How Important Do LGFA Players Think Sleep Is? (and What That Means for You)

How Important Do LGFA Players Think Sleep Is? (and What That Means for You)

In May 2025, we ran a nationwide sleep survey with LGFA players as part of our ongoing partnership with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. One key question we asked was simple but revealing:

"How important do you believe sleep is to your overall performance and well-being?"
They rated it on a scale of 1 to 5:

1 = Very important | 5 = Not important.

The Results

  • 55% chose 1 (Very important)
  • 15% selected 2
  • 3% selected 3
  • 7% selected 4
  • 20% chose 5 (Not important)

What This Tells Us

The good news is that 70% of players recognise sleep as either very important or important to their performance and well-being. That shows a strong general awareness of sleep's role in recovery, focus, and injury prevention.

On the flip side, 1 in 5 players (20%) rated sleep as "not important." That's a significant number of athletes who may be underestimating a crucial part of their physical and mental routine.

It's also worth noting that only 3% gave a neutral score of 3. Most players felt strongly either way. While the majority understands the value of rest, a sizable minority may not yet realise how much sleep influences their performance.

A Wake-Up Call

These results are promising, but not perfect. With 20% of players not prioritising sleep, there's a clear need for more education and support.

As the Official Sleep Partner of the LGFA, we believe sleep is just as important as strength training, nutrition, and hydration. Whether it's getting consistent 8-hour nights or building better pre-bed routines, small changes can make a big difference, on and off the pitch.

This isn't just an issue for elite athletes. Whether you're managing a team or managing a toddler, the science of sleep applies to all of us.

What Happens When You Don't Prioritise Sleep?

Even a small sleep deficit has measurable effects on your body and brain. Research shows that:

  • Just one night of short sleep (under 6 hours) can impair attention, reaction time, and memory (Killgore, 2010)
  • Lack of sleep increases cortisol (stress hormone) and suppresses immune function (Besedovsky et al., 2012)
  • Sleep-deprived people underperform physically and recover more slowly from training (Fullagar et al., 2015)

If you're skipping sleep to "power through," you're actually slowing yourself down.

How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the National Sleep Foundation:

  • Adults aged 18–64 should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night
  • Athletes may benefit from 9+ hours, especially during intense training or recovery (Mah et al., 2011)
  • Sleeping fewer than 7 hours is linked to injury risk, anxiety, weight gain, and long-term health issues (Watson et al., 2015)

If you're not getting at least 7 hours regularly, it's affecting you — whether you notice it or not.

5 Ways to Start Taking Sleep More Seriously

You don't have to overhaul your entire life. Small, consistent changes can improve both sleep quality and duration:

  • 1. Screens off 30–60 minutes before bed
    Blue light delays melatonin release, making it harder to fall asleep (Chang et al., 2015)
  • 2. Stick to a sleep schedule, even on weekends
    Consistency helps regulate your internal clock (circadian rhythm)
  • 3. Cool, dark, quiet = ideal sleep environment
    Cool temps (15–19°C), blackout blinds, and low noise support deeper sleep (Okamoto-Mizuno & Mizuno, 2012)
  • 4. Wind down with a book, podcast or shower
    Relaxing routines reduce heart rate and cortisol before bed
  • 5. Aim for quality, not just quantity
    Interrupted or restless sleep can be just as harmful as short sleep. Comfort and consistency matter

Think of Sleep as Preparation, Not Just Recovery

Sleep helps you recover after a hard day. It also powers you up before one. One LGFA player said it best:

"Sleep is a main factor that allows you to play at your best."

This mindset applies to everyone: Whether you're a goalkeeper, a groundskeeper, or a parent of three, sleep helps you focus, move well, and make better decisions.

What We Can Learn From LGFA Players

The players who ranked sleep highly get it. The ones who didn't? They're not alone. They're juggling late-night training, early starts, travel, work, school, nerves — everything in between.

That's why we ran this study: to better understand what real sleep looks like for real athletes. And to use those insights to support not just LGFA players, but the broader community of individuals who push their bodies and minds every day.

DFI Beds is proud to be the Official Sleep Partner of the LGFA.

We're working together to raise awareness about the role of sleep in sport, performance and everyday life. For more tips, sleep routines, and insights from the LGFA x DFI campaign, visit our LGFA Partnership section on our Blog.

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