Purpose: This study systematically reviewed the literature on elite rowers’ training-intensity distribution (TID), volume, periodization, physiological determinants, and performance characteristics. Methods: Three electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science) were searched using relevant terms. Studies investigating and detailing training load (TID, volume, and periodization) and reporting data of physiological determinants or performance in elite rowers were included. Results: Nine studies (N = 82 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Training volume varied between 10 and 31 h·wk^–1, typically being between 14 and 20 h·wk^–1. The pyramidal TID pattern, which involves a progressive reduction in training volume from zone 1 (intensity at or below lactate threshold [LT1]) to zone 2 (intensity between LT1 and LT2, corresponding to blood lactate levels between 2 and 4 mmol·L⁻¹) and zone 3 (intensity above LT2) was most commonly used by elite rowers. Flexible seasonal TIDs were observed, whereby the combined training in zones 2 and 3 approached or exceeded 20%, and zone 1 training comprised more than 50%. Flexible TIDs were associated with greater improvements in physiological determinants and performance. Elite rowers typically employed a traditional periodization model, progressively transitioning from pyramidal toward a polarized TID model as they moved from preparation to competition phases. Conclusions: Elite rowers most commonly adopted a seasonal pyramidal model with variable volume. No evidence suggests that a particular TID or periodization model has a significant advantage. Conversely, TID models do not seem to differentiate training adaptations in rowing training, but specific TID percentages might.

Agility, characterized by rapid whole-body movement in response to external stimuli, is a key performance determinant in team sports owing to its reliance on perception-action coupling. Despite its importance, existing evidence on training effects is disproportionately focused on change-of-direction ability, overlooking the perceptual-cognitive demands of true agility. This systematic review therefore sought to quantify the effects of agility-specific training, examine moderators and establish dose-response model in team-sport players, while accounting for perception-action coupling. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed for peer-reviewed English-language studies. Risk of bias was appraised using a modified Cochrane Collaboration’s tool and study quality was evaluated via a tailored PEDro scale. Effect size (ES) was calculated using Hedge’s g, and dependencies among multiple ESs within studies were addressed through three-level meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses and both linear and non-linear meta-regressions were performed to examine potential moderators and establish dose-response models. Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 26 contributed 53 ESs to quantitative analyses. Agility training produced a large improvement in reactive agility test (RAT) performance (ES = 0.65, p < 0.01), a moderate improvement in pre-planned agility test (PAT) performance (ES = 0.55, p < 0.01), and a non-significant moderate effect in reaction test (RT) outcomes (ES = 0.52, p > 0.05). Training effects were moderated by participants’ characteristics, with junior athletes (ES = 0.77, p < 0.05) and national level athletes (ES = 0.80, p < 0.05) demonstrating greater responses. However, female and mix-gender samples were underrepresented, and the evidence base was dominated by studies in soccer and basketball. Dose-response modelling revealed a curvilinear relationship between training duration and RAT (QM = 11.64, p < 0.01), peaking at 7-8 weeks and a positive linear association between training frequency and RAT (β = 0.172, p < 0.01). No significant relationship was observed between session time and RAT (p > 0.05), although most positive ESs clustered around 20-25 minutes per training session. Agility training exerts a large overall effect on RAT performance in team-sport players, with outcomes moderated by age and training status. Interventions of 7-8 weeks delivered at higher frequency (> 3 times/week) with 20-25 minutes session duration are frequently associated with favorable adaptions. These recommendations, however, should be interpreted cautiously given the moderate-to-low certainty of evidence, high within-study variability, dominance of soccer and basketball samples and potential risk of publication bias.