Which method can help assess an athlete's ability to respond quickly?

The ruler drop test is an effective method for assessing an athlete's reaction time and ability to respond quickly. In this test, a ruler is held at a specific height and dropped without warning. The athlete must catch the ruler as quickly as possible after hearing the cue that it has been released. The distance the ruler falls before being caught is measured, which correlates to the athlete's reaction time. This test specifically targets the speed of the athlete’s response to an unpredictable stimulus, making it a direct measure of quickness in terms of reaction.

The other methods listed, while assessing different physical attributes, do not focus primarily on reaction time. The vertical jump test measures explosive leg power and strength, the wall toss test assesses hand-eye coordination and throwing accuracy, and the 40-yard dash is a sprint test that evaluates speed over a distance rather than the immediate reaction to a stimulus. Therefore, the ruler drop test stands out as the most suitable method for evaluating an athlete’s quick response capability.