THERE IS NO BETTER RECOVERY THAN SLEEP

While many people find a sleeping kitty cute – especially one with a soccer ball — most of us fail to recognize the importance of sleep. Sleep is particularly important for elite soccer players of all ages who need to compete and want to perform at peak levels.

Today’s most youth soccer players are tired. What happens if a soccer player doesn’t get enough sleep? How important is sleep anyway?

Here is what happens if a soccer player doesn’t get enough sleep and answering that question … How important is sleep anyway?

Why sleep actually matters if you play soccer … after all, you do need to be alert and in top form if you want to avoid many injuries and play at your peak level of performance.

Although sleep is most times overlooked when planning out a training regimen, it should be considered as equally important as nutrition and physical conditioning.

YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS NEED TO GET ENOUGH SLEEP.

Slowed reaction times lead not only to missed pass or goal opportunities but can result in injuries as well.

Note: Importance of Hydration for Soccer Players:

When preparing for a physically demanding game or practice, it is important to ensure that you are hydrated before, during and after, are well fed and have given your body the proper nutrition to supply the body with energy throughout the game and are well rested not only the night before and after the event but for a few weeks prior and after.

Sleep is a requisite if you want to be great on the field:

Sleep experts have been studying the effects of sleep deprivation for many years and have determined that the lack of sleep affects the athlete greatly in the following ways:

• Slowed Reaction Times.

A slowed reaction time of even one second due to mental fatigue from sleep deprivation can make all the difference on a soccer field.

Sleep studies on athletes have shown that a single “all-nighter” has decreased reaction times by up to 300%. With that in mind, imagine standing in front of a goal when the soccer ball comes flying at you!

Sleep to Recover:

• Increased Injury Rates.

While we sleep our bodies use this time to repair, regenerate and re-energize. After a long practice or game, when an athlete has fatigued their body and mind, sleep becomes crucial.

Muscle fatigue and breakdown, which occurs after strenuous activity, and needs adequate time to heal for the muscles to repair and regenerate before the next activity in order to refrain from injury.

A lack of sleep can also increase stress. Elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, has also been shown to interfere negatively with tissue repair and growth.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION CAN ALSO LEAD TO SLOWED DOWN REACTION TIMES.

And, a slow reaction on the field can lead to injury in the form of a collision with another player or being hit by a ball you didn’t see coming your way.