A recent study by Stanford University of their varsity men's basketball team showed that getting more sleep improved athletic performance. This is probably something that you believed to be true already, but now here is the proof. The researchers recorded their averages of sprint speed, shooting accuracy, 3-point percentage, and free-throw percentage. Then they asked the basketball players to get a minimum of 10 hours of sleep per night - how many of you get that?
After a 5-7 week period of more sleep at night, the players improved! They were running faster, shooting better, and reported an improvement in mental health. Their free-throw percentage increased an average of 9% and their 3-point field goal percentage increased by 9.2%!
As a college athlete, you are given a few obstacles that may interfere with your sleep. Studying, training, and traveling to competitions certainly takes up a lot of your time. It can be easy to put less emphasis on sleep when your to-do list is long. But it is important to realize that creating a sleep deficit DOES make a difference in how well you perform, not only in your sport but in school.
You can read the full manuscript here:
The Effects of Sleep Extension on the Athletic Performance of Collegiate Basketball Players by Cheri D. Mah, MS, Kenneth E. Mah, MD, MS, Eric J. Kezirian, MD, MPH, and William C. Dement, MD, PhD
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