Quantifying the difference between male and female agility in football players: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesThe study aimed to establish a normative reference value for the agility T-test and Illinois test in football players, on the basis of sex and playing position. DesignCross-sectional study. SettingHimachal Pradesh Football Association and Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital-Himachal Pradesh. Participants138 football players including 69 male and 69 female players aged 18–25 years were included. Main outcome measuresIllinois and agility T-test. ResultsNormative values of male and female player's are established for agility T-test 10.06 ± 0.87; 11.27 ± 0.84 and for Illinois test were 15.56 ± 0.80; 17.75 ± 1.37 s, respectively. Mann Whitney U- test was used to compare the agility of both sexes and showed a significant difference (p-value <0.001) in male and female players. Intra-rater reliability was checked for between trials and revealed excellent reliability with greatest single measure ICC (0.972) and average measure ICC (0.936) for Illinois test and single measure ICC (0.891) and average measure ICC (0.903) for agility T-test. ConclusionBoth agility tests concluded that female players are statistically and clinically less agile than male players. Similar results were found when agility was compared according to playing position. On the basis of sex, midfielders are more agile compared with other playing position.