Work

Instructor-reported support needs and neurodevelopmental disorder diagnoses among children in Japanese judo: a cross-sectional survey across all Japanese prefectures

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Community sport clubs serve as important participation environments for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Yet, nationwide data on their enrollment in specific sports remain scarce. This study estimated the proportions of participants identified by instructors as requiring additional support and instructor-known NDD diagnoses in judo clubs and programs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey covering all 47 Japanese prefectures was conducted in 2025. Instructors of 1,104 clubs and programs reported the total number of participants, the number requiring additional support, and instructor-known diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), specific learning disorder (SLD), and developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Proportions and 95% confidence intervals (Wilson score method) were estimated by age category. A Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to assess linear trends across ordered age groups. Results: < 0.001). Instructor-known diagnoses were reported for 1.57% (ADHD), 0.68% (ASD), 0.70% (SLD), and 0.09% (DCD) of participants. Diagnostic categories were not mutually exclusive. The summed proportion of instructor-known diagnostic reports (3.04%) therefore represents an upper bound on the proportion of participants with any known diagnosis. Even this upper bound remained well below the instructor-identified support-need proportion (7.02%). This gap indicates that support needs in community judo extend beyond disclosed diagnoses. Conclusions: Participants requiring additional support are present in Japanese judo clubs and programs across prefectures. Crucially, diagnosis-independent, and age- and setting-sensitive accommodation in community sport is important. Finally, the 7.02% figure should be interpreted as a context-specific indicator of the support demand instructors perceive rather than as a clinical prevalence estimate.

Source: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1912597

Authors: Ryosuke Ozaki, Kenji Hosokawa, Kenichi Nishimura

Institutions: National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Nagoya University of Arts, University of Kochi, Kōchi University

Language: English

Topic: Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,353