Agility Testing: Illinois Agility Test

The Illinois Agility Test is popular because it uses simple equipment and includes multiple movement demands: acceleration, turning, weaving and repeated changes of direction.

It is useful for monitoring planned multidirectional movement, but it should not be described as a pure reactive agility test.

Quick Summary

Test name: Illinois Agility Test
Purpose: Assess planned multidirectional agility
What it measures: Sprinting, weaving, turning, deceleration and re-acceleration
Equipment: Eight cones, flat surface, stopwatch or timing gates
Score: Completion time
Key limitation: Pre-planned course with a strong running-speed component

What Is the Illinois Agility Test?

The Illinois Agility Test is a timed course requiring the client to sprint, weave through cones and complete multiple changes of direction. The MAT article describes eight cones or markers, a flat surface and timing to the nearest tenth of a second.  

Why It Is Used

It is used to monitor planned agility and multidirectional running ability. It may be useful when a professional wants to assess how a client combines speed, turning, weaving and body control.

What It Measures

It measures completion time through a fixed course. It may reflect acceleration, deceleration, turning, coordination, anaerobic capacity and familiarity with the course. It does not directly measure reactive decision-making or injury diagnosis.

Who It Is Useful For

It may be useful for field sport athletes, court sport athletes, tactical groups, older adolescents, general fitness clients and later-stage rehabilitation clients who are safe to sprint and turn.

Equipment Required

Use eight cones or markers, a flat non-slip surface, measuring tape, stopwatch or timing gates, and Measurz for recording.

Step-by-Step Protocol / Practice

Set up the course with eight cones according to the selected Illinois Agility Test layout. The client starts at the starting line, sprints to the first marker, weaves through the central cones in the required pattern and finishes by sprinting back across the finish line. Record time from the start signal to crossing the finish line. Complete two to three trials with rest and use the fastest valid score.  

Scoring and Interpretation

The score is completion time. Faster valid times generally suggest better planned multidirectional agility performance.

Interpret the score with movement quality, pain, fatigue, turning control, slipping, sprint ability and confidence. Because the course is longer than some change-of-direction tests, performance may be influenced by linear speed and anaerobic capacity.

Normative Data, Benchmarks or Reference Values

Benchmark level: Level 2 — closest available benchmark.

In 97 young, physically active male U.S. Army servicemembers aged 18–39 years, Illinois Agility Test times were 18.26 ± 1.04 s in session one and 18.18 ± 1.14 s in session two. These values provide context for young active male tactical populations, not universal norms.  

Reliability and Validity

In the same study, the Illinois Agility Test showed excellent interrater reliability r = 0.99, moderate test-retest reliability r = 0.68, SEM 0.65 s and MDC 1.80 s. It also correlated with the T-Test r = 0.75, supporting convergent validity between planned agility tests.  

Sensitivity and Specificity

Sensitivity and specificity are not applicable for routine use because the Illinois Agility Test is a performance test, not a stand-alone diagnostic test.

Common Errors and Limitations

Common errors include incorrect cone spacing, wrong course pattern, missed cones, inconsistent timing, poor footwear, slippery surfaces and comparing results from different layouts.

A key limitation is that the test is planned and relatively long. It does not measure reactive agility, sport decision-making or diagnosis.

Practical Applications

Use it to monitor multidirectional running performance, evaluate training response, support return-to-sport progression and complement 505, T-Test, sprint, hop, balance and strength testing.

How to Record This in Measurz

Record completion time, timing method, course layout, trial number, best score, surface, footwear, pain score, symptoms, confidence, fatigue, invalid trials and movement quality. Note cone contact, wrong turns, slipping, poor deceleration or hesitancy.

Related Tests / Internal Links

Agility T-Test, 505 Agility Test, Edgren Side Step Test, Modified Edgren Side Step Test, 10 m Sprint, lateral hop test and lower-limb strength tests.

FAQs

What does the Illinois Agility Test measure?
It measures planned multidirectional running, weaving, turning and change-of-direction speed.

Is the Illinois Agility Test reactive?
No. The course is known before the test.

What is a good score?
Use matched benchmarks where available. In young active male servicemembers, mean times were around 18.2 seconds, but this should not be used as a universal standard.  

How many trials should be completed?
The MAT article recommends two to three attempts, with the fastest time used.  

Can it diagnose injury risk?
No. It may support assessment reasoning but does not diagnose or clear a condition.

Key Takeaways

The Illinois Agility Test is a practical field test for planned multidirectional running. Use consistent course setup, timing and scoring. Interpret results with movement quality and related performance measures.

References

Raya, M. A., Gailey, R. S., Gaunaurd, I. A., Jayne, D. M., Campbell, S. M., Gagne, E., Manrique, P. G., Muller, D. G., & Tucker, C. (2013). Comparison of three agility tests with male servicemembers: Edgren Side Step Test, T-Test, and Illinois Agility Test. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 50(7), 951–960. https://doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2012.05.0096 

Sheppard, J. M., & Young, W. B. (2006). Agility literature review: Classifications, training and testing. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24(9), 919–932. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410500457109