Nocturnal Sleep Is Associated With Next-Day Vertical Jump Performance in Collegiate Athletes

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Optimizing athletic performance in collegiate athletes requires understanding factors influencing physical output.
• Nocturnal sleep is a critical physiological process that may impact next-day athletic capabilities.
• The relationship between sleep duration and explosive power metrics like vertical jump performance needs further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between nocturnal sleep duration and subsequent vertical jump performance in NCAA Division I football athletes.
• To identify potential mediating factors, such as peak concentric force, peak concentric velocity, and countermovement depth, in the sleep-performance relationship.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for athletic staff regarding sleep hygiene and performance optimization.

Main Methods:

• 174 NCAA Division I male football athletes provided 4,049 instances of sleep data using a smart ring worn 5 nights/week.
• Vertical jump performance was assessed weekly via 3 maximal jumps on a force plate, with staff calculating jump height.
• Within-subject linear mixed-effects models and mediation analysis were employed to evaluate the sleep-performance relationship and its mediators.

Main Results:

• A significant positive association was found between longer nocturnal sleep duration and better next-day vertical jump performance (maximal and average jump height).
• Countermovement depth significantly mediated the relationship between sleep duration and maximal jump performance.
• Peak concentric force and peak concentric velocity did not significantly mediate the observed relationship between sleep and jump performance.

Conclusions:

• Sufficient nocturnal sleep duration is essential for optimizing anaerobic performance, specifically vertical jump ability, in collegiate athletes.
• Countermovement depth emerges as a key biomechanical factor linking sleep to explosive power.
• Athletic programs should actively promote sleep hygiene practices to mitigate the negative effects of sleep restriction on performance.