Testing Speed and Agility in Elite Tennis Players

Abstract

SPEED AND AGILITY FOR TENNIS IS A MULTIFACTORIAL CONCEPT AND SO REQUIRES AN APPROACH TO TESTING THAT IS BOTH SPORT SPECIFIC AND MULTIFACETED. BY ASSESSING SPEED, ACCELERATION, CHANGE OF DIRECTION, AND REACTIVE AGILITY, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DIFFERENTIATE THOSE FACTORS IN NEED OF SPECIFIC ATTENTION. A CASE EXAMPLE IS PRESENTED TO ILLUSTRATE THIS. TRAINING METHODS SHOULD BE SPORT SPECIFIC IN NATURE AND INTEGRATE BOTH THE PERCEPTUAL MOTOR AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS REQUIRED IN TENNIS.