Lesson 15: Final Report

Jalen Holston | jalenh4@vt.edu

Introduction:
This evaluation project will be used to find effectiveness of Virginia Tech’s Fall Redshirt
Weightlifting Program, what areas could be improved within the program, and if the players are
benefitting from the program. The program is used to develop younger players to be ready to
compete at peak level. Virginia Tech’s fall weight training program is employed throughout the
entire fall semester from August to December 2021. The findings from this evaluation will
determine if the program is meeting the standards, needs changes, and developing redshirting
players.

Background:
Virginia Tech football’s strength and conditioning program is a department within the
team that strives to get the athletes they work with stronger, recover from injury faster, to find
new ways to help their athletes perform at their best. Virginia Tech’s fall redshirt weight training
program is held for an entire semester and workouts are held on campus in Virginia Tech’s
Merryman Center. Virginia Tech’s fall weight training program is held three days out of the
week (Sunday, Thursday, and Friday) and continue every week up until the end of the regular
season. The strength staff will provide ground base exercises, track miles per hour, and yardage
ran for redshirting players. The strength staff within the team has great importance as their work
directly impacts the production output and overall success on the field of the athletes. Some
incoming players take a redshirt year in order to preserve their playing eligibility during their
career. The new rule in college sports lets redshirt players participate in up to four games without
counting towards their eligibility, so it is very likely they have to still be prepared to play during
the season. This opportunity gives them more time to prepare and get extra work with strength
coaches to transform their bodies to be ready to perform at its peak

Purpose:
The evaluation will be a formative evaluation. This evaluation of the program will help to
find data on if the redshirt players participating are being benefitting, what could be improved,
and to find what isn’t working well and what is working well within Virginia Tech’s fall redshirt
weight training program. Once the evaluation is concluded, the results will be used to show the
findings that seek to help improve the Virginia Tech fall weight training program

Guiding/Key Questions:
  KQ1: How well is the Virginia Tech’s fall redshirt weight training program being
implemented?
 KQ2: How effective are the workouts/training sessions within the Virginia Tech fall
redshirt weight training program?
 KQ3: How could the Virginia Tech redshirt weight training program be improved?

Stakeholders:
This is the person who will use the information from my evaluation. Their job
responsibility gives them the ability to make changes and decisions that will benefit the student
athlete. They have direct involvement in weight training programs. (Ben Hilgart – Virginia Tech
Football’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, primary stakeholder)
This group will be my secondary stakeholders. By completing this evaluation, I am
allowing the head coach to reevaluate the work of the weight training program. He can adjust or
changes to make sure the program is beneficial. The redshirting players can also reevaluate
themselves as they translate the work in the weight room to on the field. (Justin Fuente –
Virginia Tech’s Head Football Coach, secondary stakeholder) (Redshirting football players –
players on Virginia Tech’

Sample/Sampling Strategy:
The sample for this evaluation will be obtained by giving surveys to the student-athletes
who participate in Virginia Tech’s redshirt weight training programs. The participants in the
weight training program will be the redshirting freshman class and the instructors are Virginia
Tech’s fall redshirt weight training staff. The freshman class will be the population. The class is
represented by 28 student-athletes, but I will only be using data of 10 to 15 players as some will
burn their redshirt. I will be random sampling by selecting random players from the team to get
the 10 to 15 players. At the end of the semester, the student-athletes will receive a survey of
question via email that ask about the Virginia Tech Fall redshirt weight training program.

Data Collection Methods and Instrumentation:

I will collect the needed data by conducting surveys and using collected data. Surveys
will be given via email. The surveys will serve as an instrument to help me get a better
understanding of how the program could be improved and how do players feel about the
program. The survey will consist of 15 questions about the program and give redshirt players the
opportunity to give their own opinionated statements. I also wanted to include the collected data
weighting lifting maxes and body weight numbers. All of this data is recorded throughout the
program. The survey is located in the Appendix B section of the report.
Logistics and Timeline:
For this evaluation to be completed before deadlines, I have to conduct it in a timely manner. I
will collect all the emails of all the players who participate in the redshirt weight training
program. I will email the student-athletes the survey I have created. This needs to be done so
they will have access to complete the survey efficiently. The student-athletes have to participate
in the survey. The student-athletes’ responses to the survey give me feedback, opinions, and their
thoughts towards the program in order to improve it. After the surveys have been completed, I
will be able to analyze the data from their surveys. Once I have analyzed and organized data, I
will then report with the strength staff and update them. I will report the results to my
stakeholders.

