Soccer Players’ Agility: Complex Laboratory Testing for Differential

Training

Anna Zakharova

, Kamiliia Mekhdieva

, Vasiliy Krasilnikov and Varvara Timokhina

Institute of Physical Education, Sports and Youth Policy, Ural Federal University Named after the First President of Russia

B.N. Yeltsin, 19 Mira Street, Yekaterinburg, Russia

Keywords: Soccer Players, Agility, Laboratory Testing, Agility Structure.

Abstract: The aim of the proposed study was to evaluate parameters of quickness, coordination and speed that influence

the specific agility in soccer. Twenty-four young healthy male soccer players born in 2004 (mean age 14.7 ±

0.7 years) underwent complex laboratory testing including anthropometric measurements, simple and

complex visual-motor reaction (VMR), Tapping test, cycling Wingate test and FitLight-trainer tests. Obtained

data allowed to estimate speed and power abilities of soccer players, as well as establish interrelations between

the measured parameters throughout the tests. Six soccer players demonstrated excellent ability to work in

conditions that require high concentration and speed of switching attention (complex VMR < 270 ms) and 4

athletes (complex VMR > 320 ms) – poor level. Results of Wingate test showed, that studied athletes had

sufficient power abilities of lower extremities for soccer players in respect to their age (PP/kg – 12.56 ± 3.38

W/kg). 16.7 % (n=4) of athletes showed high results in all FitLight tests. The suggested system of laboratory

tests for evaluation of agility structural components so important in soccer, allowed to emphasize athlete’s

weaknesses in order to improve it. Thus, testing of non-planned agility should include at least simple and

complex reaction rate, coordination tests and speed-and-strength abilities evaluation.

1 INTRODUCTION

Agility is recognised as one of the most important

ability in team sports. Athlete’s speed, coordination

and ability to act fast are interrelated and together

they provide such complex quality as agility.

Agility is an important quality in soccer which

significantly contributes to success in sports

achievements (Sekulic, 2015; Young, 2015). In

soccer, as in many other team sports, constant

changes in the environment (alterations in the ball

position, co-players and opponents) require particular

actions from the players, such as pre-planned motor

responses, coordination of body segments and

anticipating actions coming from rapidly changed

complex sensorial information (Lage, 2011).

Based on mention above it is critically important

for a soccer player to have a constants readiness to

motor response to unpredictably occuring signals.

A number of experimental studies have reported

sufficient cognitive and motor abilities in elite team

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8170-2316

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2967-2655

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3239-5038

sports athletes, who are able to modulate their

cognitive and motor resources in response to task

demands (Zwierko, 2014). Meanwhile, there is lack

of data on evaluation of this quality in young soccer

players, as well as methods of complex testing for

further application in training process amendments.

According to N.A. Bernshtein, 1991 agility (or

coordination) is a complex, reliable and universal

quality which is in close connection with speed,

motor inventiveness and mental quickness.

Based on mentioned above, the aim of the

proposed study was to design a number of diagnostic

tests to determine agility structure components in

young soccer players in order to improve their soccer

performance.

An ability to act quickly in unpredictable

conditions depends upon reaction time in response to

visual or other stimuli, speed of mental analysis and

following decision making, locomotion start and

speed-and-strength ability to move as fast as

necessary. So in our research we were focused on

Zakharova, A., Mekhdieva, K., Krasilnikov, V. and Timokhina, V.

Soccer Players’ Agility: Complex Laboratory Testing for Differential Training.

DOI: 10.5220/0008166700900096

In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support (icSPORTS 2019), pages 90-96

ISBN: 978-989-758-383-4

those parameters of quickness, coordination and

speed that influence the specific agility in soccer.

2 ORGANIZATION AND

METHODS

Subjects: Twenty-four young healthy male soccer

players born in 2004 (mean age 14.7 ± 0.7 years,

height 171.05 ± 6.08 cm, weight 60.65 ± 11.7 kg)

were recruited for the study. Participants were

members of junior soccer team “Sinara”

(Yekaterinburg, Russia) that was the winner of the

youth futsal championship of Russia in 2018.

