I've heard this quite a bit but there's no scientific evidence to support it. In fact, sleep deprivation over as much as 60 straight hours of wakefullness has been shown to have no effect on maximal strength, aerobic capacity, anaerobic capactiy, or reaction times. I think it's probably more psychological……which I guess is ultimately just as important as any physiological effects. I have had some of my best workouts and meet results ever on very little sleep (and I don't sleep very much to begin with).
i don't think it's a scientific fact, i've heard it based more upon the idea that the night before a competition you will tend to be more nervous and thus less likely to sleep as well as you normally might. if you are tossing and turning all night, you can at least comfort yourself by thinking, at least i slept well LAST night…
Any one here part of any organization such as American Academy of Sleep Medicine? I find that peaking athletes find it hard to fall asleep from energy, not being nervous.
I suggest a hot bath 90 minutes before bedtime with ZMA, Valerian root, and trace amounts of melatonin.
