The Influence of Tennis Playing Ability on Change of Direction Speed and Reactive Agility

Abstract

Player’s movements in tennis comprise of short, sharp, high intensity movements, intermittent in nature. Despite the importance of these movements, an absence of research was observed in the area of tennis-specific agility. This study aimed to investigate whether the agility performance was able to distinguish between players of different abilities. It also aimed to create a test that could accurately assess a player’s change of direction speed (CODS) and reactive agility. Seven participants from UWIC 1st & 2nd men’s tennis teams (20-years ± 1) and a further seven non-team players (19.5-years ± 1.5) from UWIC tennis club voluntarily took part in the study; they were defined as elite and non-elite, respectively. Each participant completed a planned and reactive agility test, in a single and then repeated format. Single tests involved 6 lateral and forward movements starting from a central point, returning to this central position before every repetition. Repeated tests consisted of completing five sets of a pre-planned or random 6-gate course, with 20 seconds rest in between sets. Results showed that the non-elite participants completed every test apart from planned single, faster than the elite. However, significant differences were only found in the planned, repeated average and planned, repeated best scores (P<0.05). Elite participants did fatigue at a slower rate than the non-elite performers, but no significant difference was found (P>0.05). It can therefore be concluded that this particular test in not a valid indicator in discriminating between players of differing ability in a tennis population. It can also be concluded that a light-gate may not be the best stimulus to separate abilities in a tennis-specific environment.