[Sabrina]

Priceless LOL!!!!!!

People running around like headless chickens.

 

[pjcnet]

If you had to watch the same episode of simpsons over and over just because everyone else is doing it and you want to be part of the group, would you? For the rest of your life?

It's interesting you said this because I believe it's more common for people on the low functioning end of the autistic spectrum to enjoy watching exactly the same TV programme over and over again, almost like it's part of a routine. Similarly even many people on the higher end of the autistic spectrum enjoy eating the same thing day after day without getting fed up like most NTs would have done a long time ago, I am like this and I have to be nagged to eat something different because no variation obviously isn't very healthy. One of my brothers who is on the low functioning end of the autistic spectrum loves watching the same TV programme better than watching new ones, for instance for a few years he watched the award winning animation, The Snowman (1982) at least once every day and he would get really upset if he wasn't able to watch it after it had been a while. In fact both my low functioning autistic brothers have loved watching a number of TV programme repeats to excess. Neither of my brothers have ever liked watching sport however even though it's repetitive, but I think it's partly because they don't understand it and with high functioning autism I definitely don't like watching sport, although unlike my brothers I normally prefer watching new unseen material than repeats.

 

[onlything]

It's interesting you said this because I believe it's more common for people on the low functioning end of the autistic spectrum to enjoy watching exactly the same TV programme over and over again, almost like it's part of a routine. Similarly even many people on the higher end of the autistic spectrum enjoy eating the same thing day after day without getting fed up like most NTs would have done a long time ago, I am like this and I have to be nagged to eat something different because no variation obviously isn't very healthy. One of my brothers who is on the low functioning end of the autistic spectrum loves watching the same TV programme better than watching new ones, for instance for a few years he watched the award winning animation, The Snowman (1982) at least once every day and he would get really upset if he wasn't able to watch it after it had been a while. In fact both my low functioning autistic brothers have loved watching a number of TV programme repeats to excess. Neither of my brothers have ever liked watching sport however even though it's repetitive, but I think it's partly because they don't understand it and with high functioning autism I definitely don't like watching sport, although unlike my brothers I normally prefer watching new unseen material than repeats.

Honestly, I can understand your brothers to an extent. When I was little, I would watch static. Tv static. Every day. Eventually the washing machine. 'The Snowman' seems a bit more creative now

 

[Katleya]

Eventually the washing machine.

I'd much rather watch the washing machine than a rugby game. Nothing against rugby; it's just that I find watching clothes spin around really enjoyable and soothing (except the noise).

 

[Sherlock77]

"Hate" is too strong of a word, even "dislike" is too strong... Most sports simply don't interest me, I think as a guy some other men see that as unusual... But through my interest in the artistic scene, most people I know (male or female) have very little interest in sports...

Because of my poor coordination I've never enjoy playing sports, which has likely contributed to my lack of interest in even watching sports now... I suspect there is a relationship between the two, for anyone...

 

[Kathos]

Many kids on the spectrum have low muscle tone and poor coordination with their body and sometimes even eyes. If they have low muscle tone, they have to work harder just to get going and therefore tire more easily. If they have left and right body coordination issues, kicking a ball or following body directions is difficult. If they have eye issues and need to see a developmental optometrist, they often feel off balance(difficulty riding a bike and swimming) and can't track a ball properly. Not all kids on the spectrum have these issues but many have some or all which is why they often need occupational and or physical therapy.

 

[Alis1998]

I'm diagnosed with PDD-NOS, but I think I can give you my personal experience without having asperger syndrome.

Personally I dont hate sports at all. I just feel a strong discomfort when it comes to my movements. It isn't a suprise. People on the spectrum do sometimes have a diffrent locomotion, making them appear "clumsy".

For my past with teakwando however, it maked me feel like I'm strong. I felt indepented. There was a certain comfort and security about it that made me love it wich I didn't have with other sports.

But I'm not into chess, or other mindsports. Maybe because it doesnt intrest me enough. I feel it isnt entertaining but I do enjoy it from time to time with my brother who is also diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Maybe it has to do with the diffrence between females and males on the spectrum? I certainly don't know.

By the way, excuse my english if it had some mistakes in it. I am not a native english speaker.

 

[Crossbreed]

I liked soccer and dodgeball in my elementary school years. I also liked volleyball at church youth groups and even tried softball in that kind of setting. Rather than play catch with a baseball or a football, I preferred frisbees or boomerangs.

I participated in cross-country running in high school and a lot of distance cycling since. In my twenties, a gym instructor had me do an exer-cycle routine in order to get my heart-rate up. I did the whole routine as prescribed and my heart-rate remained at its normal 80bpm. (He was a little frustrated at that.)

I didn't do well in team sports, probably due to my relatively low processing speed and general social klutziness.

I find sports [spectating?] boring and repetitive, though I do like clips of unbelievable shots.* And I don't like being in the stands, again, due to my social klutziness.

*I am a fan of YouTube's Dude Perfect videos.

