Teen Athletes, Are You a Lark, an Owl or an Intermediate?

Soccer America, shares some interesting data on sleeping and sleep patterns.  After all, sleep has an affect on athletic performance.  Based on data they shared from a 2015 study using athletes’ natural internal clocks, they came up with these classificiations:

• Larks - rise and sleep early and performance is best around noon
• Owls - sleep and rise late and performance is best in the evening
• Intermediate - are the rest and performance is best in the late afternoon

Based on this study and others, here are some key points that Soccer America suggests that you consider:

1.   An athlete's performance is impacted by their natural sleep/wake cycle.
2.   Early risers tend to perform at their best about 6 hours after waking; late risers tend to perform at their best      about 11 hours after waking.
3.  If you need to perform at your peak and are traveling through different time zones, coordinating and getting your body used to a new sleep/wake cycle will have a significant effect on your performance.
4.  Try to get to your new destination several days in advance, or if you can’t do that try to stay as close to your normal time zone on that first day.

The results of this study indicate that you should be aware of your natural sleep cycle and how long after your natural wake cycle you need to be at your peak.  Make sure that you get enough sleep.

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For more information:  Teenagers, get good sleep! It has a major effect on athletic performance

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