I don't have a SN child, but I found this most touching and I will certainly share the sentiments with my middle schooler
Dear Parents of Children in Our Son's Class
As an aside, my DS, an elite young soccer player, has been playing futsal (kind of indoor soccer) this winter on a team which includes two special needs brothers. One of the boys,14 year old M, is on the spectrum and it has been an honor and pleasure for DS to play with him. Yes, he makes mistakes, he goes in too hard in a tackle sometimes, he doesn't completely understand the nuances of the game, but then again neither do most of the NT boys that play in the league. But he gives it his all, and is doing really well. It seems like soccer is part of his therapy, and the coach is so patient with him, explaining very carefully and clearly what he should be doing, he uses my DS as an example, and asks him to watch what DS does on the field. On Saturday's game M pushed a boy out of bounds, not maliciously, just to get the ball, but it was a dangerous play so he was sent off for a couple of minutes, M was distraught, but the coach calmed him down, said it was okay, but just not the way you slow a player down, and he explained how to do it another way.
M clearly loves the game of soccer, and definitely has been watching it on TV or player Fifa because his goal celebrations are magnificent! Generally goal celebrations are not encouraged, but the coach, who is also the owner of the facility, has no problem with him celebrating his goals, everyone celebrates along with him, including the opposing team.
Playing futsal with M this winter is an experience my DS will never forget.
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