How Much Sleep Are LGFA Players Getting?

A look at sleep duration among Ladies Gaelic Footballers

In May 2025, as part of our ongoing partnership with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA), we ran a sleep study with players across Ireland. We wanted to understand how sleep fits into their training, performance, and recovery routines and how much rest they're actually getting.

One of the questions we asked was simple: "On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night?" Over 70 LGFA players took part.

Here's how the data breaks down:

Are LGFA players getting enough sleep?

According to the Sleep Foundation and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), adults aged 18–25 and 26–64 should aim for 7–9 hours of sleep per night for optimal health and functioning (References: AASM & Sleep Research Society, 2015; Hirshkowitz et al., 2015).

In this LGFA player sample:

• 55% are meeting or exceeding this guideline (those sleeping 7–9+ hours)
• 33% are slightly below the target (getting 6–7 hours)
• 12% are well below the recommendation (5–6 hours or less)

Are Athletes Catching Up on Sleep at the Weekend?

We know from research that consistency in sleep is just as important as total hours. According to the Sleep Foundation, irregular sleep patterns (like sleeping significantly more on weekends to “catch up”) can negatively affect circadian rhythm, mood, and long-term health, even if total sleep time increases.

We asked players to tell us how many hours they typically sleep on Weekdays and Weekends.

So how do LGFA players measure up?

What the Data Tells Us

1. Weekend Catch-Up Is Common
   Over 40% of players reported 8+ hours of sleep on weekends, up from just 17% on weekdays. While this "catch-up" sleep may feel helpful, research shows that irregular sleep patterns, also known as social jetlag, can actually hinder focus and recovery.
2. Weekday Sleep Is Falling Short
   Almost half of players get under 7 hours during the week, below the recommended 7–9 hours, and well short of the 8–10 hours often advised for athletes. That means many may be training and competing without fully recovering.
3. 7–8 Hours = The Sweet Spot
   The most common response? 7–8 hours, steady across all days. This group is consistently meeting the sleep guidelines, which is just as important as the total hours.

How does this compare to the general population?

In general, LGFA players sleep better than average. In Ireland and across Europe, studies suggest the average adult sleeps 6.5 to 7 hours per night, with around 35–45% of adults not meeting minimum sleep recommendations (Eurostat, 2023; ESRI, 2020).

In comparison:

• LGFA players are more likely to meet sleep guidelines than the general population.
• Only 1% reported getting less than 5 hours, which is significantly lower than national averages for chronic short sleep (<6 hours), which can range from 10–20% in the adult population.

There's room to improve.

Although 55% are getting the recommended 7–9 hours, the fact that 45% are falling short (many just under the line) is worth paying attention to, especially for athletes. Research shows that even mild sleep restriction can impair:

• Reaction time
• Decision-making
• Recovery from training
• Immune function
• Injury risk (Mah et al., 2011; Fullagar et al., 2015)

Not bad, but not peak performance either

LGFA players are performing better than the average Irish adult in terms of sleep, but for elite performance, "okay" is not enough. With nearly half of the respondents sleeping less than the optimal 7 hours, there is still a gap between current habits and best-practice sleep standards for athletes.

Next step? DFI Beds will work with the LGFA to support players with routines, education, and recovery tools, helping more of them consistently reach 8–9 hours of sleep, especially during training blocks and before big games.

What This Means For You (Yes, You)

Even if you're not training for county finals, your body still relies on sleep to function properly. Whether you're working, parenting, studying, or all of the above. Athletes feel the effects of poor sleep faster, including slower reaction time, lower energy, increased injury risk, but the same science applies to the rest of us:

• Less than 7 hours of sleep increases the risk of burnout, weight gain, and illness.
• Sleep deprivation affects focus, mood, and emotional resilience.
• Your body literally repairs itself while you sleep, from muscles to memory.

If you're regularly getting only 5–6 hours of sleep a night, it's not just your mornings that suffer. It is your long-term health.

Getting 7–9 hours a night isn't always easy. Training schedules, nerves, screen time, and real-life responsibilities all play a role. But small changes like going screen-free before bed, investing in a comfortable mattress, or building a wind-down routine can make a real difference.

At DFI Beds, we're proud to be the Official Sleep Partner of the LGFA. Together, we're championing the role of sleep in health, performance, and well-being, both on and off the pitch.

References:

• Hirshkowitz, M., Whiton, K., et al. (2015). National Sleep Foundation's sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health.
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine & Sleep Research Society. (2015). Recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult: a joint consensus statement.
• Mah, C. D., Mah, K. E., et al. (2011). The effects of sleep extension on the athletic performance of collegiate basketball players. Sleep.
• Fullagar, H. H., Skorski, S., et al. (2015). Sleep and athletic performance: the effects of sleep loss on exercise performance, and physiological and cognitive responses to exercise. Sports Medicine.
• Eurostat (2023). Time Use Statistics.
• ESRI (2020). Let's Get Ireland Sleeping Again: sleep habits and attitudes in Ireland.