An Investigation of the Relationship Between Speed and Agility Performance Parameters in Recreational Tennis Players

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to explore the relationship between short-distance speed performance and agility in male and female tennis players who play three times weekly, highlighting the differences in speed and agility based on gender over distances of 5-10 meters. Method: The sample consisted of 20 university students from the Faculty of Sports Sciences, with an average age of 21 ± 1.5 years, equally divided by gender, all regularly participating in tennis training. To assess acceleration, 5m and 10m sprint tests were conducted, alongside the T-Test for agility evaluation. The Pearson Correlation test examined the link between agility and speed, while an independent samples T-test compared gender-specific test scores. Findings: Findings reveal a significant correlation between agility and both 5m (r=.741; p<0.01) and 10m (r=.806; p<0.01) sprint times, indicating a strong relationship between these aspects. Notably, significant differences in agility and sprint times were observed between genders, suggesting inherent performance variances. Conclusion: Consequently, enhancing speed attributes in tennis is believed to significantly boost agility performance. It is recommended that training programs focusing on speed development should be utilized, incorporating these gender differences into the training regime to optimize athlete performance. This study underscores the integral role of speed in improving agility within tennis, advocating for tailored training approaches.