About Quickness Agility Drills
Agility drills are an important part of fitness and sports training. Athletes must be ready for the rigorous demands of their sport, no matter what discipline they practice. Working on their agility will help improve their overall performance.
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Purpose of Agility Drills
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The purpose of these drills is to test and improve your agility. No matter what sport you play, it is beneficial to be able to change direction in a quick and controlled manner. These tests help you improve your balance and coordination, which is also needed during competition. Ample practice with agility drills can improve your overall health and help you avoid some sports injuries.
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Shuttle Run
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The shuttle run requires you to quickly move between two points. To set up for this drill, create a starting line and a second line marked off with tape or cones 30-feet apart. At the second line, place two lightweight blocks or other objects that are easy to grab. The participant must start with his body behind the starting line. At the start, he must run to the second line, pick up one object, run back and place it behind the starting line, then do the same with the second object. This event is timed for record-keeping purposes.
Stay as low as possible when running to make it easier to pick up the objects. Also, when you pick up the second object, sprint through the finish line to get the best time possible.
Ladder Drill
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The ladder drill helps improve your coordination, foot speed and balance along with your agility levels. To do this drill, put a rope or tape ladder on a field or practice area. The ladder sections need to be large enough for participants to place both their feet in each section and jump out without tripping over the sides. You can change the length of your ladder depending on how hard you want it to be.
A lot of variations are available to this test to keep it challenging. The lateral feet and in-out drill are examples. As you practice these drills, pay attention to your form. Staying under control helps your training efforts.
Who Uses Agility Drills?
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Baseball, basketball, tennis and football players are just a few examples of athletes who practice their agility. Non-athletes can also use these drills to help with their balance and overall muscle strength.
Exercises to Improve Agility
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Add workouts to your daily routine to help with your agility. Walking lunges, shuffle steps and exercises using a wobble board will help you improve. Include proper warm-up techniques such as walking on your toes and jumping on one foot to avoid injury.
References
- Photo Credit "Asseco Prokom vs Armani Jeans" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: robertpaulyoung (Robert Young) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
