Wake up call for collegiate athlete sleep: narrative review and consensus recommendations from the NCAA Interassociation Task Force on Sleep and Wellness

Abstract

Sleep is an important determinant of collegiate athlete health, well-being and performance. However, collegiate athlete social and physical environments are often not conducive to obtaining restorative sleep. Traditionally, sleep has not been a primary focus of collegiate athletic training and is neglected due to competing academic, athletic and social demands. Collegiate athletics departments are well positioned to facilitate better sleep culture for their athletes. Recognising the lack of evidence-based or consensus-based guidelines for sleep management and restorative sleep for collegiate athletes, the National Collegiate Athletic Association hosted a sleep summit in 2017. Members of the Interassociation Task Force on Sleep and Wellness reviewed current data related to collegiate athlete sleep and aimed to develop consensus recommendations on sleep management and restorative sleep using the Delphi method. In this paper, we provide a narrative review of four topics central to collegiate athlete sleep: (1) sleep patterns and disorders among collegiate athletes; (2) sleep and optimal functioning among athletes; (3) screening, tracking and assessment of athlete sleep; and (4) interventions to improve sleep. We also present five consensus recommendations for colleges to improve their athletes’ sleep.

Sleep and the athlete: narrative review and 2021 expert consensus recommendations

“…169 Another important consideration is privacy, as sleep monitoring device apps may contain personal and sensitive information; it is important to consider who has access to this information. 170 Practitioners must weigh both the pros and cons of using sleep monitoring technology for the athletes they are working with.…”

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Benefits Psychological Well-Being, Sleep Quality, and Athletic Performance in Female Collegiate Rowers

“…Extensive stress can also impair sleep, another effect that may impede optimal performance. Both mental health symptoms and sleep problems are prevalent in elite athletes, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association as well as the International Olympic Committee have emphasized the need for improved sleep to benefit health and performance in this population (Kroshus et al, 2019;Reardon et al, 2019). Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a cognitive training program that can improve psychological well-being and sleep quality (Kabat-Zinn, 1982;Grossman et al, 2004;Cincotta et al, 2011;Li et al, 2018;Rusch et al, 2019), and thus may indirectly benefit athletic performance.…”

“…The roles of sleep in muscle recovery, psychological well-being, reaction time, and accuracy may all support athletic performance (Watson, 2017). Despite the demonstrated importance of sleep for performance, elite and collegiate athletes often exhibit poor sleep quality and inadequate sleep duration (Leeder et al, 2012;Mah et al, 2018;Brauer et al, 2019;Kroshus et al, 2019;Reardon et al, 2019).…”

Reciprocal Associations Between Sleep, Mental Strain, and Training Load in Junior Endurance Athletes and the Role of Poor Subjective Sleep Quality

“…Optimal sleep is recognized for its positive contributions to physical performance and psychological well-being in the athletic population ( Thun et al, 2015 ; Kroshus et al, 2019 ). During sleep, learning and memory processes consolidate and strengthen retrieval of factual information and facilitate procedural motor skills, which contribute to athletic performance ( Walker and Stickgold, 2004 ).…”