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What is Agility?

Sandra Koehler
Sandra Koehler

Agility is the quickness and readiness of movement. It is the ability to change the position of the body with skill and control when faced with some sort of stimulus or opposing movement. This ability requires a combination of skills such as coordination, speed, strength and stamina. It is the union of dynamic balance, or the ability to maintain balance under changing conditions, and speed.

In order for an athlete of any sport to maintain peak performance, he or she must be agile. Most movements in any high-speed sport are multi-dimensional, moving in angles, curves, sharp directional changes, and even frequent starts and stops. If the ball carrier quickly changes direction, the defensive player needs to react. He or she must swiftly apply force in the opposite direction he is traveling in order to follow the motion of the ball. He or she needs quick reflexes and efficient footwork.

Athletes must be able to move in multiple directions at once.
Athletes must be able to move in multiple directions at once.

Agility training exercises allow an athlete to fine-tune body awareness, reaction time and coordination with selected drills comprised of the components of movement or certain motor skills specific in his sport. Since this ability is based on stop and start demands placed on the body, it requires good strength or the quality of movement will be diminished.

Practice increases agility by developing muscle memory.
Practice increases agility by developing muscle memory.

Performing drills allows the athlete to break down every component of movement to be understood and learned. By practicing these drills the athlete can increase the speed and efficiency to which it is executed up to game speed. Each drill should not only be adapted to the individual athlete’s needs and physical fitness level, it should be game specific.

Training in hurdling is one effective way to increase agility.
Training in hurdling is one effective way to increase agility.

Common drills to increase agility are through the use of obstacle courses, ladders, hurdles and old-fashioned tires. This is where the athlete can work on footwork. Obstacle courses teach the athlete to weave and cut. Things like hurdles and ladders are ways to increase footwork to allow the body to move quickly in different patterns.

Other methods of training are through the use of things like wobble boards, usually a flat foot board mounted on a ball, and Swiss balls. Using these pieces of equipment makes use of reacting to unexpected movement changes. Plyoboxes assist the athlete whose game requires frequent movements where his feet leave the ground.

Agility training is a performance-enhancing component and should be used in addition to regular strength and cardiovascular training. It can help the athlete to step up to the demands of a fast-paced competition and decreases the risk of injuries.

Discussion Comments

Glasshouse

@ Parmnparsley- Adding weight to your every day routine can also increase a person's agility. Weight vests, ankle weights, and wrist weights will strengthen the muscles you use for common motion, and when you take the weights off, your agility will increase. Every movement will seem easier, and your limbs will seem lighter, allowing you to move faster and accelerate quicker.

parmnparsley

Resistance training increases agility. Things like running with a resistance chute or resistance band running can be great at increasing an athlete’s explosiveness.

Resistance training in water can also be very good for improving agility. Water exercises also provide good cardiovascular exercise, and can improve lung function.

Water exercises are also helpful for those with joint injuries. Athletes recovering from knee injuries will often exercise in a pool for part of their rehabilitation.

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    • Athletes must be able to move in multiple directions at once.
      By: Stefan Schurr
      Athletes must be able to move in multiple directions at once.
    • Practice increases agility by developing muscle memory.
      By: Vladislav Gajic
      Practice increases agility by developing muscle memory.
    • Training in hurdling is one effective way to increase agility.
      By: berc
      Training in hurdling is one effective way to increase agility.
    • Agility is the union of dynamic balance, or the ability to maintain balance under changing conditions, and speed.
      By: Rob hyrons
      Agility is the union of dynamic balance, or the ability to maintain balance under changing conditions, and speed.