Differences in the indicators of speed and agility of students of the Faculty of physical education of the 3rd year of study in different years of entering the university

Abstract

Background and purpose. Coordinated movement takes place under the great influence of the CNS and its highest centers, whose numerous functions are still not sufficiently explored. Agility is the ability to maintain body position in a controlled manner with a rapid change of direction during successive movements. The research aim the study was is to determine the speed and changing the direction of movement as well as existing differences between students using the Illinois Agility Test (IAT). 
 Material and method. The research included 114 students divided into 4 groups: I group (2011/12y) =28; II group (2012/13) =30; III group (2015/16) =29; IV group (2016/17) =27., who at the time of measurement corresponded to the 3rd year of study (20-21 years old). The IAT was used to assess motor agility and the averege test results (sec.) and the average movement speed during the test (m/s) were determined.
 Results. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied, which detected statistically significant differences at the multivariate level (Wilks=0.717; F=16312; p<0.002). At the univariate level, there are differences between the IAT results (F=5.827; p<0.001), where the Tukey HSD test confirmed statistically significant result (sec.) differences between the I group of students (Result=16.97sec) with the II group (Result=18.00sec.), with III group (Result=17.71sec.), and with IV group (Result=18.04sec.) for (p<0.05). Using the same methodology, statistically significant intergroup differences in IAT speed (m/s) were recorded (F=6.743; p<0.001), which was confirmed by the Tukey HSD test, only between the I group of students (Speed=3.84m/s) with the II group (Speed=3.61m/s), III group (Speed=3.69m,/s) and for IV group (Speed=3.61m/s) for (p<0.05). 
 Conclusion. Differences between the groups are evident for results (sec.) and speed (m/s) and statistically significant were achieved only between the I group with the II, III and IV group. The best results of the Illinois Agility Test (sec.) and Speed (m/s) were achieved by the students of group I and the weakest students of group IV. Statistically significant differences were not recorded between II, III and IV groups.