The Player Development Pod

When a group of athletes starts making poor choices, creating cliques, becoming negative, or separating themselves from the rest of the team, you may be looking at more than a discipline problem.

You may have a belonging problem.

In this episode, Edward Jones II continues the Belonging portion of the BEYOND Player Development Framework by breaking down the warning signs that athletes are becoming disconnected from the program.

Edward shares the story of a freshman class that struggled during its first weeks on campus. After being heavily recruited and constantly contacted by coaches, the newcomers arrived and quickly felt like the program had moved on to recruiting the next class.

That disconnect started showing up in their actions.

The solution was not simply more discipline. Edward and the program strengthened their Big Brother system, established clear expectations for veteran players, and created consistent check-ins between newcomers and established members of the team.

Edward also discusses another common belonging challenge: athletes who are not traveling or playing significant roles.

When athletes begin thinking in terms of "them versus us," leaders need to pay attention.

In this episode, you'll learn how to recognize warning signs such as:

• Groups consistently making poor choices together

• Cliques developing within the team

• Negative comments from disconnected athletes

• Non-travel or scout-team players separating themselves from the program

• Newcomers feeling forgotten after the recruiting process ends

• Athletes believing attention and value are reserved for starters

• Influential players pulling others toward a negative team culture

The goal is not to eliminate every bad decision. Athletes will still make individual choices.

The goal is to recognize when repeated behaviors are revealing something deeper about the athlete experience.

Sometimes what looks like a behavior problem is actually a belonging problem.

Find the disconnect.

Address it early.

Remind athletes that they are seen, valued, heard, and necessary to the success of the program.

This episode is part of the Belonging series within the BEYOND Player Development Framework:

B: Belonging

E: Education

Y: Your Purpose

O: Opportunities

N: Navigation

D: Development Systems

To learn more about the BEYOND Player Development Framework or bring Edward Jones II in to work with your program, complete the BEYOND Framework Assessment using the link in the episode notes.

Developing People. Elevating Programs.

Get YOUR SIGNED copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://forms.gle/AJozwnjEw4UHNaH29

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

Complete the BEYOND Framework Assessment https://forms.gle/CC6DoBQGF8UkJj5h6

What does it actually take for an athlete to feel like they belong?

In this episode, Edward Jones II continues the Belonging portion of the BEYOND Player Development Framework by breaking down three foundational elements every athletic program should consider:

Seen. Valued. Heard.

Being seen can be as simple as knowing an athlete's name, acknowledging them when they walk into the building, and recognizing progress that may never appear on the scoreboard.

Being valued means athletes know they matter beyond their athletic performance. It means being honest with them, respecting their goals and backgrounds, and having difficult conversations when necessary because you genuinely care about their future.

Being heard means creating opportunities for athletes to communicate what they are experiencing, what they need, and what they believe could improve their experience. Listening does not mean agreeing with every request, but athletes should know their voices matter.

Edward shares real examples from his player development career, including difficult career conversations with athletes, advocating for players during fall camp, and how listening to a player during COVID helped create an experience that brought a team closer together.

This episode challenges coaches, athletic directors, administrators, and player development professionals to ask:

Are the athletes in your program truly seen?

Do they know they are valued?

Do they believe they are being heard?

Belonging is not created through one team-building activity or one motivational speech. It is reinforced through everyday interactions that tell athletes, "You matter here."

If you want to strengthen belonging in your program, start with these three areas:

Seen. Valued. Heard.

To learn more about the BEYOND Player Development Framework or get support implementing it in your program, complete the BEYOND Assessment using the link in the episode notes.

Developing People. Elevating Programs.

Get YOUR SIGNED copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://forms.gle/AJozwnjEw4UHNaH29

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

Complete the BEYOND Framework Assessment https://forms.gle/CC6DoBQGF8UkJj5h6

Do the athletes in your program actually feel like they belong?

Belonging is more than team chemistry. It is a foundational part of the athlete experience and the first component of the BEYOND Player Development Framework.

In this episode, Edward Jones II begins a deeper breakdown of belonging and challenges coaches, athletic directors, administrators, and player development professionals to think intentionally about how athletes feel inside their programs.

Drawing from his experience at the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, Baylor University, and Beyond The Field, Edward explains why belonging matters and how easily athletes can become disconnected, especially during injuries, role changes, redshirt seasons, and the transition from being heavily recruited to becoming another member of the roster.