Task Target Completion Responsible Person Required Resource

Date

Develop evaluation plan 10/15/2021 Evaluator Evaluation plan

template

Survey completion 11//30/2021 Evaluator, redshirt Time, Redshirt

players players, survey

Analyze collected data 12/1/2021 Evaluator Survey data

Staff report update meeting 12/3/2021 Evaluator, instructors Data, time, notes

Report to stake holders 12/5/2021 Evaluator, stakeholders Evaluation reports,

data

Budget:
This evaluation will cost little to no money as I have all the resources I need for the evaluation.
Considering that I am currently a student-athlete inside Virginia Tech athletics, I have access to
all facilities, equipment, staff, and participants within this evaluation. I will not have to pay any
fees to get my evaluation completed. Surveys that I will design will be created with Google
Forms which is free of cost to make.
Limitations:
With completing this evaluation, I was aware of the limitations that could be presented. A
major limitation within this evaluation could be the failed effort to collect enough responses from
the players. The players have busy schedules between class and practice time and can sometimes
have things slip their minds often. I assumed that this would hinder the evaluation, but I sent
reoccurring emails to players so they would be reminded. Timing could also be a major factor.
For this evaluation, I was depending on participants to do their surveys in time for me to
complete the evaluation. I was able to get the responses I needed and the participation expected.
Results:
In this study, I was able to obtain participation from 10 Virginia Tech football players
that participated in the Virginia Tech fall redshirting weight training program. I was able to
obtain all emails of the players who participated in the program. I randomly selected who would
receive a survey on the team. I created a 15-question survey and sent it to the participants. In the
survey, I asked the football players to answer open ended questions and multiple-choice
questions. From these surveys, I was able to collect data and players thoughts while in the
program. From observing the data, I found that most participants had a positive outlook on the
program and how it has affected them as an athlete in the football program. From the open-ended
questions, I was able to find positives, negatives, strengths, and weaknesses within the Virginia
Tech fall redshirt weight training program. The data I collected shows that Virginia Tech’s fall
weight training program is impactful, effective, and benefits the players within the program.
Below is the data I have collected from the surveys:

 1) Describe how you feel your athletic development has changed since beginning in
Virginia Tech’s Fall Redshirt weight training:
o I have become faster and stronger. I can move better since coming off injury
o liked it
o I enjoy this program as it allowed me to achieve my true potential as a student
athlete in the weight room.
o Overall, the program transformed me into the player I needed to be to compete on
a D1 playing field. I feel like without this program, I either would’ve never
reached my full potential as an athlete or it just would’ve taken much longer.
o I feel like the weightlifting program has allowed me to become bigger, faster, and
stronger physically and mentally in preparation for the next season.
o I felt like it was helpful in many ways; however, the program has many
weaknesses.
o I think it’s good it helps with strength and health
o Good
o I’ve gotten stronger and faster
 o I really liked the redshirt weight training program. We had a great atmosphere,
accompanied by amazing coaches which helped us to push beyond our limits. I
would recommend it to other athletes.
o I have gotten stronger, faster, explosive, and more agile with my movements.
 2) What did you like most about the program?
o I get to learn new workouts, hang out with my teammates, and see who’s the
strongest
o getting stronger
o Being around my teammates while learning proper techniques
o The best part of the program was learning new things about lifting and my own
body. I was really exposed to all my strengths and weaknesses through the
program which was really helpful in my development
o The best part of the program for me was just attacking every day and push myself
to be better with all my teammates around me.
o The best time in the program was when the coaches, trainers, and staffing
members actually cared. Times when we felt good and encouraged.
o When maxing out in big heavy weight
o The communication
o The intensity during workouts
o One of the best parts was BIG Squat Friday plus prawlers afterwards and then
Saturday off. That was always really satisfying.
o Each Coach is supportive and encouraging and wants the best for each person.
 3) What didn’t you like about the program?
o Lifting before meetings in the morning
o working out while being injured
o Early mornings, timing
o I wouldn’t call it the worst, maybe the hardest but just allowing myself to be
pushed to new limits that I didn’t think I was capable of.
o My worst parts about the program was when no one would listen to my story and
hear me out.
o When I was really tired and had to wake up early to do it
o N/A
o Nothing
o I didn't really have a time that was bad.
o Nothing at all
 4) How could Virginia Tech’s Fall redshirting weight training program be improved to
serve its participants better?
o Add a meal prep plan
o Change lifting times
 o Let injured athletes take time off
o make sure everyone is 100%
o Allow athletes to schedule their timing according to their schedules
o I think if nutrition plans were integrated, that would have made it even better.
o I thought the program was very efficient and allow me too push myself each and
every day, I don’t really see no specific areas where their needed to be
improvement.
o They could improve to serve there participants better by hiring better staff that
actually cares for the athletes and will do what is in their best interest at all times.
o I don’t know
o Continue to acknowledge and teach the VT standard.
 5) What is your current weight?
o 179
o 180
o 208
o 221- 223
o 185
o 193
o 225
o 310
o 304
o 220
 6) What is your max bench?
o 184
o 198
o 220
o 230
o 209
o 210
o 228
o 365
o 294
o Around 325-335 most likely
 7) What is your max squat?
o 550
o Around 475 most likely
o 615
  8) Virginia Tech’s Fall Redshirt weight training program was well prepared in teaching
various lifting and running workouts.
o Very Satisfied –
o Satisfied – 5
o Neither – 1
 9) Virginia Tech’s fall redshirt weight training program instructed workouts to a clear
understanding.
o Strongly agree – 6
o Agree – 5
 10) The weight training staff showed a clear translation of how performing the workouts
would transition to benefits on the field.
o Strongly Agree – 9
o Agree – 2
 11) I received useful feedback on my performances in workouts during my time in the
program
o Strongly Agree – 8
o Agree – 2
o Neutral – 1
 12) I have become faster and stronger since completing Virginia Tech’s Fall weight
training program.
o Strongly agree – 5
o Agree – 5
o Neutral – 1
 13) Virginia Tech’s weight training staff encouraged me to perform workouts and
responded to questions I had
o Strongly agree – 8
o Agree – 1
o Neutral – 1
 14) Virginia Tech’s weight training staff within the program encouraged me to do my
best when performing workouts.
o Strongly agree – 8
 15) I would recommend Virginia Tech’s fall weight training program to future redshirting
players
o Strongly agree – 8
o Agree – 2
o Neutral – 1

