Extra sleep improves elite athletic performance?
Stanford University's basketball players were told to try to extend their sleep to at least 10h / day. If they didn't manage to do this because of travel and other requirements they were told to nap during the day. Sports measures such as sprint times and throwing accuracy improved. Formal psychological measures also showed improved performance and better mood.
A Wired report here.
Slightly fuller report here: ScienceDaily
Published in Sleep: Citation: Mah CD; Mah KE; Kezirian EJ; Dement WC. The effects of sleep extension on the athletic performance of collegiate basketball players. SLEEP 2011;34(7):943-950.
