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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Background
FLEXIBILITY AND AGILITY AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT ATHLETES: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY
Thakur, D., & Motimath, B. (2014) · International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research · Cited by 7
Relationship between off-season changes in power and in-season changes in skating speed in young ice hockey players.
Haukali, E., & Tjelta, L. I. (2016) · IJASS(International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences) · doi:10.24985/ijass.2016.28.2.111 · Cited by 7
Effect of an 8-Week Plyometric Training Program with Raised Forefoot Platforms on Agility and Vertical Jump Performance
Voisin, M. P. J., & Scohier, M. (2019) · International journal of exercise science · doi:10.70252/fnwu6350 · Cited by 7
“Muscle power is the amount of work a muscle can produce per unit of time whilst agility is defined as “a rapid whole-body movement with change of velocity or direction in response to a stimulus” (37).”
Background
Lower Extremity Open Skill Training Effects on Perception of Visual Stimuli, Cognitive Processing, and Performance
Engeroff, T., Giesche, F., Friebe, D., Wilke, J., Vogt, L., Banzer, W. E., & Niederer, D. (2020) · Journal of Motor Behavior · doi:10.1080/00222895.2020.1776674 · Cited by 7
“…change scores were larger than the minimal detectable change found in the reliability study (Beekhuizen et al. 2009) Based on our data, we disagree with the earlier study by Sheppard and Young (2006), who reported that these improvements rely on adaptations in reactive force and dynamic stability.”
Result
Effects of circuit resistance training on muscle power, functional agility, and bones' mineral content in people with spinal injury
Rodrigues, J. A., Pereira, E. T., Lopes, J. S., SILVA, M. V. D. F., Resende, N. M., da Silva, S. F., Aidar, F. J., de Oliveira, C. E. P., & Moreira, O. C. (2021) · The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness · doi:10.23736/s0022-4707.20.11286-6 · Cited by 8
Agility, vertical jump, and shot velocity of Brazilian water polo players: correlations and top performances analysis
de Castro, C. D., Tucher, G., Paixão, D. A., Vasques, D. M., Garrido, N. D., & Castro, F. A. D. S. (2022) · The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness · doi:10.23736/s0022-4707.21.12318-7 · Cited by 7
VirtualLadder: Using Interactive Projections for Agility Ladder Training
Kosmalla, F., Hupperich, F., Hirsch, A., Daiber, F., & Krüger, A. (2021) · CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA) · doi:10.1145/3411763.3451638 · Cited by 7
“Agility and coordination are basic skills that every athlete should seek to improve [24].”
Background
Characterising running economy and change of direction economy between soccer players of different playing positions, levels and sex
Dolci, F., Kilding, A. E., Spiteri, T., Chivers, P., Piggott, B., Maiorana, A., & Hart, N. H. (2021) · European Journal of Sport Science · doi:10.1080/17461391.2021.1953151 · Cited by 7
“This is in agreement with Sheppard and Young’s (Sheppard & Young, 2006) suggestion that there is a lower transfer from in-line activities to COD activities as the COD frequency increases.”
Result
Impacto de la actividad física programada sobre el rendimiento motor de preescolares (Impact of scheduled physical activity on motor performance in preschoolers)
Zapata‐Lamana, R., Cigarroa, I., Álvarez, M. M., Castillo, L. C., Matus-Castillo, C. A., Aguilar, L. I., & Poblete-Valderrama, F. (2021) · Retos · doi:10.47197/retos.v44i0.91028 · Cited by 7
“En este sentido, (Sheppard & Young, 2006), plantearon la relevancia de diseñar diferentes baterías, de simple aplicación para los educadores y fácil ejecución para los niños para medir las variables relacionadas con el rendimiento motor, ya que son un importante indicador asociado a la salud.”