2.1 Anthropometric Measurements

Estimation of anthropometric data, body

composition, height, lean muscle mass (absolute and

relative values), body fat component and BMI are

widely used in practical training practice and

research.

Weight and detailed segment body composition

data were measured with the use of MC-980MA Plus

Multi Frequency Segmental Body Composition

Monitor (TANITA, Japan) based on the advanced

Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) technology.

The following parameters were analyzed: body mass

(kg), body mass index (BMI, kg/m

), muscle mass –

absolute and relative values (kg; %), absolute and

relative fat mass (kg; %), fat free mass (kg), bone

mass (kg), separately lean mass of the trunk, upper

and lower extremities (kg).

2.2 Psycho-physiological Tests

The computer complex "NS-PsychoTest"

("NeuroSoft”, Russia) was used for evaluation of

psychophysiological features of the athletes’ nervous

system. The choice of diagnostic psycho-

physiological methods was determined by the nature

of sports agility. For latent simple reaction time

simple visual-motor reaction test was conducted. For

evaluation of an ability to act in situation of choice

test of complex visual-motor reaction was selected.

Tapping-test was conducted to assess the ability

of nervous system to perform frequent movements

and intensive quick work.

2.2.1 Simple Visual-motor Reaction

During testing of a simple visual-motor reaction 30

red light signals were activated consistently to

athletes. The signals appear at a different time

interval. When a signal appears, the examinee must

press the button with a finger as soon as possible,

trying to avoid mistakes such as a prematurely

pressing of the button or a skip of the signal.

The following indicators were determined:

1. Time of visual-motor reaction and subject’s quality

of the reaction to the stimulus (M, ms);

2. Equilibrium of nerve processes and stability of

sensorimotor reactions (SD, ms).

2.2.2 Complex Visual-motor Reaction

During testing of a complex visual-motor reaction 30

red and green light signals were activated randomly

to athletes. The athletes were instructed to react only

to red light with pressing the button and do nothing in

case of green signal occurrence. Average time of

complex visual-motor reaction (M, ms) and standard

deviation (SD, ms) were determined as well as a

number of mistakes (missed signals or prepressing of

button).

2.2.3 Tapping Test

Express-method Tapping test is reflecting overall

performance and strength of the nervous processes.

The test was carried out using two special

instruments: “pencil” and “a rubber platform”. The

athlete was instructed to tap the platform with the

maximum possible frequency for 30 seconds.

Processing of the results was made by counting

the number of movements performed in each of the

five-second intervals of the test.

Two indicators obtained in the test were taken for

analysis: the number of taps made during 30 seconds

and the maximal number made in any five second

interval.

2.3 Cycling Wingate Test

Cycling Wingate test was performed with the use of

the ergometer Monark Ergomedic 894E Peak Bike

(Monark, Sweden). Power and speed abilities were

evaluated during leg cycling Wingate anaerobic test

by means of the device producer protocol provided.

Before the test athletes were familiarized with the

technique of the test and given comprehensive

instructions on the procedure. The positions of

handlebar and cycle seat were adjusted in accordance

with athletes’ height and length of the extremities.

Foots were fixed in the pedals with straps. Based on

recorded data on the age, gender and weight of tested

player the required weight of the basket was

calculated automatically by the system (7.5 % of body

weight). The protocol of the test allowed to set the

Soccer Players’ Agility: Complex Laboratory Testing for Differential Training

moment of basket drop. Each test started from the

pre-test warming-up pedaling with recommended

cadence of 50 rpm. After the command “Go!” an

athlete had to speed-up and at reaching 80 rpm, the

basket dropped and test started. Before the test all

subjects had sufficient for power testing warming up.

