by Pat Clark

Whether it be working out, playing in athletic events, or sitting in a desk for 8 hours at school, one things is for sure: sleep is important. The amount of sleep you get dramatically affects your day performance, or does it?

Why do most experts say sleep is important to perform at your best? Well according to the national sleep foundation during the day when you exercise it depletes energy fluids and break down muscles. What most people do to recover is hydration and eating right. Sleep is way under looked.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, deprivation increases the chances of fatigue, low energy and poor focus at gametime.   The National Sleep Foundation also has recommended amount of sleep based on your age. 

I asked students and athletes whether they thought it affected them and coaches to see if they could see a difference. Then science has its own opinions but does that apply to everyone. According to Sophomore Blake Davis it does.

“From personal experience when I don’t get enough sleep I can’t function right especially during any athletic event,” Davis said. “I have less energy.”

Another study from sleep.org said that basketball players who get an extra 2 hours of sleep before game day have increased speed of 5% and their accuracy by 9% which can dramatically affect how the play during the game.

But for some, sleep doesn’t seem to affect their game. Just ask senior hockey player Erik Sitar.

“Normally I don’t get a lot of sleep and I think my body has just adapted to it,’ Sitar said. “’cause I feel like I always have plenty of energy during games and practice.”

If you have trouble sleeping the night before a big game try taking a nap before the game. According to a Stanford Medicine article,  “everyone in the league office knows not to call players at 3 p.m…It’s the player nap.” 

Want some more tips from pros? 

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