Background
Influence of Physical and Technical Aspects on Change of Direction Performance of Rugby Players: An Exploratory Study
Freitas, T. T., Alcaráz, P. E., Calleja-González, J., de Arruda, A. F. S., Guerriero, A., Mercer, V. P., Pereira, L. A., Carpes, F. P., McGuigan, M. R., & Loturco, I. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph182413390 · Cited by 7
“Change of direction (COD) ability is commonly described as a multifaceted skill, un-derpinned by a myriad of physical and technical qualities [1–5].”
Background
Intermittent Cooling Reduces Perceived Exertion but Has No Effect on Baseball Hitting or Defense Performance in a Hot Environment
Huang, J.-H., Lin, C.-I., Liao, C.-Y., Hsieh, M.-H., Lin, H.-S., & Chang, C. (2022) · Journal of Sports Science and Medicine · doi:10.52082/jssm.2022.137 · Cited by 7
“Baseball defense requires a high level of reactive agility, that is, a perceptual decision-making process in response to a stimulus leading to a change in the speed or direction of body movement (Sheppard and Young, 2006).”
Background
Effects of Maximal and Submaximal Anaerobic and Aerobic Running on Subsequent Change-of-Direction Speed Performance among Police Students
Koropanovski, N., Orr, R. M., Dopsaj, M., Heinrich, K. M., Dawes, J. J., & Kukić, F. (2022) · Biology · doi:10.3390/biology11050767 · Cited by 7
“CODS is the non-perceptual component of agility, or the ability to change direction rapidly in a pre-planned manner [1,2,5].”
Background
Reactive Agility Instruments in Karate Kumite: Aiken Validity
Danardono, D., Kristiyanto, A., Purnama, S. K., Tomoliyus, T., & Ariani, N. (2022) · International journal of human movement and sports sciences · doi:10.13189/saj.2022.100311 · Cited by 7
The Influence of Traditional Sports Practice to Improve Agility and Speed Geri Mawashi Kenshi
Ansharudin, M. F., Sulistiyono, S., Wali, C. N., Komarudin, K., Guntur, G., Elumala, G., Martono, M., & Hariono, A. (2022) · International journal of human movement and sports sciences · doi:10.13189/saj.2022.100428 · Cited by 7
Asociación de la agilidad con la composición corporal y fuerza muscular explosiva de los miembros inferiores en mujeres jóvenes tenistas (Association of agility with body composition and lower-extremity explosive muscle strength in young female tennis players)
Luna-Villouta, P. F., Flores-Rivera, C., Paredes-Arias, M., Vásquez-Gómez, J., Matus-Castillo, C. A., Hernández-Mosqueira, C., Hermosilla, N. J., & Vitoria, R. V. (2023) · Retos · doi:10.47197/retos.v49.98081 · Cited by 7
The effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on asoccer specific conditioning test in division III soccer players
Cholewa, J. M., Grannis, D., Jaffe, D. A., Guimarães‐Ferreira, L., Matthews, T. D., & Paolone, V. J. (2015) · Journal of Trainology · doi:10.17338/trainology.4.1_19 · Cited by 7
Validez, fiabilidad y especificidad de las pruebas de agilidad
y Ambientales, U. D. C. A., & Reyes, Y. G. D. L. (2008) · Revista U D C A Actualidad & Divulgación Científica · doi:10.31910/rudca.v11.n2.2008.621 · Cited by 7
A minimal limit-cycle model to profile movement patterns of individuals during agility drill performance: Effects of skill level
Mehdizadeh, S., Arshi, A. R., & Davids, K. (2015) · Human Movement Science · doi:10.1016/j.humov.2015.03.009 · Cited by 7
Changes in Sprint, Change of Direction, and Jump Performance during a Competitive Season in Male Lacrosse Players
Comfort, P. (2014) · Journal of Athletic Enhancement · doi:10.4172/2324-9080.1000167 · Cited by 7
Speed and Agility Training for Baseball/Softball
Magrini, M. A., Dawes, J. J., Spaniol, F., & Roberts, A. (2017) · Strength and conditioning journal · doi:10.1519/ssc.0000000000000308 · Cited by 7
Number of trials necessary to achieve reliable change-of-direction measurement in amateur basketball players
Lam, W., Qu, Y., Yang, F., Ma, R.-Y., Liu, Z., & Yu, B.-G. (2018) · Cogent Education · doi:10.1080/2331186x.2018.1428386 · Cited by 7
Understanding the Impact of Agile Supply Chain on Organizational Financial Performance
Rafique, K., Liu, K., & Waheed, A. (2018) · International Conference on Management Engineering, Software Engineering and Service Sciences (ICMSS) · doi:10.1145/3180374.3180381 · Cited by 7
Age-related Effects of Speed and Power on Agility Performance of Young Soccer Players
Ateş, B. (2018) · Journal of Education and Learning · doi:10.5539/jel.v7n6p93 · Cited by 7
“In field and court sports, an athlete’s ability to sprint repeatedly and change direction while sprinting has a major effect on sport performance (Sheppard & Young, 2006).”
