AN EXAMINATION OF AGILITY AMONG FOOTBALL, HOCKEY AND CRICKET INTERUNIVERSITY PLAYERS

Abstract

Sheppard & Young (2006) offered a categorical definition of agility: ‘rapid whole-body movement with change of velocity or direction in response to a stimulus’. In the context of team sports, agility therefore comprises not only change of direction abilities but also perception and decision-making. Agility in the context of team sports is multifactorial (Gamble, 2011). Keeping this fact in mind researcher has made all efforts to find out the difference in agility factor among Cricket, Football, Hockey interuniversity players.

       The study was delimited to the female interuniversity players of  Dr. R.M.L.Avadh University, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. Their age ranged from 18 to 25 years. It is hypothesized that there will not be any significant difference in agility factor among players selected for the study. The study was designed to compare the agility factor among Cricket, Football, Hockey interuniversity players of Dr. R.M.L.Avadh University, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. The 16 players of each team were selected made the sample size of 48 for this study. Shuttle run of 10x4Mtr. was used for getting data on agility (speed, body control and the ability to change direction) of the subjects. The time (in sec.) taken in completing this exercise were recorded as their score in this test. The study revealed that significant differences exist between cricket team players and hockey team player & hockey team player and football team players were found to be significantly related whereas cricket team players and football team players was not found to be significantly related. It is also evident from the data that the agility level was highest for cricket team players fallowed by football team players and hockey team player.

Key words: - Cricket, Football, Hockey and interuniversity players.