Agility level trends in beginner beach volleyball players

Abstract

Beach volleyball is a team-based net sport played on an unstable surface that demands explosive, short-duration movements. In this context, agility is a key determinant of athletic performance. The aim of this study was to determine agility trends among beach volleyball players at the school-level introductory stage in Villa Clara province, Cuba. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed involving three groups: two coaches from the Comprehensive School Sports Center, 16 coaches participating in the 2019 National High-Performance School Games, and seven male athletes (aged 13–15) from the provincial Comprehensive School Sports Center. The research was conducted in three stages: document analysis and interviews, selection and adaptation of specific tests via expert consensus, and field assessment. The results showed a general trend of average agility performance across the group. However, a significant deficit was identified in maneuvers toward the left side of the court and in anteroposterior movements (forward and backward), with over 40% of the athletes falling into the low percentile range. It is concluded that directional asymmetries and deficiencies in longitudinal movement patterns exist; coaches should take these factors into account to optimize the planning of specific training.