ADHD is commonly experienced in children, with approximately 11% of children aged between 3 and 17 diagnosed with the neurodevelopmental disorder, according to data from 2022. Their positive traits— hyperfocus, resiliency, creativity, and high energy— push their athletic limits to excel in sports. While some kids can excel and reach greatness in certain sports, some sports could pose difficulties for them— because of a lack of focus, hyperactivity, or impulsive behavior.
If your children with ADHD show natural athletic ability from an early age, it’s important to know which sports are most suitable for them, depending on their personalities and characteristics. Olympic gold medalists, Justin Gatlin, Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, NBA star Kevin Garnett, and NFL legend Terry Bradshaw— these are some notable ADHD-diagnosed athletes who went on to have tremendous success on the world stage. However, picking the wrong sport for your ADHD kid may do more harm than good, affecting their mental health at an early age. It’s important to know how to motivate an ADHD child in sports— especially the suitable ones.
Let’s analyze the worst sports for ADHD-diagnosed children and the logical reasons why they might not work in their favor.
1) MMA ( Mixed Martial Marts)
MMA, or Mixed Martial Arts has emerged as a leading sport of this century, thanks to UFC’s global popularity. From Muay Thai and boxing to wrestling and judo, MMA fighters master different martial arts to attain excellence. Continuous discipline, mental toughness, laser-sharp focus, and willpower are core qualities of an elite MMA fighter.
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The key traits of MMA fighters inside the octagon don’t align with the common characteristics of ADHD-diagnosed people. The discipline of waking up early each morning and grinding on the mat for hours is a demanding task for kids who have ADHD. Moreover, a fighter focuses and analyzes every movement of the opponent— it helps to understand the weakness and strike at the right time. Most neurodivergent people have impulsivity, and maintaining deep concentration possesses significant difficulties. While kids with ADHD may pursue MMA as a hobby, choosing it as a serious career would be imprudent.
2) Shooting
Shooting has emerged as a mainstream sport after its inclusion in the Olympic games. Whether using airguns or rifles, it’s a competitive sport with athletes from over a hundred countries participating to win the coveted gold, silver, and bronze medals. The key traits for success in shooting: are a disciplined mentality, a high level of patience, quick decision-making ability, and razor-sharp concentration. Taking these qualities into consideration, attaining excellence in this sport is no easy task for people with ADHD.
So is shooting a good sport for ADHD? The answer is no. The sheer mental focus and deep concentration may be the two roadblocks for ADHD folks who pursue a career shooting. Moreover, neurodivergent impulsiveness hinders correct and efficient decision-making skills.
3) Cycling
Bicycles are commonly used for transportation around the world, especially in certain European countries and Asia. However, cycling is also a professional sport. From track cycling and mountain biking to gravel racing and cyclo-cross, different variations of cycling are practiced worldwide. In fact, the 2024 Tour de France cycling competition became one of the most viewed sporting events in history. It also features in the Olympic games.
While cycling is a well-known sport, it’s one of the worst sports for ADHD kids. The main reason? Neurodivergent people are vulnerable to accidents. Studies show people with ADHD have a higher risk of injuries through accidents—whether through driving, cycling, or motorbike riding. Neurobehavioral signs like short attention spans and poor focus may lead to unintentional accidents. To ensure your child’s well-being and safety, cycling is not a great choice— particularly as a sport from a young age.
4) Motorcycle Racing
Just like cycling, motorcycle racing has widespread popularity and different racing styles. Grand Prix motorcycle racing, also known as Moto GP is the most followed motorbike racing in the world, held across Europe, Australia, and Asia. It’s contested by leading MotoGP brands such as Ducati, Honda, KTM, Yamaha, etc. The other versions of motorbike racing include: motocross, enduro, grass track, ice speedway, and more.
By nature, motor racing is a high-risk sport due to the intense speed on tracks— this is the primary reason kids must avoid it at a young age. Professional motorbike racing requires skills like strong reflexes, hawk-eyed concentration, risk assessment ability, and critical thinking. The previously highlighted accident-related risk of neurodivergent brains is the reason motor racing is difficult at a professional level. Casual motorbike riding under supervision is harmless for ADHD folks, but they may struggle to perform at the highest level while raising injury risks.
5) Cricket
If you aren’t already aware, Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, sitting just behind soccer. The game hasn’t gained traction in America yet, but it’s a mainstream sport in South Asia, Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa. No, we’re not here to explain how it’s played (you can Google it). Cricket, particularly at a professional level, can be a chaotic mess for ADHD folks because the game may last up to five days— yes, you heard it right— and that alone makes it a possible nightmare for children.
Cricket tests your patience. One format may continue for five consecutive days, while the other may stretch over eight hours, taking up your entire day with physical toil. Besides spending hours on the ground, a cricket player practices for hours to hone skills. However, the game’s longevity isn’t the only problem for neurodivergent children. A top-level cricketer’s skills must include: keen attentiveness, peak concentration, and structured routine. Maintaining these qualities for an extensive period is overwhelming for children with ADHD.
6) Baseball
Baseball is somewhat similar to Cricket, given both sports require bats and balls. Nevertheless, the rules and regulations of the games are drastically different. Moreover, a full baseball game wraps up within 3 hours. So why is it still one of the worst sports for ADHD-diagnosed kids? Several other factors account for it.
According to the popular health and wellness platform ‘Healthline’,
“Baseball is less ideal (for ADHD children) as they involve a lot of downtime between plays and often require attention to what the entire team is doing”.
It’s a team sport where you need sharp attention to detail for a few hours— and kids with ADHD generally lack it, while the game’s repetitive nature makes it monotonous to them. As a team sport, baseball demands social interaction and forging a natural bond with teammates, but many children with ADHD may find this difficult to manage.
7) Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey is a leading sport in North America. Played on an ice skating rink, it’s a team sport, led by the world’s top ice hockey league, NHL. Given the game’s popularity, a child may thrive and build a potential future, but reaching the pinnacle isn’t a cakewalk, especially with ADHD.
Ice hockey is a fast-paced game, requiring speed, stamina, optimal focus, and team coordination— all of these traits may pose challenges for neurodivergent people, drowning them in sensory overload. Additionally, ice hockey has complicated guidelines, and adhering to them strategically may put significant pressure on a child diagnosed with ADHD.
Keep in mind ADHD symptoms diverge from person to person. Your child may have certain qualities distinctive from others. It’s generally observed kids with ADHD may struggle to achieve excellence in these sports— but if your child is surprisingly brilliant in the listed games, nothing should deter their passion and further development.
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