Evaluate multidirectional agility including forward, lateral, and backward movement speed.
Multidirectional Agility Test
Test Objective
To measure multidirectional agility: the speed of forward, lateral, and backward movement, combined with rapid changes of direction.
⚙️ Required Equipment
A flat surface (hardwood floor, grass, tartan track, etc.).
4 cones.
A precise stopwatch (or photoelectric cells / timing gates).
A measuring tape.
Result recording sheet.
Course Setup
Diagram representation:
B
●
|
| 5 m
|
A———●———C
|
| 5 m
|
D
Distances:
A to B: 10 m
B to C: 5 m (lateral)
B to A: 5 m (lateral)
A to D: 5 m (backward return)
Test Protocol
The athlete starts behind cone A, in a stationary start position.
On the start signal, they execute the following sequence:
Sprint in a straight line (forward) to cone B.
Shuffle laterally (side-step) to the right toward cone C.
Shuffle laterally to the left toward cone A.
Return laterally to the center (cone B).
Finally, backpedal (run backward) to the starting line (cone D).
The total time is measured from the initial start signal until the final crossing of the finish line.
Evaluation
The total time is recorded in seconds (e.g., 10.4 s).
This test measures the athlete's capacity to:
Accelerate and decelerate efficiently.
Move laterally at high speed.
Change direction rapidly.
Coordinate complex biomechanical movements.
✅ Recommendations
Conduct a proper warm-up consisting of agility drills, lateral shuffling, and crossover steps.
The athlete must maintain a forward-facing posture throughout the lateral and backward movements (strictly no crossing of the feet during lateral shuffles and no turning around to run forward during the backward phase).
Keep the hips low (low center of gravity) and maintain an active posture to optimize movement transitions.
Use manual or electronic timing depending on the available resources.