Cited by 1,707Sports Performance and TrainingSport Psychology and PerformancePhysical Education and Training Studies

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Agility literature review: Classifications, training and testing

Sheppard, J. M., Young, W. B.·2006·Journal of Sports Sciences

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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.

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The effect of complex contrast training with different training frequency on the physical performance of youth soccer players: a randomized study
Barra-Moura, H., Vieira, J. G., Werneck, F. Z., Wilk, M., Pascoalini, B., de Queirós, V. S., de Assis, G. G., Bichowska, M., Vianna, J. M., & Vilaça‐Alves, J. (2024) · PeerJ · doi:10.7717/peerj.17103 · Cited by 14
“Players ’ agility was evaluated using the 505 Agility test by Sheppard & Young (2006) and the Fitness Speed Test (Speed Test Fit) using photocells (Ce ﬁ se, São Paulo, Brazil).”
Method
The Effects of the Use of Plyometric Exercises with and without the Ball in the Development of Explosive Strength in Volleyball
Esposito, G., Altavilla, G., Giardullo, G., Ceruso, R., & D’Isanto, T. (2024) · Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology · doi:10.3390/jfmk9030126 · Cited by 14
Cognition in Football
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A Texture Classification Approach Based on the Integrated Optimization for Parameters and Features of Gabor Filter via Hybrid Ant Lion Optimizer
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“The former stage provides a certain extent of prior knowledge for classification, and the latter stage verifies the availability of the current model [35].”
Background
Effects of functional movement skills on parkour speed‐run performance
Strafford, B. W., Davids, K., North, J. S., & Stone, J. A. (2021) · European Journal of Sport Science · doi:10.1080/17461391.2021.1891295 · Cited by 14
“…agility, the agility T-test is a valid and reliable measurement of the ability to rapidly change direction with multidirectional displacements (forward sprinting, left and right side shuffling, and backwards running) (Pauole, Madole, Garhammer, Lacourse, & Rozenek, 2000; Sheppard & Young, 2006).”
Background
To What Degree Does Limb Spasticity Affect Motor Performance in Para-Footballers With Cerebral Palsy?
Roldán, A., Henríquez, M., Iturricastillo, A., Castillo, D., Yanci, J., & Reina, R. (2022) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.807853 · Cited by 14
The Functional Form of the Relationship between Body Height, Body Mass Index and Change of Direction Speed, Agility in Elite Female Basketball and Handball Players
Popowczak, M., Horička, P., Šimonek, J., & Domaradzki, J. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph192215038 · Cited by 14
“Agility (AG) is predefined as a rapid, whole-body movement with a change of velocity or direction in response to a stimulus [1,2].”
Background
Efeito do treinamento concorrente e destreinamento sobre o biomarcador anti-inflamatório e níveis de condicionamento físico em crianças obesas
Fazelifar, S., Ebrahim, K., & Sarkisian, V. (2013) · Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte · doi:10.1590/s1517-86922013000500010 · Cited by 14
Sprinting, Change of Direction Ability and Horizontal Jump Performance in Youth Runners According to Gender
Yanci, J., Arcos, A. L., Castillo, D., & Cámara, J. (2017) · Journal of Human Kinetics · doi:10.1515/hukin-2017-0103 · Cited by 14
Relación entre la prueba de agilidad específica en taekwondo (tsat), la fuerza explosiva y la velocidad líneal en 5-m atletas de taekwondo de ambos sexos (Relationship between the specific agility test in taekwondo (tsat), explosive strength and 5-m linea
Ojeda-Aravena, A., Azócar-Gallardo, J., Hernández-Mosqueira, C., & Herrera-Valenzuela, T. (2020) · Retos · doi:10.47197/retos.v0i39.78395 · Cited by 14
Sport-specific video-based reactive agility training in rugby union players
Engelbrecht, L. (2011) · SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University) · Cited by 14
Reactive-Agility in Touch Plays an Important Role in Elite Playing Level: Reliability and Validity of a Newly Developed Repeated Up-and-Down Agility Test
Chow, G. C.-C., Kong, Y.-H., & Wong, C.-L. (2022) · Journal of Sports Science and Medicine · doi:10.52082/jssm.2022.413 · Cited by 13
“Its definition was revised by Sheppard and Young (2006), from quickness and change of direction (COD) to "a rapid whole-body movement with change of velocity or direction in response to a stimulus."”
Background
Contributing Factors to Sensorimotor Adaptability in Reactive Agility Performance in Youth Athletes
Zwierko, T., Nowakowska, A., Jedziniak, W., Popowczak, M., Domaradzki, J., Kubaszewska, J., Kaczmarczyk, M., & Ciechanowicz, A. (2022) · Journal of Human Kinetics · doi:10.2478/hukin-2022-0067 · Cited by 13
“Agility in sport is broadly defined as a rapid whole-body movement with changes in velocity or direction in response to stimuli (Sheppard and Young, 2006).”
Background
Is a Maximal Strength-Training Program Effective on Physical Fitness, Injury Incidence, and Injury Burden in Semi-Professional Soccer Players? A Randomized Controlled Trial
Durán-Custodio, R., Castillo, D., González, J. R., & Yanci, J. (2023) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare11243195 · Cited by 13
