It’s Day 5 of the 12 Days of Player Development.

One of the biggest challenges in player development is getting athletes to show up to programming when it is not mandatory. This episode answers a real question from Jessie Martinez, who works with high school athletes at IMG and attended the 2025 Player Development Summit.

Ed breaks down how he approached non mandatory programming at the collegiate level and shares practical strategies that consistently increased attendance without forcing buy in.

In this episode, you will learn:
• Why programming fails when it is built around staff priorities instead of athlete needs
• How to use language and framing to increase attendance
• Why food, timing, and perceived value matter
• How to involve coaches so attendance becomes cultural
• Why focusing on the middle group of athletes matters more than chasing everyone
• How parents and former players can support engagement

This episode is especially helpful for player development professionals, coaches, administrators, and anyone responsible for off the field programming.

This is part of the 12 Days of Player Development series, where Ed answers real questions with real experience.

As always, go create generational impact. Don’t wait. Create it today.