By Steve Horan
Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a diagnosis applied to
children and adults who display certain characteristic behaviors over
time. As the name implies, these behaviors indicate difficulty paying
attention and, in some cases, hyperactivity. ADHD includes the more
commonly used term, 'ADD'. The two terms are basically
interchangeable.
An
estimated three to seven percent of Americans have a diagnosis of
ADHD. The national prevalence rate is a bit higher among children, but
can be much higher in certain communities. As a result, just about
every coach is likely to encounter a young athlete with ADHD at some
point. Some coaches have numerous athletes with the ADHD diagnosis,
and perhaps some who have the symptoms but no formal diagnosis.
Thousands
of books and articles have been written for teachers on the topic of
ADHD. Unfortunately, there few resources available for coaches (see
the Learn More
box for a good start). Coaching the ADHD-affected athlete is a topic
in need of much more attention. But here are some guidelines for
helping athletes with ADHD get the most out of their experience on your
team.
1. Be aware of ADHD
The
first thing we can do is be aware that we probably have athletes with
ADHD under our care. Awareness can help us anticipate and plan for
coaching the ADHD-affected athlete.
2. Get informed about your athletes
It
is important to be informed about any of your athletes who have ADHD.
One approach is to privately ask your athletes and/or parents to let
you know about any ADHD diagnoses. This is important from a medical
standpoint as well as coaching. It is important to know whether our
athletes are on any prescription drugs in case of serious injury.
3. Remember it's a condition, not an attitude
There
is no denying that athletes with ADHD can present a challenge to a
coach. They may have difficulty following directions. They may be
late or disorganized. They may be hypersensitive to criticism. They
may say they understand something when they don't. They may promise to
do something and then not deliver.
If
an athlete with a diagnosis of ADHD displays these behaviors, it is
VERY important that we do not view their mistakes as signs of
disrespect. We should definitely hold them accountable for their
behavior, but we should try not to question their character.
Most of these athletes feel bad enough already. They really don't mean
any disrespect. They just have certain gaps which cause them to
misfire when it comes to execution. When we question their character,
we may create a wedge which becomes a barrier to trust and improvement.
4. Remember the athlete's assets
It
is also important to remember that many athletes with ADHD bring some
valuable assets to the team. For one thing, they can be highly
energized and creative in competition, even (sometimes especially)
under pressure. Some athletes with ADHD demonstrate a good 'feel' for
the spatial elements of their sport, which allows them to stay in the
moment and perform while other athletes may be overthinking. In the
locker room, they can be highly communicative and compassionate, and a
favorite of their teammates. The proof of the potential of the athlete
with ADHD is in the pudding: Countless athletes with ADHD have become
excellent performers and leaders. Yours can, too.5. Use visuals and demonstrations
From
a very practical perspective, it is important to remember that athletes
with ADHD can easily get lost in verbal instruction. We can help them
grasp our teaching by supplementing our words with detailed
demonstrations and graphic illustrations (on a board or in a handout).
It also helps to confirm their understanding by asking them to give us
eye contact, and requesting them to speak-back or demonstrate-back what
we just showed them.
6. Communicate and hold accountable
Communication
is everything with the ADD athlete. To the extent you and your athlete
can acknowledge the diagnosis and work together as partners, he or she
can have a tremendous experience under your supervision. At the same
time, it is important for the athlete with ADHD to be held accountable
for the same team values as everyone else. Athletes with ADHD do not
need pity or highly specialized accomodations. Open and honest
communication backed with compassionate accountability is usually the
winning strategy.
Coaching Points
1. Be aware of ADHD - chances are you have at least one ADHD-affected athlete
2. Get informed - work with athletes and parents to find out who has a diagnosis and whether they are on meds
3. Remember ADHD is a condition, not an attitude - take care not to mistake an ADHD symptom for disrespect
4. Remember the athlete's assets -- athletes with ADHD can bring some much-needed strengths to a team
5. Use visuals and demonstrations in addition to words - this can help your ADHD athlete and everyone else, too
6.
Communicate and hold accountable - the ADHD athlete needs clear
communication, but he or she does not need pity or special treatment.
Learn More
These resources will open in another window. When finished, close that window to return to this page
Quick overview ROM the Center for Sports Psychology at the University of North Texas:
The
following set of articles comes from the ADDitude website. The
articles are written by Michael Stabeno, author of one of very few
books on this topic, The ADHD Affected Athlete.