Background
PENGARUH PELATIHAN LADDER DRILL 90 DEGREE ROTATION DAN LADDER DRILL ALI SHUFFLE TERHADAP PENINGKATAN DAYA LEDAK OTOT TUNGKAI DAN KECEPATAN
Pelamonia, S. P., & Harmono, B. A. (2018) · JP JOK (Jurnal Pendidikan Jasmani Olahraga dan Kesehatan) · doi:10.33503/jpjok.v2i1.181 · Cited by 7
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE AGILITY OF ADOLESCENT SOCCER PLAYERS AND THEIR BODY COMPOSITION
Koltai, M., Gusztafik, Á., Nagyváradi, K., Szeiler, B., Halaši, S., & Lepeš, J. (2021) · Facta Universitatis Series Physical Education and Sport · doi:10.22190/fupes201111056k · Cited by 7
“…other authors have a similar view (Bloomfield et al., 1994; Buttifant et al., 2002; Bangsbo & Mohr, 2012), and its connection to other skills and performance components is hard to define (Sheppard & Young, 2006; Koltai et al., 2016), so it is significance for soccer is quite immense (Radák, 2019).”
Background
Identification of agility predictors in basketbal
Horička, P., & Šimonek, J. (2019) · doi:10.23829/tss.2019.26.1-4 · Cited by 7
Dampak Shooting Three Point Plyometric dan Ladder terhadap Hasil Shooting Three Point Bola Basket
Taufik, A. R., Maâ€™mun, A., & Mulyana, M. (2020) · Gelanggang Olahraga Jurnal Pendidikan Jasmani dan Olahraga (JPJO) · doi:10.31539/jpjo.v3i2.1302 · Cited by 7
“Agility Run Test Mengukur kelincahan (Sheppard & Young, 2006) 4.”
Background
A comparison of reaction times of boys and girls aged 10-11 and 14-15 years
Brychta, P., Hojka, V., Heller, J., Konarski, J. M., Coufalová, K., & Ruda, T. (2013) · Cited by 7
Assessment of repeated reactive agility performance in amateur soccer players
Matlák, J., Rácz, L., & Tihanyi, J. (2017) · Science & Sports · doi:10.1016/j.scispo.2017.06.001 · Cited by 7
Effect of Exercise Countermovement Jump and Depth Jump against the Increase Agility and Leg Muscle Power
Ferdiana, I., Muhammad, M., & Wiriawan, O. (2020) · Budapest International Research and Critics in Linguistics and Education (BirLE) Journal · doi:10.33258/birle.v3i4.1509 · Cited by 7
Retraction Note: Assessing cardiorespiratory fitness of soccer players: is test specificity the issue?–a review
Jemni, M., Prince, M. S., & Baker, J. S. (2019) · Sports Medicine - Open · doi:10.1186/s40798-019-0217-9 · Cited by 7
Retracted
The Validation of the Defensive Reactive Agility Test in Top-Level Volleyball Male Players: A New Approach to Evaluating Slide Speed Using Witty SEM
Horička, P., Paška, Ľ., Popowczak, M., Koźlenia, D., Šimonek, J., & Domaradzki, J. (2024) · Applied Sciences · doi:10.3390/app14156391 · Cited by 6
Change-of-Direction Performance and Its Deficits in Relation to Countermovement-Jump Height and Phase-Specific Performance Among Female Athletes
Yamashita, N., Sato, D., & Mishima, T. (2024) · International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance · doi:10.1123/ijspp.2024-0006 · Cited by 6
Effects of Combined Plyometric and Sprint Training on Sprint Performance in Youth Soccer Players
Niering, M., Heckmann, J., Seifert, J., Ueding, E., von Elling, L., Bruns, A., & Beurskens, R. (2025) · Physiologia · doi:10.3390/physiologia5010005 · Cited by 9
“Agility, which combines cognitive stimuli with physical responses, is essential for successful gameplay [8,9].”
