Exploration Of The Effecitiveness Of Racket Shadow Training On Enhancing Footwork Agility In Badminton Athletes

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effect of shadow racket training on improving agility in badminton among students participating in extracurricular badminton activities at MTs Al Gaotsyiah Kamal. Agility is one of the essential components of physical fitness in badminton, as the sport requires players to move quickly, accurately, and efficiently while being able to change direction rapidly. Therefore, an effective training method is needed to support students' movement skills, one of which is shadow racket training.The research involved 30 students selected through a total sampling technique from participants in the badminton extracurricular program. This study employed an experimental method with a pretest-posttest one-group design, which involved administering agility tests before and after the training intervention. The agility measurement instrument used was the shuttle run test. The shadow racket training program was implemented over multiple sessions with structured and consistent intensity.The results revealed a significant improvement in agility test scores after students completed the shadow racket training program. Data analysis indicated that shadow racket training contributed positively to enhancing students’ speed and directional change response during play. These findings confirm that shadow racket training is an effective and practical method that is easy to apply and aligns with the developmental needs of school-level badminton athletes. Therefore, shadow racket training is recommended as an optimal training method to improve agility in school-based badminton programs.