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Warm-ups should correspond to the biomechanical and physiological nature of the test. Participants should thoroughly warm up prior to the commencement of the test.For example, it may be suggested that the gates are always set at a consistent height of 1 m. When testing, it is therefore imperative that a standardised, consistent protocol is used to reduce variances within the data. The height of the timing gates has also been proven to significantly affect the performance results (4). Important information for using timing gates This setup must be adhered to if accurate and reliable data is desired. Timing gates (preferred, but not essential)įigure 1 displays the test configuration for the Pro-Agility test.Test administrators (minimum of 3 if using a stopwatch).Reliable and consistent testing facility of at least 15 m in length (e.g.If the environment is not consistent, the reliability of repeated tests at later dates can be substantially hindered and result in worthless data.īefore the start of the test, it is important to ensure you have the following items: facility) so that it is protected from varying weather types, and with a dependable surface that is not affected by wet or slippery conditions.

It is important to understand that whenever fitness testing is performed, it must be done so in a consistent environment (e.g. Sports that include any form of rapid directional changes and short-distance accelerations may benefit from including the Pro-Agility test in their fitness testing battery. Pro-Agility Test ApplicationĪs direction changes are so common in many sports, identifying an athlete’s ability to change direction can be a valuable asset towards improving their athleticism (3). Given this, perhaps the name ’5-10-5 shuttle test’ is preferable as this is less misleading and more appropriate.Ĭlick here for more information regarding the difference between agility and CODs. It is used as part of the performance testing battery for the US National Football League (NFL) and US National Hockey League (NHL) combine testing, and for the SPARQ rating for baseball, hockey, and American football.Īs the pro-agility test is pre-planned and requires no reactive ability, this test is actually a measure of CODs and not agility (2). The Pro-Agility Test, otherwise known as the 5-10-5 shuttle or the 20-yard shuttle test was first developed and administered using the protocol outlined by Harmann et al. However, recent knowledge is now strongly criticising this test’s ability to measure change of direction speed due to the influence of the sprint distances. Despite historic beliefs, this test is not a measure of agility and has instead been deemed an assessment of change of direction speed. Used for the NFL and NHL combine testing, and for the SPARQ rating for basketball, hockey and American football, the Pro-Agility (5-10-5) test is an extremely popular protocol. Validity and Reliability of the Pro-Agility Test.
