The bench myth: why resting athletes may not be as helpful as teams believe
(The Guardian Sports News)

With research touting the benefits of sleep and recovery, teams are now paying more attention to recuperation. But is there such a thing as too much rest?Science sometimes seems so simple. Take rest for instance. With all the experts touting the benefits of recovery, the answer seems straightforward enough, protect players by resting them now or deal with the consequences later. After all, fortunes, literally, can change with a roll of an ankle or twist of a knee. With the host of factors that affect fatigue and stress, particularly a schedule that asks teams to fly across the country to play games in different time zones, playing time is one of the few factors that coaches can control. Continue reading...