The other week, London Sport hosted an online session focused on helping gymnastics clubs and coaches better understand neurodiversity and create more inclusive environments across sport and physical activity.
The session, Neurodiversity in Gymnastics, brought together coaches, welfare officers and club leaders from across London and beyond to explore how neurodivergent people may experience sport differently, and how clubs can better support those involved in their environments.
Led by Helena Keenan, one of the Sport Welfare Managers at London Sport, the session focused particularly on ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and dyspraxia, alongside wider conversations around communication, emotional regulation, sensory processing and coaching practices.
Throughout the session, there was a strong focus on recognising neurodiversity as a difference rather than deficit. While neurodivergent individuals may experience challenges around focus, communication, sensory overwhelm, organisation, or emotional regulation, they can also bring significant strengths including creativity, empathy, resilience, curiosity, problem solving, pattern recognition, and high levels of focus.
Helena reflected on her own experiences of receiving an ADHD diagnosis as an adult and how movement and sport had played an important role in helping regulate and manage many of those traits throughout her life.
Discussions explored how behaviours that may initially appear disruptive, disengaged or emotional can often be linked to overwhelm, anxiety, sensory pressures or difficulties processing information. Coaches were encouraged to think beyond immediate behaviours and consider what may be happening for an individual away from the surface level behaviour being displayed.
A strong safeguarding and welfare focus ran throughout the session. Attendees discussed why neurodivergent people can sometimes be at greater risk of exclusion, misunderstanding, or harm, and why creating environments where people feel safe, seen, heard, and supported is essential across sport and physical activity.
The session challenged several common assumptions around neurodiversity, including how people communicate, respond to pressure, and engage socially within sporting environments. Conversations highlighted the importance of understanding individual needs rather than relying on stereotypes or one-size-fits-all approaches.
Practical approaches shared during the session included creating clearer routines, adapting communication styles, reducing unnecessary sensory pressures and working directly with participants to understand what support works best for them.
The session highlighted the important role clubs and coaches can play in helping more people feel understood, included and able to thrive within sport and physical activity.