From the beginning of the test power and speed

parameters were fixed automatically in the PC with

pre-installed Monark software, connected with the

ergometer through a serial cable. The following

parameters were selected for ongoing analysis: peak

power (PP, W), average power (AP, W) and their

relative values PP (PP/kg, W/kg) and AP

/kg, W/kg),

maximum attained cadence (rpm) and time of PP

attained.

2.4 Fitlight-trainer Test

For soccer players agility estimation a FitLight

TrainerTM (FitLight Sports Corp., Canada) was used.

Two different test protocols were designed for the

research.

The first one was created for goalkeepers: 12

wireless light discs with a diameter of 10 cm were

placed on the wall in the square of 3000x2000 as the

area of the futsal or handball gate (Fig. 1). The light

disks were grouped into 4 sectors, 3 lamps in each

according to the scheme shown in the Figure 1.

Participants were instructed to deactivate the lights as

fast as possible by placing a hand or a leg in close

proximity (deactivation distance was set at 20 cm) to

the activated light (Fig.2). Maximum duration of the

light stimulus (time out of light if light was not de-

activated as required) was programmed for 2 seconds

for this test. Light disks activated randomly during 30

seconds during the trial. The analysis concerned the

amount of deactivated light disks and the average

response time to stimuli in the test as well as average

response time to each square sector.

The second test was designed for soccer players

and included 8 light disks placed on two neighbor

walls (Fig. 3 and 4) deactivated with legs only.

Parameters of test protocol were as in the described

above test 1: duration 30 seconds, 20 cm and 2 sec

were deactivation distance and time out of light

respectively. Average response time to stimuli and

amount of deactivated light were under analysis.

The soccer players performed 3 trials. Results of

the best one were under consideration.

Figure 1: Light disk layout for FitLight trainer test 1.

Figure 2: Station for the FitLight trainer test 1.

Figure 3: Light disk layout for FitLight trainer test 2.

icSPORTS 2019 - 7th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support

Figure 4: Station for the FitLight trainer test 2.

2.5 Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed with the use of

statistic software package “SPSS Statistics 23.0”

(IBM). We used descriptive analysis of the obtained

data in order to estimate basic functional status of

athletes. Normality of distribution was assessed by

the Shapiro-Wilk test. Mean value (M), standard

deviation (SD), minimum and maximal values of the

measured parameters were calculated. To estimate

possible interrelations between measured parameters

in different tests correlative analysis (Pearsons

correlations) was applied.

As the FitLight trainer test is a new technology

supporting “testing and training” in sport there were

lack of data of optimal results. To establish the levels

of FitLight test agility (Table 5), level criteria was

calculated using the value of the normal M and the

deviation equal to ± 2/3 SD:

• Average level – the indicators in the range M

± 2/3 SD;

• Level above the average (high) the indicators

are greater than M + 2/3 SD;

• Level below the average (poor) – the

indicators are less than M - 2/3 SD.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The obtained results of anthropometric measurements

of young soccer players (Table 1) show that studied

subjects had appropriate physical status in reference

to sports age and gender norms. In particular, high

values of lean mass and low values of fat component

were found. Taking into consideration specific

character of soccer, this type of body composition is

undoubtedly beneficial for athletes.

Table 1: Anthropometric and body composition data of

young soccer players.

Parameters

M±SD

min-max

Height, cm

171.1±6.1

158-182

Weight, kg

60.7±11.2

42-92

Muscle mass, kg

47.93±7.3

35-66

Muscle mass, %

79.5±3.3

71-84

Fat, kg

10.3±4.3

5-23

Fat, %

16.5±3.9

12-26

BMI, kg/m

20.6±2.7

17-28

BMI – body mass index.

Assessment of the level of speed abilities of young

soccer players was initially started with studying of

an elementary form of speed and agility – the latent

time of simple visual-motor reaction (simple VMR)

characterizing efficiency of activity of the

neuromotor mechanism (Platonov, 2004). In group of

the studied soccer players (n=24) the average value of

simple VMR on a red colour signal was 197.18±15.64

ms (Table 2). 5 subjects (20.8 %) had excellent VMR

(quicker than 180 ms). Optimum results for sports

activity in soccer (181<simple VMR <210 ms)

showed 14 athletes that is 58.24 %.

