The topic of sleep is a joke among the average high school student. While juggling extracurricular activities, homework, and family affairs, many students find it difficult to reach the daily recommendation of 8 to 10 hours of sleep.

Sports are often a reason to why students are unable to achieve the adequate amount of sleep each night. Student athletes do not return home after traveling until unreasonable hours making it nearly impossible to receive a healthy amount of rest each night. To help accommodate students, policies should be adopted to allow student athletes to come to school later when traveling far distances.

Students are often forced to prioritize their school work over their sleep schedule. Sleep is important for students but especially for athletes. Many athletes stay up to unreasonable hours to complete their school assignments. The Foundation for Global Sports Development states, “Sleep-deprivation leads to fatigue, which can cause a decrease in both academic and athletic performances.”

According to the National Sleep Foundation, a measly fifteen percent of students receive eight and a half hours of rest each night. The issue of sleep becomes an even bigger dilemma when students return from sporting events in the evening.

Carlisle High School student-athlete Arianna Line said, “When traveling a far distance, athletes should be allowed to come into school later so they have enough time to complete homework and receive the recommended amount of sleep.”

Some school districts across the country have taken into consideration the needs of their student-athletes. These particular schools have incorporated policies allowing sports teams who travel long distances during the school week to return to school the following day a few hours later than the standard arrival times. The system allows athletes to have the same allotted time period to complete homework while also giving them a sufficient amount of time to rest.

Student-athletes at CHS are often faced with many challenges due to their extracurricular activities. By incorporating similar policies, students will have an easier time becoming successful in and out of the classroom.

Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2018-2019 Periscope staff, CHS/CASD administration, or the CHS student body.