The Impact Of Sleep Deprivation On Agility Performance And Pattern Recall

Abstract

PURPOSE: With sleep having the potential to affect both memory and physical performance associated with learning and performing sport related tasks, this study sought to determine the effects of sleep deprivation and college athletes on their ability to remember and perform agility drills similar to that which would be performed in practice or game. METHODS: Ten physically active college athletes (21-26 years) participated in the study (5 males and 5 females). Participants were tested under two conditions, 2-4 hours and 7-9 hours of overnight night sleep. The night before each test day, participants were instructed in detail about a four-part agility pattern they had to recall and perform the following morning. The agility drill included: forward sprinting, back pedaling, in and out box stepping drills, Icky Shuffle, and a vertical jump. For each testing day participants performed a warm-up and then the agility drill three times. They rated their perceived exertion (RPE) for each trial, and the best time for each drill was used for analysis. RESULTS: Completion speed was not significantly different after 2-4 hours sleep (26.9 + 2.0 sec) compared to 7-9 hours sleep (26.1 + 2.6 sec). RPE was also not significantly different for 2-4 hours sleep (8.4 + 2.2) compared to 7-9 hours sleep (7.9 + 1.3). There was also no gender difference for speed or RPE. However, participants who were instructed to undergo 2-4 hours of sleep for their first test took significantly longer to perform the drill for the first testing day compared to those who received 7-9 hours of sleep for their first testing day, taking on average 2.2 + 1.7 sec longer. CONCLUSION: Although no difference was seen overall in agility performance times when comparing prior sleep, there was a difference in performance times when comparing the ordering of learning a new task. Learning a new agility pattern when sleep deprived first resulted in slower agility times than when seeing the new pattern for the first time with a full night sleep. Physically active college students are at risk of decreased performance times for drills they are seeing for the first time on minimum sleep. Coaches often stress getting good sleep prior to competition but it may be important for adequate sleep prior to practice sessions where new play routes are being taught.