Lack of coordination is a big problem for many athletes. How many times have you seen a good athlete stumble when making a simple cut, performing a new skill, or better yet, try to dance? It happens far too often and it is all due to lack of coordination. The inability to easily coordinate movement affects their footwork and their ability to quickly make the moves that top athletes seem to do naturally. Therefore, no matter what sport you coach, agility training will help develop the balance, coordination and timing that will allow athletes to get to the ball or away from the defender when the game is on the line.

You know that agility training is used to improve foot speed, quickness, acceleration, changing speeds, cutting, starting/stopping, change of direction, and reaction, right? Great! But, did you know that agility training aids in preventing injuries by improving body control through proper movement mechanics? The benefits of agility training are universal.
Here are some amazing agility training drills:

T-Drill:
Set the cones up to look like a T. The athlete starts at the bottom of the T (cone #1). Sprint forward 10 yards to cone #2. At the cone side shuffle left 5 yards to cone #3. Plant at cone #3 and side shuffle 10 yards to cone #4. Plant again at cone #4 and side shuffle 5 yards back to cone #2. Cut at cone #2 and sprint back to the beginning to cone #1.

Funnel Drill:
Need 6 cones. The first 2 cones are next to each other 2 yards apart. Place the cones 3 and 4, 3 yards away form the first 2 and separate them 4 yards apart. Cones 5 and 6 are going to be 3 yards away from cones 3 and 4, and they will be separated 6 yards apart. The cones should form a shape of a funnel.

To start this drill, you should stand in an athletic position in front of cone #1. On a command of a coach or training partner, laterally shuffle to cone #2. Touch the top of cone 2 then sprint diagonally to cone #3, touch, then shuffle to cone #4. Touch cone #4 then sprint diagonally to cone #5, touch and laterally shuffle to cone #6. Touch cone #6 then sprint forward 5 yards to the finish line.

Tennis Ball Drop:
A coach or training partner holds a tennis ball shoulder height. When the ball is released, you must catch the ball before it bounces a second time. The coach/training partner can change the distance they are standing or change the height of where they drop the tennis ball.

Figure 8
Place 2 cones 10 yards apart. You can have your athlete start in a variety of positions (ie. Two-point, 3-point, seated, etc.).
Run a figure eight between the cones, cutting around the outside of the cones. Really work on dropping down low and get a good cut to turn around the cone to perform the figure eight.

Square drill
Place 4 cones 10 yards apart in the shape of a square.
Have your athletes start in a variety of different positions. Start with having them sprint to the first cone, make a sharp cut, shuffle to the next cone, make a sharp cut, back pedal to the next cone, make a sharp cut, then sprint through the last cone.