Are Change-of-Direction Speed and Reactive Agility Independent Skills Even When Using the Same Movement Pattern?

Čoh, M, Vodičar, J, Žvan, M, Šimenko, J, Stodolka, J, Rauter, S, and Maćkala, K. Are change-of-direction speed and reactive agility independent skills even when using the same movement pattern? J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 1929-1936, 2018-The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether there are differences between the 2 approaches to quantifying agility (preplanned vs. unplanned response) when reacting to a stimulus in an identical spatial scenarios. The study involved 45 male and 31 female trained athletes (age 21.2 ± 1.78 and 20.6 ± 1.27 years, body height 181.6 ± 8.31 and 167.7 ± 5.03 cm, and body mass 78.9 ± 11.33 and 63.3 ± 8.65 kg, respectively). A light-based reactive training system was used to measure the time to completion in a task that assessed agility by change-of-direction speed (CODS) in a preplanned condition and reactive agility (RA) in an unplanned condition across 4 spatial configurations. Sprint performance in a 30-m sprint and lower limb reactive power in a 10-m single leg jump test was also measured. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found between men and women in all tests and between performance in the CODS and RA condition for each spatial configuration. Significant correlations were observed between 30-m starting sprint speed and CODS and RA performance measured in a semicircle (r = 0.62, r = 0.60) and lateral (r = 0.54, r = 0.58) configuration in male athletes. The present findings suggest that CODS and RA are 2 different and independent skill domains that define agility. These qualities should be diagnosed by discrete assessments and enhanced by different training methodologies.