The team agility plus test: A novel three-dimensional approach for assessing agility in multidirectional sports.

AIM: This study established the concurrent validity, intrinsic reliability, sensitivity, and discriminant validity of the Team Agility Plus Test (TAPT), a novel three-dimensional agility assessment integrating horizontal change-of-direction movements with sport-specific vertical jump components to address the ecological validity gap in traditional two-dimensional agility testing.

METHODS

One hundred and nine athletes (age: 19.95 ± 1.17 years, height: 1.73 ± 0.07 m, mass: 64.69 ± 7.48 kg, BMI: 21.51 ± 1.88 kg⋅m-2) from multidirectional sports participated. Participants completed the TAPT, T-test, Modified-T-test, 10-m-sprint, and counter-movement jump in a randomized order, with the best of five trials used for analysis.

RESULTS

TAPT scores correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with other tests (r: -0.34 - 0.79). Test-retest reliability was excellent across groups (ICC[3,1]: 0.96-0.97). SEM% values (1.64-1.67 %) were below the smallest worthwhile change (SWC0.2), and CV% values were also <5 %. Bland-Altman 95 % limits of agreement ranged from 0.03 to 0.07 s. The TAPT discriminated between sexes (AUC: 0.76, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The TAPT addresses limitations of existing horizontal-only assessments by incorporating three-dimensional movement patterns that reflect actual game demands, where athletes perform 10 to 50 jumps per match depending on sport specialization. This three-dimensional approach, combined with strong criterion and ecological validity, excellent reliability, good sensitivity, and successful sex discrimination, positions the TAPT as a comprehensive evaluation tool for athletes in multidirectional sports where both horizontal agility and vertical explosiveness are critical.