The effect of game-related contextual factors on sleep in basketball players

The purpose of this study was to determine whether contextual factors including game location, game outcome, and score-line margin influence subsequent nightly sleep duration and quality in basketball players. Seven semiprofessional, male basketball players were monitored across one competitive season using self-reported sleep diaries and activity monitors. Linear mixed models and effect sizes (ESs) were used to compare sleep duration and quality following games based on game location (played at home or away venues), game outcome (win or loss), and score-line margin (balanced [≤ 8-point margin] or unbalanced [≥ 9-point margin]). Sleep onset was later following away games (ES = 0.79 ± 0.86 [moderate], p = 0.12), losses (ES = 0.63 ± 0.79 [moderate], p = 0.18), and unbalanced games (ES = 1.36 ± 0.90 [large], p = 0.01). Wake time was later following losses (ES = 1.14 ± 0.85 [moderate], p = 0.02). Sleep fragmentation was higher following wins (ES = 0.65 ± 0.74 [moderate], p = 0.17). Sleep efficiency was higher following losses (ES = 0.70 ± 0.80 [moderate], p = 0.14). All other differences in sleep variables yielded trivial-small ESs (p > 0.05). Because of the later sleep onset times of players, basketball practitioners should consider avoiding early morning travel or training sessions following away games, losses, and unbalanced games, to maintain similar nightly sleep durations in light of the contextual factors encountered. Basketball practitioners may also need to ensure player sleep is optimized following wins compared with losses given the lower quality observed.