Lecture 21 : Agility and Change of Direction

Question 1

change of direction is a what skill

Answer 1

closed skill

Question 2

agility is a what skill

Answer 2

open skill

Question 3

change of direction is what

Answer 3

closed skills that involves a rapid whole body movement with a pre planned change of velocity or direction

Question 4

what is agility

Answer 4

a rapid whole body movement with change of velocity or change of direction in response to a stimulus

Question 5

agility requires and element of

Answer 5

decision making and reaction

Question 6

agility is vital in what sports

Answer 6

territorial sports

Question 7

what are the biomechanical factors of change of direction and agility

Answer 7

ground contact time

breaking and propulsive forces

deceleration mechanics

joint angles and trunk position

Question 8

what are the neuromuscular factors of change of direction and agility

Answer 8

eccentric strength

rate of force development

reactive strength

Question 9

what are the anthropometric factors of change of direction and agility

Answer 9

body mass and limb length (limb length due to turning radius)

Question 10

when you are performing something and trying to be agile you are most likely to be making what type of turns

Answer 10

quick turns rather than short turns

Question 11

what are sharp turns

Answer 11

like 180 deg turns

have to stop all momentum in one direction and re-engage in a different direction

Question 12

short turns require more what than quick turns

Answer 12

require a lot more eccentric and speed strength

Question 13

what have a longer duration in the contact phase quick of sharp turns

Answer 13

sharp turns due to the change in momentum

Question 14

what type of turns are more risky and why

Answer 14

sharp turns are more risky because of the eccentric load,

but in saying this quick turns can also be risky

Question 15

what is a quick turn

Answer 15

often the athlete is not completely stopping, redirecting a little bit

Question 16

who will have a faster change of direction a player who is very strong but with not much power or a player who is less strong but greater rate of force development

Answer 16

the player that is less strong but with greater rate of force development

Question 17

what techniques are important in cutting

Answer 17

low centre of mass

wide base

optimal foot placement

Question 18

what does trunk lean and shin angles tell us in terms of movement mechanics

Answer 18

how engaged those muscles are going to be and how effective the athlete is going to use those muscles

Question 19

what strength qualities are really important for change of direction and agility

Answer 19

eccentric strength

concentric and isometric strength

reactive strength

unilateral strength and control

Question 20

why is eccentric strength important for agility and change of direction

Answer 20

for braking / deceleration

Question 21

why is concentric and isometric strength important for agility and change of direction

Answer 21

for re-acceleration

Question 22

why is reactive strength important for agility and change of direction

Answer 22

for quick transitions

Question 23

explain perception action coupling (think 202)

Answer 23

our environment and actions guides our movement

perceptions shape action

actions shape perception

Question 24

what does perception shapes action mean and what is this called

Answer 24

we perceive information from our environment which informs our actions (affordance)

Question 25

what does action shapes perceptions mean

Answer 25

our actions can influence what we perceive (dynamic adaptation)

Question 26

what cognitive skills are important in agility

Answer 26

visual search strategies anticipation and decision making speed of decision making

Question 27

a way to use perception action coupling to confuse a goalie

Answer 27

putting foot in other direction when kicking a goal as the goalie will be looking at their body position to inform their actions rather than the ball as there is not enough time for this

Question 28

training methods linked to perception action coupling

Answer 28

small sided games constraints led approach (constraint manipulation and natural game scenarios) light / video reactive drills

Question 29

most common injury from agility movements

Answer 29

ACL

Question 30

mechanisms of injury risk in change of direction and agility

Answer 30

poor inter-muscular coordination underlying pathology poor mechanics : some athletes have a weak side cognitive fatigue :more difficulty making the decision and therefore more difficulty coordinating the muscles

Question 31

what are key risk factors for injury in change of direction and agility

Answer 31

high breaking forces during deceleration and cutting poor trunk control and lateral trunk lean valgus knee collapse during plant phase fatigue affecting neuromscular control and technique asymmetries in strength or movement patterns

Question 32

prevention strategy of injury from agility movements using eccentric strength training

Answer 32

focus on hamstrings, glutes and quads these are really important for posterior chain

Question 33

prevention strategy of injury from agility movements using deceleration mechanics

Answer 33

coach proper foot placement, trunk position and low centre of mass

Question 34

prevention strategy of injury from agility movements using neuromuscular control

Answer 34

integrate balance, proprioception and trunk / core stability drills

Question 35

what is proprioception

Answer 35

vestibular, visual, kinaesthetic awareness, touch

Question 36

how to train proprioception

Answer 36

take away one of the senses such as removing vision

Question 37

when close to competition are we wanting to focus on bilateral or unilateral movements

Answer 37

unilateral and agility should be the focus more than bilateral closer to competition

Question 38

how to train fatigue resistant movement quality

Answer 38

train technique under mild fatigue but avoid overload in compromised states

Question 39

three categories of agility / COD tests and what are they

Answer 39

COD speed : COD that require either 1 or 2 high or low velocity entry changes of direction Manoeuvrability : CODs that require 3 or more changes of direction info processing : reactive tests require change of direction in response to stimulus

Question 40

what is the issue with CODs tests

Answer 40

faster runners may perform better on these tests despite having a worse COD

Question 41

what is the solution to the issue with COD tests

Answer 41

examine turn time seperate from sprint time

Question 42

how is decision time tested with COD test

Answer 42

run through gates and change direction based on light run it based on planned compared to reaction time (last minute reaction to light) compare to find decision time

Question 43

what order should agility training be done in

Answer 43

less complex to more complex

Question 44

examples of change of direction tests

Answer 44

T-test illinois pro agility