The relationship between speed factors and agility in sport games

Abstract

This study deals with the issue of various understanding of the term “agility”, mainly within the context of team sport games. Under this term complex psychomotor abilities are understood. Their development requires a high degree of neuro-muscular specificity. The development of these abilities are underpinned also by perceptual components including also anticipation and decision-making processes. Authors point to the importance of agility in sport games. They stress the fact that the speed of movement is only one of the components of the complex motor ability called agility. Based on the theoretical analysis authors carried out measurements of basic factors of speed abilities and agility in 14-17-year-old basketball, volleyball and soccer players (n=56). The results showed that no statistical differences were observed in the level of agility tested by Fitro agility test (basketball - p=0.189; volleyball - p=0.949; soccer - p=0.832). Spearmann rank correlation test showed that no significant correlation (p=0.786; p > 0.05) was found between the results of Fitro agility test and Illinois test measuring speed abilities. The results suggest that agility is not simply one of speed abilities. Besides simple reaction speed, acceleration, deceleration accompanied by the change of direction of movement it comprises also perceptual components determined by complex reaction to unexpected, changeable stimuli occurring during a sport game.