How do you manage lack of sleep with varsity sports?

<p>Currently in varsity track, and with 4 APs (which are going overboard on reviewing) and with individual preparations for the SAT 2s and the SAT itself, I only get 5-6 hours/sleep per day. Obviously, this reflect on my hit-or-miss performances during practices and slower recovery times.</p>

<p>How do you guys manage this? This is so frustrating...one day, you feel like you can shatter the sky and have a fantastic workout, while just a few days later, you're struggling at the back of the pack.</p>

<p>I have an odd sleeping schedule, but I find that sometimes going to bed right as you get home, as weird as it may seem, does a lot. Example: School, Track, go to bed around 6:30PM. Wake up around 2-3AM and do your work. That way you are rested with a bit more sleep, and once you are rested you finish your work faster as well. My only warning is that you need to make sure you have enough meals/energy in this format. I would suggest eating a large meal while working around 4-5AM, and a good sized lunch. Do that, and practice and work can both be done a lot better.</p>

<p>If I’m tired after practice, I switch to this schedule. I switch off of it when I have a light practice / no practice, and stay up to a normal midnight / 1am.</p>

<p>I try to get as much training done during the school breaks as possible, when I’m not tired. That way my performance is just generally better and I don’t have to worry about pushing myself when I’m not up to it.
I row, and the issue for me isn’t sleep but just general being too exhausted after school days to do great training.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>You don’t. It is as simple as that and I cannot stress this enough: performing at your best as an athlete is completely incompatible with sleep deprivation. If you care at all about your physical or mental well being, sleep should be one of the last things that you cut from your schedule. </p>

<p>Agree with the above. You need to have effective time management. Use down time during the day to knock out homework. Don’t get sucked into time wasting things like TV and internet,and you will get all your work done, function well at practices, and get adequate sleep.</p>

<p>I do alot of my homework during lunch, on the bus, before practice or games start and sometimes even when teachers give lectures</p>

<p>I never sleep more than about six hours, partly due to participating in varsity cross country and track. I’ve always been fine; although, I deal with sleep deprivation really well. I would just try to work on your time-management skills.</p>