Reaction Time and Movement Time in Agility Performance: Tools to Identify Specific Goals

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Human Movement

Background:

• Agility is crucial for team sports, involving rapid, reactive whole-body movements.
• Agility comprises two key phases: reaction time and movement time.
• Understanding the interplay between these phases is vital for athlete development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a conceptual framework on the relationship between reaction time and movement time in agility.
• To review current knowledge on factors influencing these components of agility.
• To guide practitioners in identifying specific training goals for athletes.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review methodology was employed.
• A structured literature search was conducted across multiple databases.
• Backward citation tracking was used to identify relevant studies.

Main Results:

• Reaction time is influenced by stimulus type and athlete anticipation.
• Movement time is affected by factors like force production, coordination, and biomechanics.
• Current assessment methods for reaction and movement times are diverse.
• Training interventions show potential for improving both reaction and movement times.

Conclusions:

• Segmenting agility into reaction and movement times allows for more targeted athlete assessment and training.
• Further research is needed to optimize training strategies, particularly for movement time.
• This framework enhances the understanding and practical application of agility training.