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The Importance of Sleep for Young Athletes Who Travel

By National Sleep Foundation, 11/14/17, 12:00PM PST

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Sleep positively affects many areas of athletic performance, including speed, accuracy, and reaction time.

For children who play on a travel sports team, sleep should be a top priority. Not only is ample shuteye important for physical and mental wellbeing, but getting a good night’s sleep can also improve a young athlete’s chances of doing well during the game. Sleep positively affects many areas of athletic performance, including speed, accuracy, and reaction time.

Ensuring that kids get enough sleep while traveling for a game may also decrease the chance that they get hurt on the court or field. In fact, children who get fewer than eight hours of sleep per night are 1.7 times more likely to get injured while playing their sport, compared with those who get eight or more hours of sleep. Use these tips to keep your athlete feeling rested and healthy while on the road.