Correlations between attaching agility, defensive agility, change of direction speed and reactive strength in Australian footballers
- Authors: Rayner, Russell , Young, Warren
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning Vol. 23, no. 6 (2015), p. 108-111
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- Description: Agility refers to “a rapid whole-body movement with a change of velocity or direction in response to a stimulus” (10). This is a separate physical quality to change of direction speed (CODS) which refers to rapid changes of direction which do not involve the cognitive response to a stimulus. There exists a large body of evidence investigating correlations between physical qualities and CODS (2,3,5,15). Despite this, due to the use of outdated definitions of agility in previous literature, research on agility remains limited. To the authors’ knowledge, just one previous study has tested correlations between agility and reactive strength (15). The study tested 24 Australian Footballers using a video stimulus to assess defensive agility and a found small correlation (r = -0.10) between defensive agility and reactive strength (15). Despite this, correlations between reactive strength and CODS were large (r= -0.645), suggesting that reactive strength is more important to CODS than agility. This is consistent with previous research which suggests reactive strength may be important in CODS performance (4,13,14). Nevertheless, as the majority of agility tests used in literature are defensive, no correlational studies have been undertaken to investigate attacking agility and its correlations with defensive agility and CODS. Therefore, it is unknown if attacking and defensive agility are highly correlated or independent skills. In addition, past research has shown a low correlation between defensive agility and reactive strength, but it is unknown if this correlation will be similar for attacking agility (15). Previous research has noted the possibility of a higher correlation to attacking agility due to the speed of and intensity of the approach when approaching an agility scenario (15). As the attacking athlete has more time to make a movement decision, it is possible he or she may perform a more aggressive change of direction, therefore increasing the load on the leg muscles. The purpose of this study is to understand the correlation between attacking and defensive agility and the relationship to reactive strength. This provides coaches with information on the importance of reactive strength to defensive and attacking agility.
Changes in lower body muscular performance following a season of NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse
- Authors: Talpey, Scott , Axtell, Robert , Gardner, Elizabeth , James, Lachlan
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sports Vol. 7, no. 1 (2019), p. 1-12
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- Description: The tactical and technical components of training become a primary emphasis, leaving less time for targeted development of physical qualities that underpin performance during the competition phase of a training program. A deemphasis on physical preparation during the in-season training phase may make athletes more susceptible to injury and decrease performance on the field. Two weeks prior to the start and one week following the conclusion of the 16-week collegiate lacrosse season, lower body force production was assessed in eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Men's Lacrosse athletes. Lower body force production capabilities were determined via the performance of countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop jumps (DJ) performed on a force plate and isokinetic strength testing of the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups across three velocities. Isokinetic strength of the hamstrings and the hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio were maintained or increased over the course of the competition phase of training. Relative peak force obtained from the CMJ and the reactive strength index from the DJ decreased significantly over the season. The maintenance of isokinetic strength and the decrease in CMJ and DJ performance may indicate the presence of neuromuscular fatigue that accumulated over the course of the season.
Relationships between reactive agility movement time and unilateral vertical, horizontal, and lateral jumps
- Authors: Henry, Greg , Dawson, Brian , Lay, Brendan , Young, Warren
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Vol. 30, no. 9 (2016), p. 2514-2521
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- Description: Henry, GJ, Dawson, B, Lay, BS, and Young, WB. Relationships between reactive agility movement time and unilateral vertical, horizontal, and lateral jumps. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2514-2521, 2016 - This study compared reactive agility movement time and unilateral (vertical, horizontal, and lateral) jump performance and kinetics between dominant and nondominant legs in Australian rules footballers (n 31) to investigate the role of leg strength characteristics in reactive agility performance. Jumps involved jumping forward on 1 leg, then for maximum height or horizontal or lateral distance. Agility and movement time components of reactive agility were assessed using a video-based test. Correlations between each of the jumps were strong (r -0.62 to -0.77), but between the jumps and agility movement time the relationships were weak (r -0.25 to -0.33). Dominant leg performance was superior in reactive agility movement time (4.5%; p 0.04), lateral jump distance (3%; p 0.008), and lateral reactive strength index (4.4%; p 0.03) compared with the nondominant leg. However, when the subjects were divided into faster and slower performers (based on their agility movement times) the movement time was significantly quicker in the faster group (n 15; 12%; p < 0.001), but no differences in jump performance or kinetics were observed. Therefore, although the capacity for jumps to predict agility performance seems limited, factors involved in producing superior lateral jump performance in the dominant leg may also be associated with advantages in agility performance in that leg. However, because reactive strength as measured by unilateral jumps seems to play a limited role in reactive agility performance and other factors such as skill, balance, and coordination, and also cognitive and decision-making factors, are likely to be more important. © 2013 National Strength and Conditioning Association.