Purpose:​ An increase in traction between the shoe and a playing surface can result in increased forces to be absorbed by the structures of the lower extremity. Alternately, decreased traction causes impaired performance. We hypothesized that changes in the coefficient of friction (CoF) will affect subjective and objective measures of performance for an agility maneuver.

Methods:​ Thirty subjects were asked to perform a functional agility maneuver under CoF conditions from 0.3 to 0.7. Subjects performed this agility maneuver over a force plate and were asked to complete a questionnaire evaluating their ability to perform the task under various CoF conditions.

Results:​ Time to complete the task decreased as CoF increased (from 3.1 ± 0.6 s at CoF 0.3 to 2.6 ± 0.5 s at CoF 0.5). Peak force, CoF max force plate, and subjective score all increased as CoF increased up to 0.5. CoF of 0.5 or above did not significantly change the subject’s ability to perform the cutting maneuver either subjectively or objectively.

Conclusions:​ The CoF of 0.5 was deemed adequate to complete the task for this study. Values above CoF 0.5 did not lead to better performance. More studies are needed to build on these findings to establish criteria on safe shoe–surface interactions in athletic practice and play