Skill-related Fitness Answers

Agility is the ability to rapidly and accurately change direction, whereas balance is maintaining equilibrium and coordination is the smooth integration of multiple body movements.

The various components of skill-related fitness do not exist in isolation. Reaction time in a sport is also dependent upon coordination in order to react to stimuli, just like balance is important in situations relying upon high levels of agility. There is not much point in being highly agile in a sport if a player cannot stay upright through the end of the play or maneuver. These different skills are important to different degrees in different activities, so none of them can be discounted or ignored.

The wall test involves throwing a ball against a wall with one hand and catching it with the opposite hand as it bounces back. It measures the ability of using different body parts in conjunction with one another. While reaction time is somewhat a factor, it is a repetitive, pattern behavior test that makes good coordination a more important factor than agility, power, or speed.

Specificity is important in high-performance sports because training should match the specific movements, skills, muscles, energy systems, and intensity required by the sport or event. Sport-specific practice improves performance more effectively than general training alone.

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