{"id":15784,"date":"2026-06-11T03:39:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T02:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/davismethod.com\/?p=15784"},"modified":"2026-06-12T22:14:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T21:14:53","slug":"supporting-your-neurodivergent-athlete-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davismethod.com\/nl\/supporting-your-neurodivergent-athlete-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Support Your Dyslexic Athlete at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Sophia Goebel<\/a>, Davis Facilitator<\/p>\n\n\n

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My son never enjoyed school. After the Davis\u00ae program, academics became easier and his self-confidence improved\u2014but he couldn\u2019t help comparing himself to his older brother, who naturally loved books, reading, and learning.<\/p>\n

Then he found sports.<\/p>\n

Everything changed. He loved it. I truly believe his confidence and resilience today stem directly from this athletic foundation, though being a dyslexic athlete came with bumps. He was physically gifted\u2014he dominated on a pure athletic level\u2014but the vocabulary, the plays, the coaching language? Sometimes that confused him. And when he hit middle school and experienced coaching transitions, new coaches brought different teaching methods and terminology he had to decode all over again.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when I realized: what happens at home matters just as much as what happens on the field.<\/p>\n

The hours between practices and games\u2014how you prepare your child, how you respond to setbacks, how you reinforce learning, and how you interact with your child during and after the game\u2014can be the difference between a child who thrives in sports and one who gives up.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t about becoming an assistant coach or turning your backyard into a training facility. It\u2019s about creating a home environment that builds on what\u2019s happening at practice, can rebuild confidence when it wavers, and helps your child develop the resilience that will serve them far beyond sports.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk about how to do that and where to start.<\/p>\n

Self-Regulation Tools<\/h2>\n

Before your child walks into practice or steps onto the field, they need to be ready\u2014mentally and physically, that\u2019s where self-regulation tools come in. These are simple techniques you can teach your athlete to get their brain and nervous system into the optimal space for learning and performing.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve already completed a Davis\u00ae Program, you have an excellent focusing tool for academics and learning\u2014keep using that as is. For sports, however, you might want to introduce a sports-specific focus point that works better for athletic performance. For many field sports athletes find a focus point located directly above the forehead works great, as it gives them a wider view of the playing area and helps with quicker reaction times.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t completed a Davis\u00ae program and don\u2019t have the Davis self-regulation tools, don\u2019t worry. Here are three essential self-regulation tools every neurodivergent athlete needs:<\/p>\n

A Focusing Tool: The String Method<\/strong>
\nA sports focus can often be located directly above the head\u2014about six-inches to a foot above, between the crown and their forehead. Here\u2019s a technique you can teach your child to find and maintain that focus point:<\/p>\n

Step One: Find Your Balance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have your child stand up straight and shift their weight onto one foot. They\u2019re going to balance on one leg\u2014it doesn\u2019t matter which one. The act of balancing requires their brain to orient itself. You literally cannot balance while disoriented. This simple physical act is the foundation.<\/p>\n

Step Two: Imagine the Strings<\/strong><\/p>\n

While balancing, have them visualize that there is a string holding them up. Picture a string attached to the crown of their head, gently pulling them upward. This invisible string is holding them in perfect alignment. This visualization gives their brain a clear, physical reference point\u2014something concrete to focus on rather than an abstract idea.<\/p>\n

Step Three: Place Your Focus Point<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now have them imagine a dot floating about six-inches to a foot above their head, and just forward of the string maybe in inch to two forward. This dot is their focus point. It\u2019s not moving. It\u2019s not complicated. It\u2019s just there, steady and clear.<\/p>\n

Step Four: Return to Your Dot<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whenever they need to refocus in practice or a game have them think of that dot. Imagine the feeling of the string holding them upright and aligned as they see the dot in their mind. If they have a moment, actually balance on one foot. If they don\u2019t have time for that, just mentally picture the dot and feel the strings holding them upright.<\/p>\n

Your child will need to experiment with this focus point as they play their sport. If it doesn\u2019t feel quite right or they can\u2019t get into the zone, they may need to shift it slightly.<\/p>\n

For example, a baseball player might try it while catching and again while stepping up to bat. The softball and baseball athletes I\u2019ve worked with all really liked this focus point. One soccer player told me he felt much quicker reacting with it, and a hockey player said he could see the court better. If your child swims or does martial arts, this particular focus point might not be the best fit\u2014but the principle still holds: finding a focus where their body feels grounded and in alignment will serve them well.<\/p>\n

Once they find the right spot, it becomes a quick mental reset they can use anytime\u2014before stepping up to bat, before a free throw, before taking the field. It is important to practice using this new focal point. After using it intentionally overtime it will become second nature.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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A Calming Tool: Nervous System Reset<\/h2>\n

When your child is feeling anxious or overwhelmed\u2014waiting to bat with everyone watching, or after a frustrating play, they need a way to calm their nerves. Teach them a simple breathing technique: slow, deep breaths in through the nose, and longer exhales out through the mouth. This signals to their body and mind that they are safe and helps release the anxiety that builds in high-pressure moments.<\/p>\n

An Energy Tool: The Dial or Lever<\/h2>\n

In Davis\u00ae work, we call the energy tool \u201cyour dial.\u201d If your child hasn\u2019t learned this yet, think of it as an energy lever they can actively control and adjust based on the activity. The energy needed to listen to instructions is very different from the energy needed to sprint down a football field or explode off the line. Teach your child to consciously adjust their internal lever before each activity\u2014turning it lower for focus and listening, higher for explosive movement and intensity. They\u2019re in control of dialing in exactly what they need.<\/p>\n

These three tools\u2014focus, calm, and energy\u2014work together to prepare your athlete\u2019s brain and body for success.<\/p>\n

Pre-Teaching Vocabulary and Concepts<\/h2>\n

When starting a new sport or going back to a sport for a new season, vocabulary can change, when this happens, it can be very helpful to pre-teach vocabulary and concepts at home to help reduce the cognitive load your child faces at practice.<\/p>\n

When your child walks into practice and hears unfamiliar terminology or new concepts for the first time, they\u2019re trying to do three things simultaneously:<\/p>\n