Discussion & Recommendations:

 The data I received from the survey allowed me to have evidence for my findings in the
evaluation. Most participants in the survey showed a positive attitude towards the program. I was
able to find positive and negative insights. I feel that the negatives that were stated in the data
could be transformed into positives with a few changes being made to the program. From the
data, it is obvious that the program is beneficial, helpful, and impactful to those who participate
in it. There could be small steps into changing the program like adding nutrition information,
giving the option to allow participants to select a time to work out, or any other things the survey
responses suggested. I believe if the program makes some minor changes with the feedback of
those who are in it, then it will see even better results and outputs. After observing and analyzing
the data, I recommend that Virginia Tech’s fall redshirt weight training program be continued.
Ultimately, I believe that Virginia Tech’s fall redshirt weight training program is very beneficial.
Appendix B:

Open ended questions: The following are open ended question intended to have written
thoughtful answers. Please answer each question to the best of your ability and feel free to
be honest.
1) Describe how you feel your athletic development has changed since beginning in
Virginia Tech’s Fall Redshirt weight training.
2) What did you like most about the program?
3) What didn’t you like about the program?
4) How could Virginia Tech’s Fall redshirting weight training program be improved to serve
its participants better?
5) What is your current weight?
6) What is your max bench?
7) What is your max squat?

Multiple choice: Please answer each of the following questions by choosing one option
1) Virginia Tech’s Fall Redshirt weight training program was well prepared in teaching
various lifting and running workouts.
a. Very satisfied
b. Satisfied
c. Neither
d. Not satisfied
2) Virginia Tech’s fall redshirt weight training program instructed workouts to a clear
understanding.
a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Neither
d. Disagree
 e. Strongly Disagree
3) The weight training staff showed a clear translation of how performing the workouts
would transition to benefits on the field.
a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Neither
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
4) I received useful feedback on my performances in workouts during my time in the
program
a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Neither
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
5) I have become faster and stronger since completing Virginia Tech’s Fall weight training
program.
a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Neither
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
6) Virginia Tech’s weight training staff encouraged me to perform workouts and responses
to questions I had
a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Neither
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree
7) Virginia Tech’s weight training staff within the program encouraged me to do my best
when performing workouts.
a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Neither
d. Disagree
e. Strongly Disagree