Abstract
Adapted Bingocize® combines bingo with movement-based activities to introduce autistic children and youth to physical activity (PA) in a fun, community-based format. Effective training of coaches and PA leaders is essential for optimizing implementation and ensuring high-quality PA experiences. Grounded in the Quality Parasport Participation Framework, this study aimed to develop and evaluate an online facilitator training program designed to prepare community leaders to deliver inclusive PA programs such as Adapted Bingocize®, with an emphasis on autonomy, belonging, challenge, engagement, mastery, and meaning.
The self-paced program consisted of five modules with instructional videos, documents, and end-of-module quizzes. Seven participants completed the training. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically.
Participants valued the flexibility of the self-paced structure and the concise and digestible video content. However, they expressed interest in more interactive elements and recommended adding an ice-breaker activity to promote belongingness. A key recommendation specific to Adapted Bingocize® was to add a demonstration video showing room setup and gameplay to increase preparedness.
Findings indicate that a flexible, modular training format is a feasible and acceptable strategy for preparing community leaders to deliver inclusive PA programs. Future studies should examine the potential of interactive and community-building features to enhance facilitator engagement and readiness. This study provides practical insights for scaling inclusive PA opportunities for autistic children and youth.
