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. 2023 Nov 10;9:106. doi: 10.1186/s40798-023-00650-z

Table 4.

Change-of-direction speed test times (s) reported in male, adolescent rugby league players according to age group, playing level, and playing position

Study Playing level Position Sample size (n) Age (years) 505 Agility Test time right foot (s) 505 Agility Test time left foot (s) L-run Test time (s) Methods
Trials (measure) Equipment
13 years of age
Gabbett et al. [48] Academy All 53 13.2 ± 0.6 2.67 ± 0.20e 3 (best) LG
Till et al. [50] Amateur All NR 13.6 ± 0.2 2.61 ± 0.18 2.60 ± 0.13 – 3 (NR) NR
Academy All NR 13.7 ± 0.1 2.51 ± 0.16 2.50 ± 0.15 –
Elite All NR 13.4 ± 0.3 2.57 ± 0.13 2.56 ± 0.12 –
Till et al. [102] Academy All NR 13.6 ± 0.2 2.57 ± 0.15 2.56 ± 0.13 NR (NR) LG
Outside backs NR 13.7 ± 0.2 2.55 ± 0.15 2.55 ± 0.12
Pivots NR 13.5 ± 0.3 2.56 ± 0.16 2.57 ± 0.17
Props NR 13.6 ± 0.2 2.62 ± 0.12 2.61 ± 0.12
Backs NR 13.7 ± 0.2 2.55 ± 0.12 2.55 ± 0.12
Till et al. [39] Amateur All 50 13.6 ± 0.3 2.58 ± 0.16 2.58 ± 0.15 3 (best) LG
Academy All 32 13.6 ± 0.2 2.49 ± 0.15 2.48 ± 0.13
Elite All 13 13.6 ± 0.3 2.56 ± 0.15 2.50 ± 0.15
Till et al. [51] Academy All 207 13.6 ± 0.3 2.57 ± 0.15 2.57 ± 0.15 – 3 (best) LG
Till et al. [45] Eliteb All 255 13.6 ± 0.3 2.61 ± 0.14 2.59 ± 0.14 – 3 (NR) LG
Elitec All 130 13.7 ± 0.3 2.57 ± 0.14 2.55 ± 0.14 –
Till et al. [8] Amateur All 249 13.6 ± 0.6 2.54 ± 0.15 2.52 ± 0.16 – 3 (best) LG
Academy All 261 13.6 ± 0.6 2.48 ± 0.14 2.47 ± 0.13 –
Elite All 70 13.8 ± 0.7 2.46 ± 0.12 2.42 ± 0.12 –
Till et al. [95] Academy All NR 13.8 ± 0.1 2.57 ± 0.13 2.55 ± 0.11 – 3 (best) LG
14 years of age
Gabbett et al. [47] Academy All 14 14.1 ± 0.3 2.42 ± 0.03e – NR (NR) LG
Gabbett et al. [50] Amateur All NR 14.6 ± 0.2 2.53 ± 0.16 2.52 ± 0.13
Academy All NR 14.7 ± 0.1 2.46 ± 0.12 2.48 ± 0.12
Elite All NR 14.4 ± 0.3 2.48 ± 0.11 2.47 ± 0.10
Gabbett et al. [24] Academy All 23 14.5 ± 0.5 2.89 ± 0.10e – – 2 (best) LG
Elite All 36 14.3 ± 0.9 2.45 ± 0.12e – –
Till et al. [51] Academy All 226 14.6 ± 0.3 2.50 ± 0.16 2.48 ± 0.14 – 3 (best) LG
Till et al. [45] Eliteb All 309 14.6 ± 0.3 2.51 ± 0.15 2.49 ± 0.14 – 3 (NR) LG
Elitec All 86 14.6 ± 0.3 2.46 ± 0.11 2.44 ± 0.12 –
Till et al. [102] Academy All NR 14.6 ± 0.2 2.47 ± 0.10 2.44 ± 0.13 NR (NR) LG
Outside backs NR 14.7 ± 0.2 2.44 ± 0.11 2.43 ± 0.10
Pivots NR 14.5 ± 0.3 2.47 ± 0.11 2.47 ± 0.07
Props NR 14.6 ± 0.2 2.60 ± 0.08 2.59 ± 0.08
Backs NR 14.7 ± 0.2 2.47 ± 0.14 2.46 ± 0.10
Till et al. [39] Amateur All 92 14.6 ± 0.3 2.54 ± 0.17 2.52 ± 0.16 3 (best) LG
Academy All 85 14.6 ± 0.3 2.49 ± 0.15 2.46 ± 0.13
Elite All 18 14.5 ± 0.3 2.42 ± 0.09 2.38 ± 0.09
Till et al. [95] Academy All NR 14.8 ± 0.1 2.46 ± 0.12 2.44 ± 0.12 – 3 (best) LG
15 years of age
Gabbett et al. [48] Academy All 20 15.1 ± 0.6 2.43 ± 0.25e NR (NR) LG
Till et al. [51] Academy All 204 15.5 ± 0.3 2.51 ± 0.14 2.47 ± 0.16 – 3 (best) LG
Till et al. [102] Academy All NR 15.6 ± 0.2 2.47 ± 0.14 2.44 ± 0.13 NR (NR) LG
