10×5m Shuttle Run

Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means

The 10x5m Shuttle Run is the Eurofit measure of running speed and agility. Participants run between lines 5 m apart for 10 one-way legs, crossing each line with both feet. Data are from Tomkinson et al. (2018), a pooled analysis of 258,618 test results from children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 in 19 European countries.

How to Perform This Test (Protocol)

Equipment
  • Flat, non-slip surface
  • Two parallel lines, each 1.20 m long, marked 5 m apart with cones at their ends
  • Stopwatch
Protocol Steps
  1. Mark two parallel lines on the floor 5 m apart.
  2. The participant starts with one foot immediately behind one line.
  3. On the start signal, run to the opposite line and cross it with both feet, then turn and return.
  4. Continue for five complete cycles, crossing each line with both feet on every turn.
  5. On the fifth return, run through the finish rather than slowing at the line.
  6. Stop timing when the participant crosses the finish line with one foot.
Scoring

Time to complete five cycles, equal to 10 one-way 5 m legs and 9 direction changes. Record to the nearest tenth of a second. The handbook specifies one test.

Notes

Both feet must cross each line during the first nine crossings. The protocol does not require touching the floor at the turns.

Data source: Tomkinson et al. 2018 (Eurofit) (2018) · n=258.6K About this study

Reference population: Apparently healthy children and adolescents aged 9-17 from 30 European countries (2,779,165 test results across all included tests)

10×5m Shuttle Run Agility

10×5m Shuttle Run Norms Chart by Age and Sex (s)

Age Sex Percentile
5th 25th 50th 75th 95th
9 Male 18.87 21.06 22.94 25.22 29.26
Female 19.83 21.97 23.88 26.30 30.96
10 Male 18.73 20.75 22.44 24.47 28.00
Female 19.78 21.65 23.27 25.25 28.87
11 Male 18.57 20.40 21.92 23.72 26.77
Female 19.57 21.20 22.58 24.23 27.11
12 Male 18.35 20.02 21.40 23.00 25.68
Female 19.43 20.96 22.24 23.75 26.36
13 Male 18.05 19.61 20.88 22.34 24.77
Female 19.32 20.81 22.06 23.53 26.06
14 Male 17.73 19.22 20.43 21.81 24.10
Female 19.27 20.76 22.00 23.46 25.98
15 Male 17.43 18.88 20.05 21.40 23.61
Female 19.26 20.75 22.00 23.46 25.97
16 Male 17.16 18.58 19.73 21.05 23.22
Female 19.25 20.74 21.98 23.44 25.95
17 Male 16.91 18.31 19.45 20.75 22.89
Female 19.24 20.73 21.96 23.43 25.93

What to expect by age group

Typical range (25th to 75th percentile) by age group (s)
Age MalesFemales
9 21.06 to 25.2221.97 to 26.30
10 20.75 to 24.4721.65 to 25.25
11 20.40 to 23.7221.20 to 24.23
12 20.02 to 23.0020.96 to 23.75
13 19.61 to 22.3420.81 to 23.53
14 19.22 to 21.8120.76 to 23.46
15 18.88 to 21.4020.75 to 23.46
16 18.58 to 21.0520.74 to 23.44
17 18.31 to 20.7520.73 to 23.43

Detailed Breakdowns

Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.

Males
91011121314151617
Females
91011121314151617
Age trend (percentiles)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do girls' times barely change from age 13 to 17?

Girls' median times are 22.06 seconds at age 13 and 21.96 at age 17. Boys' medians decrease from 20.88 to 19.45 seconds over the same ages. The source does not explain the pattern.

How is this different from the 4x10m shuttle run used by ALPHA Fitness?

The Eurofit test uses 10 one-way legs of 5 m, for 50 m and 9 direction changes. The ALPHA Fitness test uses 4 one-way legs of 10 m, for 40 m and 3 direction changes. Their procedures and reference values are not interchangeable.

Is P25 interpolated?

Yes. Tomkinson et al. report P20, P30, P70, and P80 but not P25 or P75. This page uses the decimal average of P20 and P30 for P25 and of P70 and P80 for P75, rounded half up to two decimal places.

What fitness components does the 10×5m shuttle run measure?

The Council of Europe handbook classifies the test as running speed and agility. It consists of 10 one-way legs and 9 direction changes, not 20 direction changes. PACER uses a different progressive endurance protocol.

Are these norms applicable outside Europe?

The Tomkinson 2018 dataset pools data from 19 European countries (n=258,618), so these are European youth reference values. They are useful for broad benchmarking in school or sport settings, but country-level norms can differ and they should not be treated as a universal standard.

Related Metrics

Eurofit Battery

This metric is part of the Eurofit, a standardised 9-test battery for children and adolescents aged 6-18.