Alignment is one of the most overlooked responsibilities in player development.

In this episode of the 12 Days of Player Development, Edward Jones II breaks down how alignment through communication shapes the athlete experience across an entire program.

With so many departments influencing athletes, misalignment can quietly derail culture, trust, and effectiveness. This episode introduces a simple but powerful framework to keep everyone moving in the same direction.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What alignment actually looks like in player development

• Why connection is the foundation of trust

• How to communicate strategically with internal and external stakeholders

• Why collaboration turns departments into teammates

• A real story that shows how collaboration creates buy-in

Whether you work in college athletics, high school sports, professional sports, or are preparing for a player development role, this episode will help you lead with clarity and intention.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

Most coaches and player development professionals have asked this question:

“How are you doing?”

And most of the time, the answer is the same:

“I’m good.”

In this episode, I break down 11 simple questions that unlock real, meaningful conversations with athletes and help you move beyond surface-level check-ins.

Drawing from my experience as a Director of Player Development at the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, and Baylor University, I share the exact questions I used to build trust, encourage reflection, and guide athletes toward growth.

You’ll also learn the Present → Past → Future question framework, a simple approach that helps athletes:

• Open up emotionally in the moment

• Reflect on experiences and build identity

• Set goals, take accountability, and create vision

Whether you’re a coach, player development professional, administrator, or someone who works closely with athletes, this episode gives you practical tools you can use immediately.

• Why “How are you?” often shuts conversations down

• How to ask better questions that athletes actually answer

• 11 questions that build trust and accountability

• How to use follow-up questions to keep conversations going

• How intentional conversations create long-term impact

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why “How are you?” often shuts conversations down

• How to ask better questions that athletes actually answer

• 11 questions that build trust and accountability

• How to use follow-up questions to keep conversations going

• How intentional conversations create long-term impact

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

Most coaches and player development professionals have asked this question:

“How are you doing?”

And most of the time, the answer is the same:

“I’m good.”

In this episode, I break down 11 simple questions that unlock real, meaningful conversations with athletes and help you move beyond surface-level check-ins.

Drawing from my experience as a Director of Player Development at the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, and Baylor University, I share the exact questions I used to build trust, encourage reflection, and guide athletes toward growth.

You’ll also learn the Present → Past → Future question framework, a simple approach that helps athletes:

• Open up emotionally in the moment

• Reflect on experiences and build identity

• Set goals, take accountability, and create vision

Whether you’re a coach, player development professional, administrator, or someone who works closely with athletes, this episode gives you practical tools you can use immediately.

• Why “How are you?” often shuts conversations down

• How to ask better questions that athletes actually answer

• 11 questions that build trust and accountability

• How to use follow-up questions to keep conversations going

• How intentional conversations create long-term impact

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why “How are you?” often shuts conversations down

• How to ask better questions that athletes actually answer

• 11 questions that build trust and accountability

• How to use follow-up questions to keep conversations going

• How intentional conversations create long-term impact

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

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.

Day 4 of the 12 Days of Player Development focuses on how to effectively use data for intentional programming.

In this episode, Ed shares a real example from his time at the University of Houston where simple, player driven data led to one of the most successful career development programs he has ever implemented.

Instead of relying on complex analytics or overbuilt systems, Ed explains how understanding player behavior, listening to what athletes actually want, and using practical data points can drive real engagement and impact.

This episode covers:

• Why most player surveys fail

• How to collect meaningful data without overcomplicating it

• How to turn player input into high impact programming

• Why data should guide decisions, not replace judgment

If you work in player development, athlete engagement, or leadership, this episode will help you rethink how you use data to serve athletes better.

Day 3 of the 12 Days of Player Development

Can player development actually help teams win games?

In this episode, Ed Jones II breaks down 8 clear and practical ways player development directly impacts on-field success. This is not theory. These are real systems, behaviors, and habits Ed implemented while working in college football at Houston, Kansas, and Baylor, including during a Big 12 Championship season.

You will learn how mindset, responsibility, leadership, mentorship, communication, effort, learning, and critical thinking all translate from off-the-field development into better execution, better decision-making, and better performance when it matters most.

This episode is especially valuable for:

• Coaches who want an edge beyond scheme and strategy

• Administrators evaluating the role of player development

• Player development professionals looking for language that resonates with coaches

• Anyone who believes winning starts with people

Player development is not extra.
It is an advantage.

