Across the country, flu outbreaks have disrupted teams, sidelining athletes, and derailing crucial off-season development. While many programs scramble to react, Wayne State College Football took a different approach—one built on awareness, data, and real-time action.

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This winter, Head Coach Logan Masters and his staff noticed something often hidden in plain sight while reviewing their daily XA Score check-in data. The same athletes reporting low sleep quality and consistently getting fewer than six hours of sleep were the ones most frequently falling sick. At first, the correlation seemed almost too obvious—but upon reviewing past trends, the connection was undeniable.

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Armed with this insight, Wayne State took immediate action. Rather than simply reacting to illness as it spread, the coaching staff turned to XA Score to help reinforce a proactive approach to sleep and recovery.

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Early Warning Signs: XA Score’s Daily Data Identifies At-Risk Athletes

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Wayne State Football has utilized XA Score for three years, embedding its daily check-in system into the foundation of its program. By tracking sleep, soreness, and readiness, the coaching staff is able to make informed decisions—both on the individual and team levels.

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This flu outbreak, however, was an eye-opening moment.

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Each day, Coach Masters and his staff scan their XA Score data over lunch, checking in on player readiness and identifying potential concerns. When multiple athletes started showing signs of illness, they dug deeper into the previous days’ sleep reports.

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“It hit me—a majority of these guys were sick, and they were all sleeping for six hours or less almost every night. Their sleep quality was self-reported as being very poor,” Coach Masters said.

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What stood out most? The downward trends started before the athletes showed symptoms.

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This meant that XA Score wasn’t just showing them who was sick—it was showing them who might become sick next.

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From Data to Action: Implementing Sleep and Recovery Adjustments

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Rather than waiting for more players to get sick, Wayne State immediately responded with a targeted conversation about sleep, hydration, and recovery. The entire team was addressed, but additional one-on-one discussions took place with athletes most at risk.

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At the same time, the coaching staff considered adjusting the training schedule—but ultimately stuck with their normal routine, believing a renewed focus on recovery could be just as effective.

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Shortly after identifying the pattern, Coach Masters brought in Brad McCaslin, founder of XA Score, to deliver a sleep and recovery presentation to the team. The flu had not yet run its course, but Wayne State wanted to ensure the rest of the team had the knowledge to protect themselves.

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The response from players was immediate:

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“Already had a number of guys come up and tell me how much they learned or didn’t realize they were hurting themselves with their sleep habits.”

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This wasn’t just about getting over the flu. It was a turning point in how the team viewed their own daily habits.

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The Results: Did Wayne State Handle the Flu Better Than Other Teams?

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With flu outbreaks widely reported across the country, many teams have struggled with prolonged waves of illness and inconsistent attendance in training.

Wayne State, on the other hand, saw several key benefits after their response:

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✅ Slower spread of illness: Addressing sleep and hydration helped contain the outbreak more effectively.

✅ Faster recovery times: Players who improved their sleep quality recovered quicker than those who didn’t.

✅ Stronger long-term habits: Even after the flu subsided, athletes were more aware of how daily choices impact their performance.

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While the program can’t control external factors like seasonal illness, its commitment to daily check-ins allowed them to minimize its effects.

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“This just proved even more how important sleep, quality sleep, and recharging your body are to being able to function at a high level in all aspects of life.” – Coach Masters

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Key Takeaways for Coaches Everywhere

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Wayne State’s experience serves as a powerful lesson for teams navigating flu season—or any challenge that impacts player readiness.

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1️⃣ The best time to track readiness isn’t when a player gets sick—it’s before they do.

2️⃣ XA Score provides real-time awareness, allowing coaches to be proactive instead of reactive.

3️⃣ Teaching athletes how to manage sleep and recovery leads to long-term performance benefits.

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For three years, XA Score has been embedded in Wayne State’s culture. It wasn’t built just to track illness—it was built to help athletes optimize their training, prevent injuries, and take ownership of their performance.

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This flu outbreak simply reinforced that the more awareness a program builds, the more prepared they are for whatever challenges come next.

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What’s Next for XA Score?

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With flu season in full swing, Wayne State’s story is an example of how teams can better protect their athletes, while also gaining an edge in performance and recovery.

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As XA Score expands its reach, more programs are realizing that readiness tracking isn’t just about numbers—it’s about creating a system where athletes and coaches make better decisions every day.

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Interested in learning how XA Score can help your program? Let’s start the conversation.

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