The role of sleep in the performance of elite athletes

Although the function of sleep is not fully understood, it is generally accepted that it serves to recover from previous wakefulness and/or prepare for functioning in the subsequent wake period. Research examining the importance of sleep and sleep habits in elite athletes have demonstrated poor sleep quality and quantity in some elite athletes. On average, participants across all sports obtained a total sleep time of 6:8 ± 1.1 h. Findings from this research reveal that elite athletes obtain less than the recommended eight hours of sleep for the general population. This chapter will outline what is currently known about sleep in athletes and discuss the role that reduced sleep quality and quantity may have on athletic performance