Concept and Implementation of Agility Development in Physical Training

Agility is a multidimensional performance quality that integrates rapid whole-body movement with perceptual information and decision-making. This structured narrative review clarifies the distinction between pre-planned change-of-direction (COD) speed and reactive agility, synthesizes current evidence on training modalities, and translates the evidence into practical program design. Literature published mainly between 2016 and 2026 was identified through PubMed/PubMed Central, Google Scholar, DOAJ, and publisher databases using combinations of agility, change of direction, reactive agility, plyometric training, strength training, and speed-agility-quickness. Peer-reviewed reviews and intervention studies involving athletic populations were prioritized. The evidence indicates that strength training supports force-oriented COD, plyometric and multidirectional training improve braking, reacceleration, and postural control, and sprint or SAQ training supports velocity-oriented COD. Reactive agility requires additional sport-specific stimuli, visual scanning, anticipation, and decision-making. Effective programs are progressive, technically controlled, and integrated with the movement and perceptual demands of the target sport. Agility assessment should therefore pair a standardized COD test with a reactive, sport-representative test rather than treating the constructs as interchangeable.