Can Sports Help Kids Develop Their Communication Skills? Yes—and Here’s How

By Christine Hinkle, M.A. CCC-SLP

If your child is in speech therapy, chances are you’ve already learned some useful strategies to support your child’s communication at home. But did you know that your child’s favorite sport—or even just kicking a ball around the backyard—can be a powerful tool for building communication skills?

Whether it’s soccer, basketball, martial arts, or dance, sports offer a communication-rich environment for using speech, language, and social communication skills in a fun, low-pressure setting. Let’s take a look at how getting active can help develop your child’s communication skills.

1. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Sports are full of opportunities for social communication—regardless of whether it’s a team sport like soccer and baseball, or an individual sport like swimming and martial arts. There will almost always be interactions with teammates and coaches where your child might:

• Take turns

• Ask and answer questions

• Follow directions

• Use nonverbal communication like body language and eye gaze

• Work together toward a shared goal

From calling out plays to cheering on teammates, sports create natural moments for communication. Even shy children or those who communicate differently may find it easier to engage when the focus is on the activity rather than the pressure to talk.

2. Listening Skills in Action

Sports demand a lot of listening—and often quick processing! Players have to pay attention to coaches’ instructions, follow multi-step directions, and adjust their actions in real time. These listening and processing skills are essential building blocks for successful communication and are often areas targeted in speech therapy sessions.

Every sport has its own set of terms and concepts—“dribble,” “goalie,” “rebound,” “serve,” “strike.” Learning and using this vocabulary in context gives children the chance to:

• Expand their word knowledge

• Use more descriptive and specific language

• See verbs, nouns, and adjectives used in context to deepen understanding

You can support this by talking about the sport at home—on the way to or from practice, while watching a game on TV, or even when reading books about it together. Try the activity together and have your child use the vocabulary words to teach you what to do or explain what they’re doing!

3. Modeling and Repetition Made Fun

In sports, kids hear and see the same phrases and actions over and over: “Pass it!” “Nice shot!” “Try again!” This repetition reinforces understanding and can make it easier for kids to start using phrases themselves.

This kind of modeling and repetition can be great for children who are gestalt language processors—meaning that they process language in larger “chunks” rather than as individual words being used together. Additionally, this also benefits kids working on their speech sounds. It gives them many opportunities to practice words with tricky sounds in context (ex: “soccer ball”, score”, or “speed” for kids who need help with “s” and “s” blends.

But honestly—most children with speech and language delays benefit from routines and predictable language patterns, something sports naturally provide.

4. Confidence Is Key

Speech and language difficulties can impact a child’s self-esteem and confidence. Succeeding in a sport—whether it’s finally hitting the ball off the tee or mastering a new dance move—can give your child a sense of accomplishment. That boost in confidence can carryover into their willingness to communicate, try new words, or participate in conversations. It also connects them with other kids and coaches who can cheer them on and provide encouragement when needed.

5. Final Whistle

You don’t need to be a coach or athlete yourself to support your child’s communication skills through sports. Just showing up, encouraging them, and using the game as a way to connect can go a long way. So grab the ball, head outside, and get ready to cheer—not just for the points scored, but for every word, gesture, and moment of connection.

Tips for Parents:

• Talk it out: Ask open-ended questions after games or practices like “What was your favorite part?” or “What did your coach say today?”

• Practice key phrases: Teach simple sports-related phrases or cheers to encourage participation.

• Support the sidelines: Even if your child isn’t ready to join a team, practicing skills at home or watching games together can still offer communication benefits.

What sport does your child love? Anything new they want to try? Share your experiences with us at Columbia Pediatric Therapy!