Tracking sleep in the field: sleep quality and sleep behaviours of elite track and field athletes during preparation and competition

Elite athletes are susceptible to inadequate sleep, which may peak during competition and be exacerbated by poor sleep behaviours. This study sought to characterise and compare the sleep quality and sleep behaviours of elite track and field athletes during preparation and major competitions. Forty elite international track and field athletes (50% female, aged 25.1 ± 3.9 years) completed the Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire and the Athlete Sleep Behaviour Questionnaire on three separate occasions: during habitual training, during a pre-meet training camp and during a major international competition. Overall, 62.5% of athletes reported at least mild sleep difficulty during competition. Athletes reported higher sleep difficulty and poorer sleep behaviour during major competitions and the pre-meet training camp compared to habitual training (P = .001–.025). No significant differences were observed between the training camp and major competition. Global sleep behaviour scores were underpinned by unique characteristics at each timepoint. Sleep behaviour (R2 = .330, P = .017), injury status (R2 = .253, P = .003) and major championship experience (R2 = .113, P = .034) were associated with sleep difficulty during competition. Sleep quality and behaviours vary according to stage of the track and field season, providing a foundation for targeted intervention.