Exploring Convergence and Divergence in Seemingly Contrasting Perspectives on Training Perceptual-Cognitive Abilities for Sports Performance Through Moderated Dialogue
Cassidy, J., Kadlec, D., & Fransen, J. (2025) · Sports Medicine - Open · doi:10.1186/s40798-025-00904-y · Cited by 7
Impact of athletic profiles and the relative age effect on the future achievement levels of young basketball players
Irid, Y., Pineau, J., Larochelambert, Q. D., Toussaint, J., & Sedeaud, A. (2025) · Frontiers in Sports and Active Living · doi:10.3389/fspor.2025.1616800 · Cited by 6
Determinants of agility across biological maturation status in soccer players
Hironaga, I., Hirayama, K., Yuto, N., & Akama, T. (2025) · BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1186/s13102-025-01424-8 · Cited by 6
“Agility is the ability to rapidly change movement speed and direction in response to external stimuli [1].”
Comparison of endurance, agility, and core strength between national and state level female football players
Rizvi, M. R., Zaidi, Z., Sharma, A., Saini, P., & Nigam, S. (2022) · Saudi Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.4103/sjsm.sjsm_3_22 · Cited by 6
A human resources development professional's framework for competencies during COVID‐19 and unrest
Gunasekara, N., Barhate, B., Alizadeh, A., & Garza, R. C. (2022) · New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development · doi:10.1002/nha3.20350 · Cited by 8
“Traditionally, researchers define agility as the ability to move rapidly and accurately (Sheppard & Young, 2006).”
Background
Effects Of Jump Training On Youth Female Soccer Player’s Physical Fitness
García, M. S., Sánchez-Sánchez, J., Bermejo-Martín, L., Bosque, M. V. D., Moran, J., Romero‐Moraleda, B., & Ramírez‐Campillo, R. (2022) · The Open Sports Sciences Journal · doi:10.2174/1875399x-v15-e2208310 · Cited by 6
Relationship Between Talent Identification and Change of Direction in Young Basketball Players
Maimon, A. Q., Siquier-Coll, J., Nadal, C. A., Clemente, F. M., & González-Férnandez, F. T. (2023) · Physical Education Theory and Methodology · doi:10.17309/tmfv.2023.1.19 · Cited by 6
Flywheel eccentric overload training versus plyometric training on countermovement jump parameters, badminton-specific agility and flexibility amongst university badminton players
Low, M. J., Tan, A. L. S., Chan, E. W. M., & Low, J. Y. (2023) · Malaysian Journal of Movement Health & Exercise · doi:10.4103/mohe.mohe_25_23 · Cited by 6
Vertical Jump and Relative Strength are Strongly Associated with Change of Direction in Professional Male Basketball Players
Benítez‐Flores, S., Cadore, E. L., Stojanović, E., Delextrat, A. A., & Calleja-González, J. (2024) · International Journal of Strength and Conditioning · doi:10.47206/ijsc.v4i1.279 · Cited by 6

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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