Agility is the ability to rapidly change direction, speed and body position, often in response to an external stimulus (an opponent, the ball). It combines speed, balance, coordination, reactive strength and decision-making. Pre-planned change of direction (e.g. cone drills) develops the physical component; reactive agility (responding to an unpredictable cue) develops the perceptual-cognitive component that transfers most to sport. Agility is a defining quality in football, netball, basketball, tennis and most invasion and racket sports.
Key points
- Rapid change of direction and speed
- Combines speed, balance, reactive strength
- Reactive agility (responding to cue) transfers most
- Critical in team and racket sports
Try the tool
Put this into practice with our free calculator.
Open the Table Tennis Reaction Time Test →