The Reactive Agility Test

Abstract

A new agility task incorporating the variations in the stimulus field and the instrumentation for measurement of performance is described. Reliability coefficients are very high (.838 to .973) The stimulus variations that emanate from the spatial and temporal uncertainties progressively increase the level of task difficulty. The described apparatus provides for adjustments in the amplitude of the task and in the control of spatial and temporal uncertainties to suit the requirements of a specific investigation.

Full text

Perceptual
and
Motor
Skills,
1977,
44,
1319-1324.
@
Perceptual and Motor Skills 1977
THE
REACTIVE
AGILITY
TEST1-
P. CHELLADURAI,
M.
S.
WHASZ,
R.
SIPURA
University of Western Ontario
London, Canada
Summary.-A
new agility task incorporating the variations in the stimulus
field and the instrumentation for measurement of performance is described.
Reliability coefficients are very high (A38 to
,973)
The stimulus variations
that emanate from the spatial and temporal uncerca~nties progressively increase
the level of task difficulty. The described apparatus provides for adjustments
in the amplitude of the task and in the control of spatial and temporal uncermin-
ties to suit the requirements of a specific investigation.
Agility is generally considered
as
an important factor of physical fitness
and
motor ability. As ic is comprised
of
speed, power, balance,
and
coordina-
tion (Yuhasz,
1973,
p.
23),
a test
of
agility is almost always included in the
various
batteries
of tests of fitness-performance. Coaches of different games
point out the importance
of
agility for good performance in their respective
sports. Consequently various forms of agility drills are administered
as
part
of
the training.
Though there is a consensus regarding the relevance
of
agility in sport
tasks, the definition and treatment of agility in the literature does not clarify
the concept sufficiently to
be
of
practical use to the teacher/coach. For instance,
consider the traditional definitions
of
agility, as the following:
the ability of the body or parts of the body to change directions rapidly and accurately
(Barrow
&
McGee, 1971, p. 123).
speed in changing body positions or in changing direction (Clarke,
1959,
p.
222).
the physical ability which enables an individual to rapidly change body position and
direction in a precise manner (Johnson
&
Nelson, 1969, p. 100).
the capacity of the individual
as
measured by the rate of changing position in space
(Mathews, 1973, p. 144).
the rapidity and ease with which the individual can change the direction or movement
of the body or its parts (Yuhasz, 1973, p. 23).
These definitions do not take into account the variations in the stimulus field
that trigger the agile performance. This is evidenced by
the
commonly used
tests
of
agility in which the movement patterns are predetermined without any
variation in the stimuli, e.g., Illinois Agility Run,
CAHPER
Shuttle Run, Bar-
row Zig-Zag Run. While most sport tasks require agility, this requirement is
mediated differentially by the type of stimulus conditions
of
each activity. In
lThis study
was
supported by
a
research grant from the Research Council of the University
of Wesrern Ontario. London. Canada. We wish to thank Dr. Albert
V.
Carron for his
help. Additional material is'on file in Document NAPS-03039. Order from Microfiche
Publications, P.O. Box 3513, Grand Centnl Station, New York, N.
Y.
10017. Remit
$3.00 for microfiche or $8.00 for .photocopy.
Torrespondence concerning the article should be addressed to
P.
Chelladurai, Faculty of
Physical Education, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.