Monitoring of sprint and change of direction velocity, vertical jump height, and repeated sprint ability in sub-elite female football players throughout their menstrual cycle
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“Agility in football involves many skills, including technique (foot placement, in-line lunge movement), strength, power, and running velocity (Sheppard and Young 2006; Paul et al. 2016).”
The Reliability and Validity of Various Lateral Side-Step Tests
McCormick, B. T. (2014) · IJASS(International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences) · doi:10.24985/ijass.2014.26.2.67 · Cited by 13
The impact of fatigue on agility and responsiveness in boxing
Sienkiewicz-Dianzenza, E., & Lukasz, M. (2019) · Biomedical Human Kinetics · doi:10.2478/bhk-2019-0018 · Cited by 13
“Good technical performance calls for developing and improving strength, endurance, speed and coordination, the coordinative motor skills being fundamental for the technical skills in most sports [6, 7, 13, 14].”
Background
Relación entre las características de la composición corporal y el rendimiento físico general y específico en competidores de taekwondo chilenos de nivel nacional de ambos sexos: un estudio observacional
Ojeda-Aravena, A., Azócar-Gallardo, J., Galle, F. A., & García‐García, J. M. (2020) · Revista Española de Nutrición Humana y Dietética · doi:10.14306/renhyd.24.2.969 · Cited by 13
The Effects of the Barbell Hip Thrust on Post-Activation Performance Enhancement of Change of Direction Speed in College-Aged Men and Women
Orjalo, A. J., Callaghan, S. J., & Lockie, R. G. (2020) · Sports · doi:10.3390/sports8120151 · Cited by 15
“COD speed involves factors such as the athlete’s sprint technique, strength, and power [1].”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Physical fitness: Differences between initial hiring to academy in law enforcement recruits who graduate or separate from academy
Lockie, R. G., Dawes, J. J., Orr, R. M., & Dulla, J. M. (2021) · Work · doi:10.3233/wor-213438 · Cited by 13
“Contributing factors to change-of-direction speed include linear sprinting ability, movement technique, and lower-body strength and power [39].”
The Temporal Association between Body Characteristics and Speed Performance over Twenty-Five Years in Italian Adolescents
Vandoni, M., Pellino, V. C., Silvestri, A. D., Lovecchio, N., Rovida, A., Gatti, A., Biagioli, V., Zuccotti, G., & Calcaterra, V. (2022) · Children · doi:10.3390/children9040521 · Cited by 13
Comparison of Speed, Agility, Anaerobic Strength and Anthropometric Characteristics in Male Football and Futsal Players
Kartal, R. (2016) · Journal of Education and Training Studies · doi:10.11114/jets.v4i7.1435 · Cited by 13
Effects of the off-Season Period on Field and Assistant Soccer Referees `Physical Performance
Castillo, D., Cámara, J., Castagna, C., & Yanci, J. (2017) · Journal of Human Kinetics · doi:10.1515/hukin-2017-0033 · Cited by 13
Running in people with cerebral palsy: A systematic review
Chappell, A., Gibson, N., Morris, S. L., Williams, G. P., & Allison, G. T. (2018) · Physiotherapy Theory and Practice · doi:10.1080/09593985.2018.1434846 · Cited by 13
“Agility is the ability to rapidly change direction or velocity in response to a stimulus and is influenced by physical factors such as strength and technique, as well as cognitive factors such as visual scanning and anticipation (Sheppard and Young, 2006).”
Background
Analysis of isokinetic knee strength in soccer players in terms of selected parameters
Yılmaz, A. K., Kabadayı, M., Bostancı, Ö., Özdal, M., & Mayda, M. H. (2018) · Physical Education of Students · doi:10.15561/20755279.2019.0408 · Cited by 13
“Studies have shown that lower extremity strength has great significance of these specific moves in football like a strength [8], speed [9], acceleration [10], endurance [11].”
Comparison of Ground Reaction Forces and Contact Times Between 2 Lateral Plyometric Exercises in Professional Soccer Players
Wong, D. P., Chaouachi, A., Dellal, A., & Smith, A. W. (2012) · International Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1055/s-0032-1304588 · Cited by 13
Effects of the FIFA 11 + Program on Physical Fitness in Youth and Adult Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Valappil, I. N. K., Govindasamy, K., Vasanthi, G., Elayaraja, M., Clark, C. C. T., Parpa, K., Katanić, B., Uysal, H. Ş., Zouhal, H., & Granacher, U. (2025) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-025-02346-8 · Cited by 12
“Change of direction (CoD) ability is a multifaceted skill that relies on speed, coordination, dynamic balance, strength and reactive agility [69].”
On organizational robustness: A conceptual framework
Xie, Y., Desouza, K. C., & Jabbari, M. (2022) · Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management · doi:10.1111/1468-5973.12423 · Cited by 18
Testing in Intermittent Sports—Importance for Training and Performance Optimization in Adult Athletes
Vigh-Larsen, J. F., Junge, N., Cialdella-Kam, L. A., Tomás, R., Young, L. T., Krustrup, P., Mohr, M., & Nybo, L. (2024) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000003442 · Cited by 15
Integration of cognitive-motor dual-task training in physical sessions of highly-skilled basketball players