 

[Ylva]

Sports is noisy, like others have said. I can bear to watch sports that involves horses; especially if the horse and rider have to focus, as it is then considered polite for the audience to be generally quiet. Used to like chess, but played it with a jerk for years and now it only reminds me of him.

Aerobics is dull. I can stim by myself, thanks, without being in a room full of people moving in unison to infernal music. Dancing comes with a risk of tripping myself up, as well as a certain risk of physical intimacy. It's still intimate if all your clothes are on.

Martial arts has the following advantages: you can practice at any speed you wish, and it comes in handy if you are assaulted. Maybe pragmaticism doesn't mesh with any of the stereotypes, but the point of bodybuilding is literally to grow one's muscle mass indefinitely, so pragmaticism shouldn't be considered neurotypical in nature either.

 

[Indy79]

I grew up playing sports and did very well on the field or court because there are rules. It was off of the field socializing that I had a hard time with. I still love to workout and try to play on a team every once in awhile. Being good at sports gave me a pass for my quirks. It was an automatic set of friends with a common interest that I didn’t have to seek out. Going to the gym helps with my sensory issues and gives me control over something. Not to mention it helps relieve stress and releases good hormones.
Sports also helped with the fact that my body wants to move. So shaking my hands wiggling my feet and head twitches never seemed odd when sitting on a bench fueled with energy during a game.

 

[Theta.G]

It's interesting you said this because I believe it's more common for people on the low functioning end of the autistic spectrum to enjoy watching exactly the same TV programme over and over again, almost like it's part of a routine. Similarly even many people on the higher end of the autistic spectrum enjoy eating the same thing day after day without getting fed up like most NTs would have done a long time ago, I am like this and I have to be nagged to eat something different because no variation obviously isn't very healthy. One of my brothers who is on the low functioning end of the autistic spectrum loves watching the same TV programme better than watching new ones, for instance for a few years he watched the award winning animation, The Snowman (1982) at least once every day and he would get really upset if he wasn't able to watch it after it had been a while. In fact both my low functioning autistic brothers have loved watching a number of TV programme repeats to excess. Neither of my brothers have ever liked watching sport however even though it's repetitive, but I think it's partly because they don't understand it and with high functioning autism I definitely don't like watching sport, although unlike my brothers I normally prefer watching new unseen material than repeats.

Didn't know eating the same things all the time was a high functioning autism thing... do that all the time but will sometimes add in some familiar vege's and fruits. haha
If someone tries to forcefully introduce a new meal i have to research and study everything about it to make sure it wouldn't poorly interact with this drug or trigger migraines. But others seem to think it's no big deal... because they don't realize how dire the consequences can be. Maybe we are more sensitive to radical dietary changes.

Hhmmm... happy to hear your younger brothers are at least fixated on a happy show. That much repetition can easily rewire thought patterns and if one was to watch say... pulp fiction over and over it can make behaviors harder to manage.

 

[Progster]

It's interesting you said this because I believe it's more common for people on the low functioning end of the autistic spectrum to enjoy watching exactly the same TV programme over and over again, almost like it's part of a routine.

I'm not low functioning, but as a child I used to want to have the same story read to me over and over again. I remember the story, it was "Hannibal the Hamster". We didn't have DVDs or videos even at that time.

 

[mw2530]

I think plenty of aspies enjoy sports - both watching and participating. I love watching football and I enjoy watching and following other sports as well. My main interest is running. I guess some would consider this to be more mental than physical, which it is in some ways. I like to stay active. I know a several aspies that are also big into watching and/or playing sports. Actually, following sports is well suited for the aspie brain. There are so many statistics, metrics, history, etc... regarding sports that a person can get into. I have to completely disagree with your assertion that all aspies hate sports. Aspies can have all sorts of interests.

 

[Propianotuner]

Why is this?

Some guesses:

Sports fans engage in apish behavior. The big spectator sports in particular are part of a cultural landscape that people on the spectrum tend to find repugnant.

In particular why does martial arts tend to be the only physical sport that attract a large number of people diagnosed with aspergers?

Because it is part of a different culture. MMA sports have lots of apish fans but well informed ones too. Also these don't tend to be team sports.

What is it about martial arts that appeals to aspies that say tennis doesn't?

Tennis doesn't have as much of a following and surely that has some influence. And tennis is plenty complicated, sure, but not really in the same realm as far as that.

But in general why don't asperger syndrome people like sports and also even non-sport (or at least mostly non-competitive) physically intense activities such as say aerobics, dancing, and bodybuilding?

I'm not sure and I have had intense negative responses from other friends with ASD, forming all kinds of assumptions about me simply because I'm not like others on the spectrum in this respect. I love sports and am an extremely physical person, the work I do is intense and that's the main thing that I get out of it.

Feeling challenged and chasing that adrenaline rush by running, throwing, hitting, etc. is much the same as stimming. Frankly, from my perspective people on the spectrum can be just as, if not more close minded, depending on what's in question.