The Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of Sports Stars Brazil in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study

To investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the Sports Stars Brazil intervention in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This was a feasibility study, quasi-experimental in nature, involving 18 adolescents with ASD. All participants received a modified sports intervention (Sports Stars Brazil), which encompassed eight weekly group sessions. Each session included one hour of gross motor activity focused on sports and social skill development, centered around popular sports in Brazil, such as soccer, handball, basketball, and athletics. The primary outcomes included the following feasibility measures: recruitment rate, adherence rate, satisfaction/acceptability, and adverse effects. Seventeen adolescents (94.4%) completed the intervention program. High adherence and participant satisfaction were observed. The study also showed improvements in anaerobic capacity (p < 0.001), physical literacy (p = 0.001), object control (p = 0.004), and locomotion (p = 0.005), as well as preliminary favorable effects on the achievement of activity and participation goals (p < 0.001). However, no statistically significant differences were found in the other analyzed outcomes (p > 0.05). Sports Stars Brazil is feasible, and preliminary evidence exists for its positive effect on participation, fitness, and physical literacy in adolescents with ASD. A future clinical trial is warranted to confirm these results.