Endurance athletes have known for years that additional sleep enhances recovery and thus overall performance. Now, a new study in the July 1st, 2011 journal SLEEP confirms it extends further. It demonstrated that sleep extension is beneficial to athletic performance, reaction time, vigor, fatigue and mood in collegiate basketball players. The study is the first to document sleep extension and the athletic performance of actively competing athletes. Objective measurements included accuracy (9% improvement in both free throw and 3 point percentage) as well as sprint times. Ratings of physical and mental well-being during practices and games was also enhanced.