Outside backs NR 15.7 ± 0.2 2.41 ± 0.11 2.40 ± 0.11
Pivots NR 15.5 ± 0.3 2.46 ± 0.14 2.45 ± 0.12
Props NR 15.6 ± 0.2 2.55 ± 0.17 2.49 ± 0.17
Backs NR 15.7 ± 0.2 2.47 ± 0.14 2.42 ± 0.13
Till et al. [39] Amateur All 107 15.6 ± 0.3 2.52 ± 0.13 2.49 ± 0.16 3 (best) LG
Academy All 144 15.6 ± 0.3 2.50 ± 0.14 2.47 ± 0.15
Elite All 39 15.5 ± 0.3 2.45 ± 0.11 2.42 ± 0.13
Till et al. [45] Eliteb All 306 15.6 ± 0.3 2.48 ± 0.13 2.46 ± 0.14 – 3 (NR) LG
Elitec All 86 15.6 ± 0.3 2.47 ± 0.14 2.45 ± 0.16 –
Gabbett et al. [24] Academy All 28 15.6 ± 0.6 2.85 ± 0.13e – – 2 (best) LG
Elite All 21 15.8 ± 0.3 2.40 ± 0.11e – –
Till et al. [50] Amateur All NR 15.6 ± 0.2 2.48 ± 0.23 2.52 ± 0.19 – 3 (NR) NR
Academy All NR 15.7 ± 0.1 2.46 ± 0.12 2.53 ± 0.14 –
Elite All NR 15.4 ± 0.3 2.41 ± 0.11 2.43 ± 0.09 –
Gabbett et al. [14] Academy All 36 15.6 ± 0.6 2.38 ± 0.16e – 3 (best) LG
Academy Hit-up forwards 15.8 ± 0.7 2.57 ± 0.08e –
Academy Adjustables 15.7 ± 0.4 2.27 ± 0.08e –
Academy Outside backsd 16.1 ± 0.7 2.33 ± 0.12e –
Elite Alld 28 16.0 ± 0.2 2.30 ± 0.13e –
Elite Hit-up forwards 15.9 ± 0.4 2.34 ± 0.15e –
Elite Adjustablesd 16.0 ± 0.2 2.30 ± 0.12e –
Elite Outside backsd 16.0 ± 0.2 2.27 ± 0.12e –
Till et al. [95]e Academy All NR 15.8 ± 0.1 2.44 ± 0.16 2.43 ± 0.14 – 3 (best) LG
Gabbett et al. [38] Academy All 13 15.9 ± 0.6 2.37 ± 0.13e 3 (best) LG
16 years of age
Gabbett et al. [38] Academy All 28 16.0 ± 0.2 2.30 ± 0.13e 3 (best) LG
Gabbett et al. [48] Academy All 15 16.5 ± 0.3 2.37 ± 0.17e NR (NR) LG
Gabbett et al. [47] Academy All 21 16.9 ± 0.3 2.42 ± 0.02e – NR (NR) LG
Gabbett et al. [49] Academy All 36 16.9 ± 0.6 – 5.81 ± 0.3 2 (best) LG
Gabbett et al. [24] Academy All 25 16.9 ± 0.3 2.68 ± 0.20e – – 2 (best) LG
Elite All 18 16.8 ± 0.3 2.36 ± 0.17e – – 2 (best) LG
17 years of age
Pearce et al. [72] Academy All 52 17.2 ± 0.5 – 8.60 ± 0.40 3 (best) LG
Gabbett et al. [22] Academy Props 37 17.6 ± 2.4 – 6.37 ± 0.46 2 (best) LG
Hookers 31 17.3 ± 1.1 – 5.86 ± 0.68
Second rowers 36 17.2 ± 1.8 – 6.10 ± 0.58
Locksd 11 16.5 ± 1.5 – 5.64 ± 0.44
Halfbacksd 27 16.7 ± 1.5 – 6.01 ± 0.57
Five eighthsd 11 16.7 ± 1.6 – 5.71 ± 0.55
Centres 27 17.0 ± 2.3 – 5.89 ± 0.52
Wingers 39 17.7 ± 2.2 – 5.98 ± 0.42
Fullbacks 21 17.4 ± 2.0 – 5.90 ± 0.40
Gabbett et al. [23]a Academy All 36 17.9 ± 0.4 – 5.93 ± 0.64 2 (best) LG
18 years of age
Pearce et al. [72] Academy All 53 18.9 ± 0.6 – 8.7 ± 0.4 3 (best) LG

NR not reported, – not tested, All players combined across all positions, LG electronic light gates used for measuring performance time

aReported 95% confidence intervals, which were converted to standard deviation according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0

bPlayers classified as elite by definition used in this review but as ‘regional’ by the authors

cPlayers classified as elite by definition used in this review but as ‘national’ by the authors

dSample age reported across multiple years, and across various playing positions (data allocated according to weighted mean age)

eFoot selection not identified