Gold Silver and Bronze Exercises for ADDers

Details: Written by: Dave Pughe-Parry; Published: 15 February 2025

In childhood play times where two or more children get to choose their teammates, the ADHD kids are left to last because of distraction impacting the team.

The biggest factor to be considered is distraction. For ADHD children, those sports that are individual, where the athlete competes alone against others are the best, simply because the loss of concentration impacts only the ADDer, not a whole team.

The next best sports are team sports where a large part of the sport is played individually, but as part of a team. Cricket and baseball are good examples

Gold Medal Exercises and Sports

SPORT	ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES
Walking	Excellent all-round exercise Can be done alone Can be done in groups Feeds the soul at the same time- done in beauty	None
Martial Arts	Excellent all-round exercise Can be done alone Can be done in group environment Teaches control – both physical and emotional Learn to have respect for self and others Compete against self and others - movements and fighting Can practice alone Long achievement path Can be done reasonably by non-athletes	None
Swimming	Excellent all-round exercise Can be done alone Can be done in group environment Feeds the soul at the same time - if done in the sea, lakes, and rivers Compete against self as well as others	Slightly less effective than running or walking – (can become boring if done in a pool)
Running	Excellent all-round exercise Can be done alone Can be done in groups Feeds the soul at the same time- done in beauty Lots of mass competitions in all distances Compete against self as well as others	Can become addictive – (mostly a minor issue)
Tennis	Excellent all-round exercise Can be practised alone Can be done in group environment Good social aspect Family type sport Competitions at all levels Long achievement path Can be done reasonably by non-athletes of all ages	Can be expensive in some areas Doubles should be a Silver Medal Sport

SilverMedal Silver Medal Exercises and Sports

SPORT	ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES
Golf	Good all-round exercise Can be done in group environment Feeds the soul at the same time – usually played in beautiful surroundings Compete against self as well as others	Expensive Excessive rules
Hiking	Good all-round exercise Is done in group environment Feeds the soul at the same time – is usually done in remote and different areas Compete against self, but is more social – small groups promote teamwork Involves different activities, camping, cooking, abseiling, swimming, wild life watching, photography, etc. The activity demands, and teaches responsibility	Can’t be done every day Can be expensive Often need to travel long distances to get to the venue Can be dangerous
Cycling	Good all-round exercise Is a valid healthy clean mode of transport Can be done individually with others around, and in teams and groups Compete against self and others Can be done by most people Feeds the soul when done in beautiful areas Long achievement path Many types of cycling activities are available, from track to multi-day long-distance epics, mountain biking, and even little BMX biking	Can be very expensive Can be dangerous driving on public roads Very dangerous at night even with good cyclew lights
Rock & Mountain Climbing	Good all-round exercise Is done individually with others around Feeds the soul Each mountain, cliff, wall is different – no routine Compete against self Can be done socially and competitively Rock climbing can be done in city areas	Can be a high-pressure activity Is a dangerous activity at all times Failure impacts on the whole team
Surfing	Good all-round exercise Is done individually with others around Feeds the soul Each wave is different – no routine Compete against self and others Can be done socially and competitively	Restricted to coastal communities, where it would be a Gold Medal activity

Bronze Medal Exercises and Sports

SPORT	ADVANTAGES	DISADVANTAGES
Cricket	Good all-round exercise Different individual skills required within a team Can practice alone. Requires short bursts of concentration. Can play in many different positions Different formats and lengths of a game	Games can create high-pressure situations at times A single failure can impact the whole team
Horseriding	Build a relationship with the animal that's easy to sustain Provides some exercise Learn responsibility – taking care of the animal Many different formats of the activity	Very expensive Limited exercise An individual only sport
Fishing	Provides some exercise Can be done just about anywhere, sea shore and deep-sea, lakes and rivers Is done in nature – feeds the soul at the same time Can be a solitary or communal sport. Is a great family activity Many competitions at all levels	Can be boring Can be dangerous, especially sea fishing Can be expensive
Athletics	Good all-round exercise Is done individually with others around Feeds the soul Each wave is different – no routine Compete against self and others Can be done socially and competitively	Restricted to coastal communities, where it would be a Gold Medal activity

The Also Rans

Team sports unless listed above. Soccer – especially the goalkeeper position, rugby, hockey, etc. ADDers can flourish and even shine in these games depending on the severity of the condition, and the type of coaching.
Strategic aspects of these games can sometimes trip ADHD team members up.
Motorised sports like motor cycling, power-boating, and car racing also require a level of fitness to participate. This is a strong motivation for ADDers to get fit.
Extreme sports such as sky-diving, abseiling, some forms of sailing – like single-handed circumnavigation races, air plane races, etc., should only be attempted by ADDers who are skilled and proficient in their sport, and have proven themselves to be responsible.

Gold Silver and Bronze Exercises for ADDers

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