Sleep in German female youth national ice hockey athletes

Abstract Background Adequate sleep is of great importance in recovering from and preparing for training competition. Objective This study aimed to investigate subjective quality daytime sleepiness the German women’s junior national ice hockey team before after a camp immediately preceding World Championship Division IA tournament. Materials methods Twenty athletes (16.40 ± 0.68 years) completed paper–pencil versions Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (T1, day 1) on final (T2, 7). Results Paired t -tests indicated significant decrease PSQI global scores pre- post-training assessments ( = 2.33, p 0.031, df 19), with medium effect size d 0.52). Regarding ESS scores, results paired -test no differences 0.67, 0.510, 19) was trivial 0.15). Mean were reduced both (T1 5.90 2.36, T2 4.65 2.18) 9.00 3.58, 8.60 4.04) camp. When analyzed according position players, statistically intergroup found. Conclusion underlines need monitoring screening youth athletes’ special sports events order identify potential intervention as early possible, prevent serious consequences performance capability well-being.