Planned and reactive agility performance in semiprofessional and amateur basketball players.
BACKGROUND
Research indicates that planned and reactive agility are different athletic skills. These skills have not been adequately assessed in male basketball players.


OBJECTIVE
To define whether 10-m-sprint performance and planned and reactive agility measured by the Y-shaped agility test can discriminate between semiprofessional and amateur basketball players.


METHODS
Ten semiprofessional and 10 amateur basketball players completed 10-m sprints and planned- and reactive-agility tests. The Y-shaped agility test involved subjects sprinting 5 m through a trigger timing gate, followed by a 45° cut and 5-m sprint to the left or right through a target gate. In the planned condition, subjects knew the cut direction. For reactive trials, subjects visually scanned to find the illuminated gate. A 1-way analysis of variance (P < .05) determined between-groups differences. Data were pooled (N = 20) for a correlation analysis (P < .05).


RESULTS
The reactive tests differentiated between the groups; semiprofessional players were 6% faster for the reactive left (P = .036) and right (P = .029) cuts. The strongest correlations were between the 10-m sprints and planned-agility tests (r = .590-.860). The reactive left cut did not correlate with the planned tests. The reactive right cut moderately correlated with the 10-m sprint and planned right cut (r = .487-.485).


CONCLUSIONS
The results reemphasized that planned and reactive agility are separate physical qualities. Reactive agility discriminated between the semiprofessional and amateur basketball players; planned agility did not. To distinguish between male basketball players of different ability levels, agility tests should include a perceptual and decision-making component.
formerly with the Exercise and Sport Science Dept, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, Australia, now with California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA.
Robert G
RG
Lockie
Matthew D
MD
Jeffriess
Tye S
TS
McGann
Samuel J
SJ
Callaghan
Adrian B
AB
Schultz
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001490:Basketball / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011930:Reaction Time; D012420:Running; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult