Sometimes we sleep well for a decent period of time but then an acute stressor can disrupt sleep.Ī key component of the Saints Sleep Program is the fact that it is integrated into the football program and involves continuous support. You need to continuously monitor and support sleep like we do with physical training and rehabilitation programs. It is important to note that sleep is changing all the time. Working closely with them over the past two seasons, we’ve seen a real improvement and now sleep pretty well. For example, when I started working with the Saints 2 years ago, a player presented with very poor sleep, sleeping around 4-5 hours per night. Working one-on-one, I've seen some change in quite a lot of players. We are also passionate about doing more research with female athletes, which will help inform the outcomes.
What’s unique about what we’re doing is that the program is run across both the men and women’s football departments, which is great because they both get access to the support we offer. We are really pleased to have partnered with TEMPUR on this project, which we believe will help our players across both men's and women's football programs.Īre there any particular cases that stand out for you at the club? Therefore, we have teamed up with TEMPUR to provide the players with a state-of-the-art sleep room, complete with TEMPUR mattress and adjustable bedframe to assist players with recovery. One of the things we have identified through research in this area, is that strategic power napping can be beneficial for athletes during heavy training days. Under expert guidance, the players undergo sleep assessment to identify areas for intervention. The Saints Sleep Program has been established up to help our athletes improve sleep for optimal recovery and performance. Unfortunately, the majority of people often see sleep as a luxury and do not prioritise it over other things.Ĭan you tell us a little bit about the Sleep Hub? Even with healthy sleepers (whether you’re an athlete or not) we all have things to work on that can optimise our sleep. There is large individual variability in sleep, where some players may need more support than others. On a daily basis, I work within the High Performance Team as the player's sleep coach. The role is split between running the research program with Monash University and individual consultancy with the players. We’re one of the only clubs with an integrated sleep specialist in our program, how do you work in with the high-performance team on a day-to-day basis? Equipped with a bed, relaxing lighting and calming music, players are able to book in a spot in their very own on-site sanctuary to rest. Recently, thanks to TEMPUR, the program established its very own Saints Sleep Hub within the club. The program integrates sleep health and management with players, while also collecting data which informs the public and community on the importance of sleep, thanks to the program’s partnership with Monash University Over the past decade, the sporting world has seen an increased awareness of the importance of sleep, particularly for athletic performance and recovery.īut often what’s missing is having a dedicated sleep expert working with the players on a daily basis - which is where Elise comes in.ĭr Facer-Childs runs the Saints Sleep Program, the first of its kind in the AFL.
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