Speed, agility and quickness

The skill complex Speed, Agility and Quickness ( SAQ ) describes multidirectional speed performances under change of direction conditions (COD), which are mainly used in game sports (e.g. handball , basketball , rugby , hockey , soccer ), but also in other sports, such as B. badminton , fencing or boxing represent performance-determining factors.

Explanation of the terms

Speed (speed / speed)

Speed refers to the linear speed with the aim of achieving the highest possible top speed. Classically, the 100 m sprint should be mentioned here, which is divided into the subcomponents of acceleration, speed of action and speed of frequency. In the case of multidirectional speed performances, the acceleration and acceleration seem to have a positive effect on the end result.

Agility (maneuverability / dexterity)

Agility means changing the direction of movement as quickly as possible by starting, braking and turning movements without significant loss of speed. This component requires a high degree of partial and full body coordination, running and sprinting skills as well as specific strength skills.

Quickness (reaction speed)

Quickness describes the fastest possible reaction to a tactile, acoustic, optical, vestibular or kinaesthetic stimulus from the environment. In gaming sports in particular, the speed of reaction can be very complex, since it is necessary to react appropriately not only to the stimuli of the other players, but also to the movements of the opponents and the gaming device. The selection of adequate reactions also plays a crucial role.

Basics

The skill complex Speed, Agility and Quickness is a multifactorial event in the context of the motor skill speed. It has not been conclusively clarified by factor analysis whether, within the scope of the motor skill speed, the SAQ complex can be assigned the independence of a skill. Nevertheless, studies indicate that there is only a small correlation between linear sprint behavior and speed performance with changes of direction. There are several sub- aspects underlying the speed and responsiveness ( quickness ) of agility:

Perception / cognition and planning of the follow-up action (perception and decision-making factors)

In particular, information intake, processing and stimulus transmission play a role here. Knowledge of movement sequences and game situations as well as anticipation, i.e. the mental anticipation of a possible follow-up action, e.g. B. from opponents. In addition, athletes with good general coordination and pronounced sport-specific experience seem to have a large number of motor programs (motor skills) available that can have a positive influence on perception and follow-up action.

Physical / biomechanical requirements (anthropometry / biomechanics)

Both anthropometric conditions (e.g. body size) and biomechanical requirements (e.g. lever length of the extremities) have an influence on agility.

Change of direction speed

The speed in the change of direction is influenced by technical movement skills and to a certain extent by sub-components of the linear sprint. In addition, specific strength skills (maximum strength, rapid strength, reactive strength) of the lower extremities play a decisive role. Possible existing strength deficits in a side comparison can negatively affect the movement result.

Individual evidence

^ WB Young, D. Farrow: A review of agility: practical applications for strength and conditioning In: Strength and conditioning journal 10, 2006.
↑ U. Alemdaroglu: The realationship Between Muscle Strength, Anaerobic performance, agility, Sprint Ability and Vertical Jump Performance in Professional Basketball Players. In: Journal of Human Kinetics. 31, 2012, pp. 99-106.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d J. M. Sheppard, WB Young: Agility literature review: classifications, training and testing. In: Journal of sports sciences. 9, No. 24, 2006, pp. 919-932.
^ DJ Paul, TJ Gabbett, GP Nassis: Agility in team sports: testing, training and factors affecting performance. In: Sports med. No. 46, 2016, pp. 421–442.
^ D. Baker: A comparison of running speed and quickness between elite professional and young rugby league players. In: Strength and Conditioning Coach. 3, No. 7, 1999, pp. 3-7.
↑ ^a ^b M. Schulz, C. Saal, D. Büsch: On the connection between speed performance with change of direction and linear speed performance - a quasi-experimental field study. In: Faculty of Sport, University of Health & Sport, Technology & Art, Berlin. ( bisp-surf.de ).
↑ D.-P. Born, C. Zinner, P. Düking, B. Sperlich: Multi-directional sprint training improves change-of-direction speed and reactive agility in young highly trained soccer players. In: Journal of sports science and medicine. 15/2016, pp. 314-319.

[1] WB Young, D. Farrow: A review of agility: practical applications for strength and conditioning In: Strength and conditioning journal 10, 2006.

[2] U. Alemdaroglu: The realationship Between Muscle Strength, Anaerobic performance, agility, Sprint Ability and Vertical Jump Performance in Professional Basketball Players. In: Journal of Human Kinetics. 31, 2012, pp. 99-106.

[Sheppard-3] J. M. Sheppard, WB Young: Agility literature review: classifications, training and testing. In: Journal of sports sciences. 9, No. 24, 2006, pp. 919-932.

[4] DJ Paul, TJ Gabbett, GP Nassis: Agility in team sports: testing, training and factors affecting performance. In: Sports med. No. 46, 2016, pp. 421–442.

[5] D. Baker: A comparison of running speed and quickness between elite professional and young rugby league players. In: Strength and Conditioning Coach. 3, No. 7, 1999, pp. 3-7.

[Schulz-6] M. Schulz, C. Saal, D. Büsch: On the connection between speed performance with change of direction and linear speed performance - a quasi-experimental field study. In: Faculty of Sport, University of Health & Sport, Technology & Art, Berlin. ( bisp-surf.de ).

[7] D.-P. Born, C. Zinner, P. Düking, B. Sperlich: Multi-directional sprint training improves change-of-direction speed and reactive agility in young highly trained soccer players. In: Journal of sports science and medicine. 15/2016, pp. 314-319.