Noah’s journey

The story below really highlights how, with the right support, autistic young people can flourish, and how self-esteem and confidence can be developed in a way that taps into the positive aspects of being autistic.

What is not mentioned in the story is the fact that the wonderful coach who has supported Noah is our own Operations Manager, Ian Simister, who is based at our Henley-in-Arden clinic.

Ian has learned about neurodivergence, like many of our team, through lived experience with close family members, and has used this knowledge to support a truly diverse group of young people, who we are proud to sponsor. 

Noah’s journey – a story shared by his family

Noah plays for Lillington Juniors Under 11s, a football team sponsored by Help for Psychology. In a short space of time, Noah has done amazing things and proven that nothing should hold you back when doing what you love.

Noah is a kind, intelligent, and friendly lad whose passion is football. He was diagnosed with Autism in November 2022, and over time, he’s learned different techniques and strategies to help him cope with any difficulties presented by his condition.

He and his mum, Becki, had been looking for a football team for Noah to join. By sheer coincidence, Noah’s new next-door neighbour is a football coach, who, at the start of 2023, reached out to Noah and asked him if he’d like to join Lillington Juniors.

It was clear that Noah had footballing ability

It was clear that Noah had footballing ability, however, joining a football team provided him with new challenges. Whilst many boys and girls may be able to get involved in a training session without any trouble, for some who are very sensory by nature, there can be certain obstacles to overcome or at least manage:  The noise created by dozens of other excitable kids in close proximity, the bright flood lights looking over the astroturf, the repetitive close contact with other children.

Then add to that the fact that you’re the new kid, and you want to fit in – so you try to mask the fact that you’re experiencing sensory overload in this new environment. Not only this, imagine placing so much pressure on yourself that anything less than perfect would feel like a disaster – because you feel as though you’re not conforming to everyone else’s expectations.

Training is one thing, match day is another. Coming up against new children who you’ve never met before in a competitive environment with parents shouting from the touchline… all the difficulties experienced in a Wednesday-night training session can become even harder to overcome on a Sunday morning match.

It proved difficult for Noah at first. Quite often, it would all get too much and he’d regularly ask to come off the pitch, or he would misplace a pass and become upset (but not want to show it!). In training, he would lie on the floor in the middle of a session, feeling as though he had to give the reason that he’d injured himself when, in reality, he was experiencing extreme sensory overload.

Most importantly, though, he was brave, and he developed a never-give-up attitude

But Noah doesn’t stop doing something because it’s difficult (or even very difficult!). He found ways to manage these new experiences and the anxieties that came with them. In training and matches, Noah used stimming to help control his emotions. He would communicate with his coach and give him a thumbs up to let him know all was ok, and he developed the confidence to tell the coach if he just needed to take a break without hiding why. Most importantly, though, he was brave, and he developed a never-give-up attitude.

The turning point came in his fourth match. Lillington Juniors were playing a team who beat them 5-1 a few weeks before (in Noah’s debut). Having raced into a 3-0 lead things were looking good for Lillington, however, the opposition were coming back strong and scored 2 goals to make it 3-2. The match was getting harder and harder for Lillington, and the opposing parents became louder and louder. Noah looked at his coach just like he had in his three matches before, as if he wanted to come off the pitch – but this time he didn’t. Despite a natural inclination to move away from a difficult situation, he was brave.

Lillington needed a special moment from somewhere as the match was only going one way. With 5 minutes to go, a Lillington defender kicked the ball high and long into the opposition’s half.

Noah scored his first goal for the team

Now one thing that hasn’t been pointed out so far about Noah – he can run very, very, very fast! Up against three defenders (who all had a head start), there was no way he wasn’t getting to that ball first. The rest, as they say, is history. Noah scored his first goal for the team, and since that point he has faced and overcome plenty of similar challenges, often resulting in a goal and a big smile.

Now Noah is an established member of the team. He has made good friends, displays confidence, is dependable, and always arrives with a smile on his face. Noah found football and football gave him skills, resilience and confidence that he was able to take to other parts of his life.  

But overall, it gave him belief. He is a shining example of how the hardest struggles can be overcome.