The research of complex visual-motor reaction

(Table 2) associated with simple VSR and mental

abilities to effective actions in limited time revealed

that average value of complex VMR (295.75 ms) was

within age norm as well as the reaction stability

(24.57). Six soccer players demonstrated excellent

ability to work in conditions that require high

concentration and speed of switching attention

(complex VMR < 270 ms) and 4 athletes (had

complex VMR time more than 320 ms (poor level).

Table 2: Simple and complex visual-motor reaction in

young soccer players.

Parameters

M±SD

(min-max)

Simple VMR t, ms

197.18±15.64

175 -239

Complex VMR t, ms

295.75±24.57

236-342

The nervous system workability by Tapping test

revealed that 16.67 % of soccer players had an

Soccer Players’ Agility: Complex Laboratory Testing for Differential Training

excellent ability to maintain the movement pace,

which means the effectiveness of the speed activity

for a long time. 79.17 % of the subjects showed a

good level and only 1 athlete (4.16 %) was

distinguished by rapid fatigue of the nervous system.

Analysis of cycling Wingate-test data allowed to

estimate power abilities of soccer players (Table 3).

On average, demonstrated peak power was higher

than one in 15 years old soccer-players (11.2 ± 0.76

W/kg reported by Jastrzębski, 2011), and 17 years old

soccer players (11.1 ± 0.9 W/kg ̶ by Chtourou, 2012).

Although, relative values of PP varied within a wide

range. This proves essential difference in the level of

preparedness of players and/or inherent power

abilities. Really only 3 soccer players demonstrated

PP higher than 13.5 W/kg (high level) while 5 had

poor level (less than 11.6 W/kg). The obtained results

show, that generally, studied athletes had sufficient

power abilities of lower extremities for soccer players

in respect to their age.

Table 3: Wingate-test parameters of soccer players.

Parameters

M±SD

min-max

PP, W

748.33±153.33

513-1661

PP/kg, W/kg

12.56±3.38

9-15

AP, W

512.43±96.64

366-772

AP/kg, W/kg

8.59±0.67

7-10

, s

2.48±1.06

1-5

PP – peak power; AP – average power; t

– time of PP

attainment.

Average power (AP, W/kg) in studied soccer-

players was within athletic norm (Zakharova, 2016)

and as high as it was revealed in soccer players aged

17 by Chtourou, 2012. Thus, we may conclude that

soccer-players demonstrated satisfied strength

endurance which is typical in team sports.

FitLight trainer test 1 (deactivation of signals with

hands and feet) revealed that average time of reaction

was considerably higher (Table 4) than in complex

VMR testing (Table 2).

Table 4: FitLight trainer test results in young soccer players.

Parameters

M±SD

(min-

max)

Test 1 reaction time, ms

896±52.14

802-995

Number of deactivated lamps

27±2.71

23-30

Test 2 reaction time, ms

919±91.78

739-469

Number of deactivated lamps

27±2.11

22-32

As these FitLight trainer tests were designed

especially for the research no results were at our

disposal. To establish the levels of FitLight test agility

(Table 6), level criteria was calculated using the value

of the normal M and the deviation equal to ± 2/3 SD

as depicted in statistic methods description.

Table 5: Levels of FitLight agility tests results for soccer-

players 14-15 years old.

High

Middle

Poor

Test 1 reaction

time, ms

< 680

680-930

> 930

Test 2 reaction

time, ms

< 680

680-980

> 980

FitLight trainer test 1 results revealed a high

reaction rate in 29.2 % (n=7) athletes. The average

and low reaction rates were registered in 50.0 %

(n=12) and 20.8 % (n=5) of the subjects, respectively.

Most athletes (54.2 %, n=13) showed the best result

during the second attempt.

