The Importance of Sleep for Young Athletes

Episode 18

Join us for an enlightening episode of The Healthy Youth Sports Podcast as we discuss “The Importance of Sleep for Young Athletes” with Holly Benjamin, MD, FACSM, a distinguished expert in pediatric sports medicine. Dr. Benjamin is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics, and Director, Primary Care Sports Medicine at UChicago Medicine.

In this episode, we explore the critical role of sleep in the overall health and well-being of young athletes. Dr. Benjamin shares insights on how sleep affects academic performance, mental and emotional health, physical health, and athletic performance. We also discuss the benefits of napping and practical tips for maintaining good sleep hygiene.

Whether you’re a parent, coach, or young athlete, this episode provides valuable information on optimizing sleep to enhance health, academic success, and athletic performance. Tune in to learn why sleep is a key component in the development and success of young athletes.

How Important is Sleep for My Young Athlete? | Downloadable Handout

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GSSI Pre-Conference

The Physiology of Hydration: More Than Water Alone

This session explores the physiology of hydration through an integrated lens—examining how carbohydrate, sodium, flavor, and fluid interact to influence intake, absorption, retention, and performance. We’ll review current research on fluid balance, osmotic drivers, and palatability, highlighting mechanisms that underpin voluntary intake and thermoregulation. Attendees will gain insight into individualized strategies, including sweat profiling and timing approaches, to optimize euhydration and mitigate performance decrements associated with >2% body-mass loss. Practical applications will be linked to laboratory- and field-based research, ensuring translation from bench to field. This pre-conference equips you with evidence-based tools to support athlete hydration across diverse environments and sporting contexts. 

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  • Session 1: Sweating the detail: New insights on hydration considerations for athlete performance
    • Lewis James, PhD, Associate Professor in Human Nutrition in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University
  • Session 2: Functional ingredients in fluid replacement beverages for athletes
    • Lindsay Baker, PhD, Director at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute
  • Session 3: The hydration toolkit: Practical approaches to athlete support
    • Floris Wardenaar, PhD, Associate Professor at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University