ABSTRACT

The athletic ability demonstrated when rapidly changing direction is considered a highly advantageous quality in an athlete, particularly but not limited to evasion sports both on the field or court. However, despite the increasing research into change of direction ability from a performance and injury perspective, there is still little consensus on the development of this ‘elusive’ physical quality. However, there has been a substantial advancement in the understanding of the biomechanical underpinning of changing direction and the influence of perceptual-cognitive factors that combine for the perceptual-motor response known as agility. To effectively develop and enhance change of direction (COD) ability, it is critical to accurately identify the strengths and weaknesses underpinning COD performance in combination with understanding how well the athlete utilizes their physical attributes within the context of the skilled performance of changing direction. A mixed methods qualitative and quantitative approach to evaluation followed by a progressive development that aims to enhance the transfer of underpinning physical attributes to their use in the technically demanding aspects of changing direction is recommended. Through effective planning and use of both a capacity building and skill development processes, an athlete can improve this often underdeveloped and misunderstood athletic quality. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the current research and scientific understanding of factors associated with change of direction and agility with respect to biomechanical, physical and perceptual-cognitive determinants (Section 1). In Section 2, an applied understanding of how to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate change of direction ability and agility will be examined, followed by an example of a needs-based program in conjunction with a developmental framework designed to combine improvements in physical capacity with skill development.