According to the results of test 2, the data were

distributed as follow: high reaction rate in 25.0 %

(n=6), average reaction time in 62.5 % (n=15), low

reaction rate in 12.5 % (n=3) athletes. During this test,

the majority of athletes (58.4 %, n=14) showed the

best result during the third attempt.

Also, 16.7 % (n=4) of athletes have high results in

both tests.

The FitLight trainer software allowed to calculate

a segmental reaction time, that is, the response time

of the right and left hands and feet.

Observation of athletes during the FitLight trainer

tests allow to suggest that the differences between the

reaction rate of the right and left feet and as well as

hands induced by (i) motor asymmetry, (ii) low

and/or dissimilar flexibility in the right and left hip

joints, (iii) a violation of natural technique of

performing light deactivation (segment 1 by left foot,

segment 2 by left hand, segment 3 and 4 –by right

hand and foot, respectively).

Often the subjects tried to perform all the touches

with one hand, generally right. In addition, during the

test they oriented the body mainly to the left, thereby

losing sight of the sensors on the right. Subjects were

not specified how to fulfill the FitLight trainer test as

agility is the ability to move in an efficient and

effective manner.

Results of correlative analysis revealed significant

interrelations between athletes’ height and time of

complex VMR in psycho-physiological test (r = -

.532, P < 0.01), response time in FitLight-trainer test

(r = -.431, P < 0.05), as well as number of deactivated

signals (r = .454, P < 0.05). Additionally, we found

significant correlations between measured parameters

within the obtained tests: time of complex VMR

icSPORTS 2019 - 7th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support

correlated well with time of reaction time in FitLight-

test 1 (r = .423, P < 0.01) and number of deactivated

signals in FitLight-test 2 (r = -.462, P < 0.01).

Thus, the studied structural components of agility

in general are independent as they are associated with

different body structures and their functions. So each

of the component may limit the agility and in turn

require specific types of exercise to provide agility

development.

To demonstrate the agility structure of soccer

players we determined the most substantial indicators

measured throughout all laboratory tests. The

individual soccer player’s agility profile includes

(Figure 5) innate parameters of nervous system (time

of simple and complex visual-motor reaction),

general and specific coordination (reaction time in

FitLight trainer test 1 and 2 respectively), low

extremities motor symmetry/asymmetry (t FitLight 2

right and left leg), anaerobic power characteristics

(PP and time to PP attained) and a number of

frequency indicators: maximum attained cadence

(rpm) in cycling Wingate test and Tapping test data

(the maximal number of taps made in any five second

interval associated with motion rate performance and

number of taps made during 30 seconds).

Figure 5: Individual soccer player 1 agility profile.

The linear graph with deviation depicts positive

deviation (better than average value) and the degree

of excellence in the right part or backwardness and its

degree in the left part. So, one can see the strengths

and weaknesses of the athlete’s agility.

For example, soccer player 1 (Figure 5) have low

reaction rate in complex VMR while soccer player 5

(Figure 6) demonstrated poor simple reaction and

insufficient level of power abilities in legs (Wingate

test).

If you know the athlete’s weaknesses you are able

to amend it.

Figure 6: Individual soccer player 5 agility profile.

To improve simple reaction rate table tennis, aero-

hockey, various ball catching, reaction game and

motor tasks should be used.

To accelerate the complex reaction rate it is

advisable to read as fast as possible, watch videos at

1.25/1.5/2x speed, comment everyday events, just

like a TV commentator. The main idea of these tasks

promoting the brain to work intensively in time

trouble. Computer games also may be used for the

development of speed of reaction and thinking rate.

To show better results in FitLight trainer tests it is

necessary to analyze the reasons of poor performance

(hand-eye coordination, foot-eye coordination,

coordination of the body segments’ movement in

cooperation with the body's sensory functions or

other issues) and use the problem orientated exercises

to improve it along with FitLight training.

