If you want to perform better on the field—and in life—sleep might just be your secret weapon.

I recently came across a study conducted by sleep expert Dr. Bill Dement from Stanford University in which he evaluated 11 players from the university’s men’s basketball team. For the study, the athletes were asked to sleep normally according to their habits for two to four weeks and then spend the next five to seven weeks sleeping 10 hours per night. While most of the athletes still slept fewer than nine hours per night, the results were eye-opening.

Danny Woodhead is content with his anonymity—for however long it lasts.

Elusive on the field and often overlooked off it, he’s shifted through, sneaked around and slipped past defenses, college coaches and pro scouts for years as each has missed the opportunity to snag him.

Katelin Peterson wanted so badly to play field hockey for a Christian coach that she left her home in sunny Escondido, Calif., and moved across the country to Richmond, Va., where the winters are hardly California-like. But for Peterson it was a choice that she knows was best. Now a senior forward at the University of Richmond, she can look back on her college career as being one of both athletic achievement and spiritual growth thanks largely to the influence of her coach, her teammates and FCA.

“Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world…everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world.” – 1 John 2:15-16

This summer I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Haiti with a group from my church. While the trip was an outstanding time of ministry and connection with God, I did have one challenge: the food. It wasn’t even close to my normal diet!