Sleep: The Essential Nighttime Workout
I know we probably threw you off with the title of this month’s parent tip, however that statement couldn’t be more true. Parents and coaches, I know you stress to your kids and athletes the importance of exercise and getting the proper amount of physical activity. I know you also stress the significance of nutrition and the role it plays in giving your child the proper fuel to workout and be fit. However, what gets lost in the shuffle sometimes is how key those hours of inactivity are when the sun goes down and the role sleep plays in enhancing performance and overall health.
In the video above, my mentor Dr. Rob Gilbert surprises me with this reminder. We dive head first into this topic and breakdown the importance of sleep in a young athlete. We give parents the parameters of how much sleep a child needs in order for them to be productive. We also let you know what your athlete’s body is doing while it sleeps and how it relates to helping him or her to recover from the previous day’s workout. Make sure your child gets enough time to sleep and dream at night, it will only help them reach their dreams on the field in the future.