Detailed control of soccer players during FitLight

test 2 allowed to conclude that agility ladder in its

traditional format (laying on the floor) does not

develop 3d (space) coordination. So it is necessary to

design 3d agility ladder – to locate ladders on the

walls or to use the idea of FitLight – fix the targets in

accordance with the sports specifics.

In case of motor asymmetry in legs in football

players as shown in Figure 7 (marked out in ellipse)

it is important to work with non preferred leg. For

example, start strength exercises with it, pay more

attention to non preferred leg in agility motor tasks,

use it for shots and ball transition, etc.

So the suggested system of laboratory tests for

evaluation of agility structural components so

important in soccer, allowed to emphasize athlete’s

weaknesses in order to improve it thus developing

agility.

Soccer Players’ Agility: Complex Laboratory Testing for Differential Training

Figure 7: Individual soccer player 22 agility profile.

4 CONCLUSIONS

As agility performance is underpinned by physical

and cognitive attributes the following conclusions

may be done from the research:

1. Testing of non-planned agility should include at

least simple and complex reaction rate, coordination

tests and speed-and-strength abilities evaluation.

2. FitLight trainer is an effective training system at

the same time providing with accurate data on

reaction rate in close to competitive environment.

To compare FitLight trainer test results of athletes

all over the world it is necessary to standardize the

scheme of lamp locations according to sports

specifics.

3. Structuring of soccer players’ agility through

laboratory tests allowed to determine athlete’s

strengths and weaknesses to enhance agility

performance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The work was supported by Act 211 Government of

the Russian Federation, contract # 02.A03.21.0006.

REFERENCES

Bernshtein, N.A., 1991. On co-ordination and its

development. Fizkultura i sport. Moscow.

Chtourou, H., Hammouda, O., Souissi, H., Chamari, K.,

Chaouachi, A., Souissi, N., 2012. Diurnal variations in

physical performances related to soccerin young soccer

players. Asian journal of sports medicine, 3(3), 139-

144.

Jastrzębski, Z., Barnat, W., Konieczna, A., Rompa, P.,

Radzimiński, Ł., 2011. Changes of physical capacity

and soccer-related skills in young soccer players within

a one-year training period. Baltic Journal of Health and

Physical Activity, 3(4), 248-261.

Lage, G.M., Gallo. L.G., Cassiano, G.S.M., Lobo, I.L.B.,

Viera, M.V., Salgado, J.V., Fuentes, D., Malloy-Diniz,

L.F., 2011. Correlations between impulsivity and

technical performance in handball female athletes.

Physiology, 2(7): 721-726.

Platonov, V.N., 2004. The system of athletes’ training in

the Olympic sport. General theory and its practical

applications. Olympic Literature. Kiev.

Sekulic, D., Pehar, M., Krolo, A., Spasic, M., Uljevic, O.,

Callega-Gonzalez, J., Sattler, T., 2015. Evaluation of

basketball-specific ability of preplanned and non

planned agility performances for differentiating playing

positions and playing levels. J Strength and Cond

Research, 31(8): 2278-2288.

Sheppard, J.M., Young W.B., Doyle T.L., Sheppard, T.A.,

and Newton, R.U., 2006. An evaluation of a new test

reactive agility and its relationship to sprint speed and

change of direction speed. J Sci Med Sport, 9: 342-349.

Young, W.B., Miller, I.R., and Tapley S.W. (2015).

Physical qualities predict change-of-direction speed but

not defensive agility in Australian rules football. J

Strength and Conditioning Research, 29(1): 206-212.

Zakharova, A.V., Berdnikova A.N., 2016. Monitoring of

Power Abilities in Young Soccer Players. Human.

Sport. Medicine, 16(4): 64-74.

Zwierko, T., Florkiewicz, B., Fogtman, S., Kszar-

Krzyzanowska, A., 2014. The ability to maintain

attention during visuomotor task performance in

handball players and non-athletes. Central European

Journal of Sport Science and Medicine, 7(3): 99-106.

icSPORTS 2019 - 7th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support