ABSTRACT
The effect of sleep on athletic performance, and ways to improve the quantity and quality of sleep of athletes, has received little attention in the sport psychology literature. Nevertheless, most athletes and coaches will attest to the importance of feeling fresh and rested for both training and performing. Recent research points to the profound effect that sleep has, not only on athletic training and performance, but also on almost every aspect of athletes’ lives (e.g., interpersonal, academic, financial). Unfortunately, people have reported feeling much less satisfied with their sleep and in 2001 were sleeping one hour less per night than people in 1981 (Hicks, Fernandez, & Pellegrini, 2001; Hicks & Pellegrini, 1991).
