agility

(ə-jĭl'ĭ-tē)
n.
The state or quality of being agile; nimbleness.

[Middle English agilite, from Old French, from Medieval Latin agilitās, from Latin agilis. See agile.]

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Agility is the ability to change body position rapidly and accurately without losing balance. It is important in sports and activities in which opponents or obstacles have to be avoided (e.g. slalom events). It is a basic component of physical fitness. Although its exact nature has not been determined, it depends on muscular power, reaction time, coordination, and dynamic flexibility.

You can use the Illinois Agility Run to evaluate your own agility (figure 3). Mark out two lines 10 metres apart and place four obstacles (e.g. chairs) at regular intervals of 3.3 metres between the lines. Lie prone with your head against the start line and with your hands beside your shoulders. Get a partner to start and time the run. On the command ‘go’, get up and run as fast as possible, following the course shown in the figure. Use the following table to rate your agility:

MALE	FEMALE	RATING
<15.2	<17.0	excellent
16.1	17.9-17.0	good
18.1-16.2	21.7-18.0	average
18.3-18.2	23.0-21.8	fair
>18.3	>23.0	poor

Figure 3 Illinois Agility Run

noun

The quality or state of being mentally agile: agileness, dexterity, dexterousness, nimbleness, quickness. See ability/inability.

n

Definition: nimbleness, deftness (physical or mental)
Antonyms: clumsiness, stiffness

The ability to change body position rapidly and accurately without losing balance. It is important in sports and activities in which opponents or obstacles have to be avoided (e.g. slalom events). It is a basic component of physical fitness. Its exact nature has not been determined, but it does depend on muscular power, reaction time, coordination, and dynamic flexibility. See Illinois agility test.

See words rhyming with "agility."

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