Ranking Skills With and Without the Ball on the Arrow Agility Test for Soccer Players

Abstract

Agility has been considered the single most important physiological component to differentiate elite soccer players from non-elite players. It is estimated a soccer player will perform approximately 50 turns in varying directions during the course of a game. In addition, dribbling the ball has been found to be one of the most relevant skills for success at the top professional level. PURPOSE: To compare speed with and without the ball on the Arrow agility test to the coach's rank of the players skills. METHODS: Participants aged 10-11 years of age completed 12 trials each, six on the right side of the Arrow agility course and six on the left side of the course, with (dribbling) and without (running) the ball. Times, with and without the ball, for both sides were recorded using timing gates, with the fastest times used for data analysis. A skill index (running time/dribbling time) was calculated, with a higher skill index value interpreted as better ability in controlling the ball. The coach was also asked to provide a subjective ordered rank of the players, based upon the player's technical and tactical ability over a playing season. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant relationship (p <.05) between the rank of the right-and left-side skill indices (rs =.66), as well as the coach's rank and the rank of the right (rs =.40) and left (rs =.35) skill indices. CONCLUSION: The fastest runners are not always the fastest dribblers of the ball, and vice versa. In addition, the best players may not be quickest with and without the ball, which highlights the potential importance of factors such as technical and tactical ability during player identification and selection.