Lucia, S., Digno, M., Madinabeita, I., & Russo, F. D. (2024) · Jurnal sport science · doi:10.1080/02640414.2024.2408191 · Cited by 16
“Agility has relationships with strength and power, as well as cognitive functions such as visual scanning, anticipation, pattern recognition, and decision-making (e.g., Scanlan et al., 2014; Sheppard & Young, 2006).”
The relationship between agility and lower extremity strength in female basketball players
Yılmaz, A. K., Akgün, S., Korkmaz, E., Anıl, B., Akdemir, E., Aktaş, B., Karaduman, E., & Kabadayı, M. (2025) · BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1186/s13102-025-01250-y · Cited by 12
“Furthermore, it has been suggested that an increase in eccentric strength of the quadriceps can translate into effective braking ability and that neuromuscular adaptations - neural stimulation, rapid SSC, and muscle coordination - enhance change of direction performance [13, 14].”
Effects of Maturation Stage on Physical Fitness in Youth Male Team Sports Players After Plyometric Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Lin, G., Chen, J., Yan, R., Deng, B., Song, W., Guan, B., & Jian, S. (2025) · Sports Medicine - Open · doi:10.1186/s40798-025-00907-9 · Cited by 21
“In addition to these biological factors, PT can enhance the eccentric strength of the thigh muscles, which is crucial for deceleration during impulsive movements [99].”
Sensitivity and validity of a functional test for agility performance in water polo players
Tucher, G., Castro, F. A. D. S., da Silva, A. J. R. M., & Garrido, N. D. (2016) · Kinesiology · doi:10.26582/k.48.1.3 · Cited by 12
Examining age and gender effects in physical performance in young athletes aged 12–16 years
Yanci, J., Cámara, J., Vizcay, J. J., & Young, W. (2016) · International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching · doi:10.1177/1747954116655052 · Cited by 12
Reduced Fatigue in Passive Versus Active Recovery: An Examination of Repeated-Change-of-Direction Sprints in Basketball Players
Madueno, M. C., Dalbo, V. J., Guy, J. H., Giamarelos, K. E., Spiteri, T., & Scanlan, A. T. (2018) · International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance · doi:10.1123/ijspp.2017-0831 · Cited by 12
Examination of the perceived agility and balance during a reactive agility task
Stirling, L., Eke, C., & Cain, S. M. (2018) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0198875 · Cited by 13
System design and application for evaluation of digging agility in college male volleyball players
Ho, C.-S., Lin, K.-C., Hung, M.-H., Chang, C.-Y., & Chen, K.-C. (2019) · Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part P Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology · doi:10.1177/1754337119840837 · Cited by 12
Soccer-Specific Agility: Reliability of a Newly Developed Test and Correlates of Performance
Altmann, S., Neumann, R., Ringhof, S., Rumpf, M. C., & Wöll, A. (2020) · The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research · doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000003635 · Cited by 12
“Although preplanned changes of direction represent a closed skill, changing direction in response to a stimulus is considered an open skill and has recently been termed “agility” (24).”
Background
Measuring Agility in Tennis, Badminton, and Squash: A Systematic Review
Jansen, M. G. T., Huijgen, B. C. H., Faber, I. R., & Elferink-Gemser, M. T. (2021) · Strength and conditioning journal · doi:10.1519/ssc.0000000000000640 · Cited by 12
The Biomechanical Characterization of the Turning Phase during a 180° Change of Direction
Santoro, E., Tessitore, A., Liu, C., Chen, C., Khemtong, C., Mandorino, M., Lee, Y.-H., & Condello, G. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18115519 · Cited by 12
“Specifically, when a directional change occurs in response to a stimulus, it is referred to as agility, while it is only referred to as COD speed if the response to a stimulus is not required [1–3].”

Authors: Sheppard, J. M., & Young, W. B.
Affiliations: Federation University (AU)
Corresponding author: Sheppard, J. M.
ORCID: Sheppard, J. M.
Young, W. B.
Venue: Journal of Sports Sciences
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2006-09
Volume: 24
Issue: 9
Pages: 919-932
ISSN: 0264-0414 (ISSN-L)
1466-447X
DOI: 10.1080/02640410500457109
OpenAlex: W2001840036
Cited by: 1,707
References: 60
Citations by year: 2026: 167 · 2025: 140 · 2024: 143 · 2023: 137 · 2022: 148 · 2021: 138 · 2020: 139 · 2019: 105 · 2018: 93 · 2017: 87 · 2016: 87 · 2015: 72 · 2014: 69 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 38
FWCI: 12.90
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Sports Sciences (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
FedUni ResearchOnline (Federation University Australia) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Physical Education and Training Studies
Keywords: agility, agility training, agility test, change of direction speed, visual exploration, anticipation, pattern recognition, physical properties, cognitive factors, strength and power
MeSH terms: Acceleration, Anthropometry, Cognition, Humans, Leg, Movement, Running, Sports, Muscle Strength

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Agility literature review: Classifications, training and testing

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