Listen in, take notes, and share this episode with someone who still thinks off-the-field work does not impact on-field results.

As always, create generational impact and win on and off the field.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

It’s Day 2 of the 12 Days of Player Development.

In this episode, Ed Jones II speaks directly to coaches who do not have a Player Development Lead and explains why this role is no longer optional in today’s athletic programs.

Drawing from his experience in player development at the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, and Baylor University, Ed breaks down what a Player Development Lead actually does and how this role supports coaches, strengthens culture, develops players beyond sport, and reconnects alumni to the program.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How a Player Development Lead gives coaches their time back

• Why culture strengthens when people feel seen

• How intentional and holistic programming helps players grow into the adults coaches say they want them to be

• Why alumni and former player engagement matters more than most programs realize

Ed also shares his definition of player development and explains why having one person singularly leading these efforts creates clarity, consistency, and long-term impact.

If you are a coach carrying parent communication, culture, alumni engagement, player issues, and everything else on your plate, this episode will help you understand why player development changes everything.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

Welcome to Day One of the 12 Days of Player Development.

Over the next 12 days, I will be breaking down real world player development topics that impact athletes, coaches, staff, and programs at every level. Each episode focuses on an area of player development that often goes overlooked but plays a major role in long term success.

In this episode, I walk through five warning signs your program needs player development. These are not small issues. They are signals that show up when programs are stretched, misaligned, or missing intentional support systems.

We cover:

• Cultural instability and why it happens

• Academic red flags and accountability gaps

• Disconnected former players and alumni breakdowns

• The absence of transition planning for athletes after sport

• Staff overload and why coaches cannot do everything

If you are a coach, administrator, or professional responsible for developing people, this episode is for you.

Make sure you check back daily during the 12 Days of Player Development for new episodes, videos, and insights.

As always, go create generational impact.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

Ed shares lessons learned from his own interview experiences across multiple universities, explains what coaches and administrators are really listening for, and teaches you how to prepare the right way without giving away your entire playbook.

• Why listening is the hidden advantage
How to listen beyond coach speak and recognize the mission, expectations, and values being communicated publicly long before your interview.

• How to research like a professional
The exact research process that separates amateurs from serious candidates, including the role, the coach, the university, the conference, the city, and the student athlete development structure.

• How to plan without oversharing
Why you should never give away your full plan, how to offer surface level solutions that show strategic thinking, and how to identify pain points that help you stand out.

Ed also shares a story about how missing a key research detail once cost him a Chief of Staff opportunity and why preparation and precision matter more than ever in today’s coaching landscape.

Whether you are actively interviewing or preparing for the future, this episode will help you walk into your next opportunity with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why listening is the hidden advantage
How to listen beyond coach speak and recognize the mission, expectations, and values being communicated publicly long before your interview.

• How to research like a professional
The exact research process that separates amateurs from serious candidates, including the role, the coach, the university, the conference, the city, and the student athlete development structure.

• How to plan without oversharing
Why you should never give away your full plan, how to offer surface level solutions that show strategic thinking, and how to identify pain points that help you stand out.

Ed also shares a story about how missing a key research detail once cost him a Chief of Staff opportunity and why preparation and precision matter more than ever in today’s coaching landscape.

Whether you are actively interviewing or preparing for the future, this episode will help you walk into your next opportunity with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8 

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program

In this episode, I walk you through the five player development interviews I had at three different universities and the lessons each one taught me. From getting unexpectedly interviewed in my high school office by Tom Herman, to breaking down my entire job on the spot for Todd Orlando, to being moved back into my true lane by Major Applewhite, to gaining creative freedom with Les Miles, to navigating misalignment at Baylor, every interview shaped my understanding of this profession.

If you work in player development, want to break into the role, or are trying to figure out your next career move, this episode will give you a behind the scenes look at what these interviews are really like, what coaches pay attention to, and the biggest lessons I learned along the way.

BOOK - Get YOUR copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://amzn.to/3TtnaA8

2026 Player Development Summit - https://www.btfprogram.com/pdsummit

2026 Player Development Summit Sponsorship - https://forms.gle/vPucKVKaZmTVcLDq9

Player Development Newsletter → https://substack.com/@btfprogram

🎙 About Ed Jones II:

Founder of Beyond The Field | Author of The Player Development Guide | Host of The Player Development Pod | Creator of the Player Development Summit

Follow Ed:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/btf_program/

Twitter → https://twitter.com/BTF_Program