Get a Huge Boost in Performance

One of the most important things a softball player can do in order to excel may surprise you. Do you think it is a certain exercise, speed drill, or perhaps a change in mechanics?

Put down the ball and go to sleep. I recently talked with one of my most exciting students and she was very tired. She gets up early and goes to school each day, plays volleyball, practices her pitching almost every night, does her homework, practices with her travel team, and then travels to tournaments most weekends.
This is the “new normal” for kids. But, is it helpful? When does she sleep? Research shows this is a tremendous problem for kids. The thing she sacrifices is the thing she needs most. Even if she gets to bed at a decent hour, she is so “wired” that good sleep rarely occurs.
Sleep is far more than rest. Good sleep is a time when the body repairs itself, from brain to nervous system to muscles. Chemical and hormone balances are restored. Athletes should realize that the lack of quality sleep slows reaction time, affects strength, increases the chance for infections, and has a negative effect on hand-eye coordination needed to field, hit, or pitch well.
If you are giving up sleep so you can do other things to be a better athlete, that is an oxymoron. If you still don’t get what I am saying due to sleep deprivation, it is counter-productive or simply stupid! Injuries, infections, and lack of motivation are waiting in the wings.
How much sleep is desired? It is different for everyone, but if you listen closely, your body will tell you. In order for the body to recover properly during the sleep cycle, you must also give it proper nutrition and hydration. These three ingredients combine to provide the body with the tools needed to make repairs during sleep. Do those three things well and you can skip a practice or two and still perform better.
Much more could be said about this subject. There is a wealth of information as close as your computer. But, if it is close to bed time, the computer can wait, the IPhone needs laid aside, the TV turned off, and let’s get ready for some serious athletic training in the form of a restful night’s sleep.