Agility literature review: Classifications, training and testing

Abstract

At present, no agreement on a precise definition of agility within the sports science community exists. The term is applied to a broad range of sport contexts, but with such great inconsistency, it further complicates our understanding of what trainable components may enhance agility. A new definition of agility is proposed: "a rapid whole-body movement with change of velocity or direction in response to a stimulus". Agility has relationships with trainable physical qualities such as strength, power and technique, as well as cognitive components such as visual-scanning techniques, visual-scanning speed and anticipation. Agility testing is generally confined to tests of physical components such as change of direction speed, or cognitive components such as anticipation and pattern recognition. New tests of agility that combine physical and cognitive measures are encouraged.

Relationship of physical activity with motor skills, aerobic fitness and body fat in preschool children: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study (Ballabeina)

“…Agility 26 was assessed by an obstacle course specifically designed for 3-to 6-year old children and described by Vogt 27 and Kunz. 28 It includes running 1 m from a marking cone to a transversally positioned bench, jumping over the bench (36 cm high, 28 cm wide), crawling under the bench and running back to the marking cone three times in a row as fast as possible.…”

Variabilidade Do Desempenho No Line-Drill Test Em Adolescentes Jogadores De Basquetebol

“…Agilidade é uma habilidade multifatorial que combina aceleração, potência e reação, definida como o movimento de todo o corpo com mudança de direção e de velocidade em resposta a um estímulo 4 . Consequentemente, a capacidade de mudar de direção rapidamente (i.e.…”

“…agilidade) é um pré-requisito para o melhor desempenho dentro do esporte 5 . Para que se avalie essa habilidade do atleta é necessário o uso de testes que envolvam o maior número de mudanças de direção em intervalos curtos de tempo, que simulem uma situação próxima à especificidade do jogo 4 . Particularmente, no basquetebol servir-nos-ia como exemplo a prova Line-drill Test, que se baseia num exercício comumente utilizado em treinamento de condicionamento anaeróbico de praticantes da modalidade.…”

Evaluation of strength, agility and aerobic capacity in Brazilian football players

“…This is a neuromotor variable characterized by the ability to make rapid changes of direction and displacement of the center of gravity of the whole body or part of it [34], making quick decisions and executing actions efficiently [19]. Several tests and protocols can measure agility.…”