Performance measures of NCAA baseball tryouts obtained from the new 60-yd run-shuttle

The ability to accelerate, decelerate, and change directions quickly is a well-known asset to athletic performance. Determination of basic movement skills may be accomplished by timing the athlete's ability to move through a prescribed course. The purpose of this investigation was (a) to describe and compare 4 distinct segments of a new agility test called "JJ Shuttle," and (b) to describe the agility and kinetic factors obtained from young men (age 18-22 years) who were competing for a limited number of positions on the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II team. Speed calculations allowed for comparisons between and among shuttle segments and, when considered with body mass, permitted calculation of an energy of motion represented by the kinetic factor (K-factor). Sorting of shuttle times identified the fastest athletes and revealed that they do not necessarily have the highest K-factor. Similarly, highlighting performances by K-factors identified athletes who may be able to contribute more by a particular combination of speed and size. Furthermore, rare individuals who might have both attributes stand out to the coach by employing sorting and ranking, all within the capabilities of Microsoft Office Excel® 2007. These performance measures and calculations obtained from the agility test may provide the coach or trainer with valuable insight into movement skills and potential contribution of the individual athlete to the success of the team. This information is critical in preseason assessments to help decide who makes the team and to evaluate progress within and between competitive seasons.