This episode focuses on two important reflection questions:

• How do you want athletes to feel when they are part of your program?

• Where in your program are athletes most likely to feel disconnected?

Edward also discusses why coaches and player development professionals cannot assume athletes know they are valued. Programs must identify the moments where disconnection is most likely to happen and intentionally reinforce belonging in those spaces.

Whether an athlete is a starter, injured, on the scout team, redshirting, or adjusting to a new environment, every athlete should understand that they have value within the program.

Belonging does not happen by accident.

It must be intentionally created, communicated, and reinforced.

This episode begins the Belonging portion of the BEYOND Player Development Framework, with more practical strategies coming in the next episode.

Developing People. Elevating Programs.

Get YOUR SIGNED copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://forms.gle/AJozwnjEw4UHNaH29

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

Complete the BEYOND Framework Assessment https://forms.gle/CC6DoBQGF8UkJj5h6

Your network is your next opportunity.

In this special episode of the Player Development Podcast, Edward Jones II takes you inside a live Beyond The Field workshop with the Duke University Football program focused on networking, LinkedIn, career development, and communicating who you are beyond the game.

Ed's message to the athletes is simple:

Don't wait until you need an opportunity to start building relationships.

Networking is an action, a process, and something that must continually be developed.

Drawing from his career in coaching, player development, and athletics, Ed shares how relationships helped create opportunities throughout his own journey and teaches Duke student-athletes how they can intentionally begin building their networks today.

The conversation goes beyond theory.

Ed walks the players through how to leverage Duke's alumni network on LinkedIn, identify professionals based on career interests and location, create meaningful connections, and develop an elevator pitch that serves as their "verbal highlight tape."

The athletes then put it into practice by developing and delivering their own elevator pitches in 60 seconds, 30 seconds, 15 seconds, and eventually just seven seconds.

You'll hear why being concise matters, how athletes can shift conversations beyond football, and why a simple conversation today could create an opportunity years from now.

One principle drives the entire conversation:

"When opportunity comes, it's too late to prepare."

You prepare for opportunities before they arrive.

Build relationships.

Ask questions.

Cast the net.

Work the net.

And remember: your network may become your next opportunity.

This episode is especially valuable for student-athletes, coaches, player development professionals, athletic administrators, and anyone helping athletes prepare for life beyond sports.

Developing People. Elevating Programs.

Get YOUR SIGNED copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://forms.gle/AJozwnjEw4UHNaH29

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

Complete the BEYOND Framework Assessment https://forms.gle/CC6DoBQGF8UkJj5h6

Fall camp is one of the most demanding seasons in college athletics—not just for athletes and coaches, but for player development professionals as well.

In this episode of The Player Development Pod, Edward Jones II shares a practical survival guide for navigating the intensity of fall camp. From supporting athletes through physical and mental challenges to managing expectations, relationships, and daily chaos, this episode is designed to help player development professionals make their greatest impact when their programs need them most.

Whether you're entering your first fall camp or your fifteenth, you'll walk away with practical strategies to lead with excellence, care for your athletes, support your coaching staff, and avoid burnout yourself.

In this episode you'll learn:

Why fall camp is one of the most important opportunities for player development.

How to earn trust with athletes during stressful moments.

The role of player development when emotions and pressure are at their highest.

Practical ways to support coaches without becoming another problem they have to solve.

Daily habits that will help you survive—and thrive—through camp.

Why your presence during fall camp can shape the culture of your program for the entire season.

If you're a Director of Player Development, Director of Student-Athlete Development, football operations professional, coach, or aspiring player development professional, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to The Player Development Pod for weekly conversations, strategies, and insights that help you develop people and elevate programs.

Want to go deeper?

Grab your copy of The Player Development Guide for practical frameworks, strategies, and tools to build a world-class player development program.

Get YOUR SIGNED copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://forms.gle/AJozwnjEw4UHNaH29

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

Complete the BEYOND Framework Assessment https://forms.gle/CC6DoBQGF8UkJj5h6

Before fall camp, training camp, and the new school year begin, this episode is dedicated to the people serving athletes behind the scenes.

Whether you work in player development, student-athlete development, academics, community engagement, player services, coaching, athletic administration, or another athlete-facing role, you need to hear this:

You are needed.

In this episode, Edward Jones II shares eight reminders to help you enter the season encouraged, prepared, and grounded:

You are needed.

You are equipped.

Do not lose yourself while serving everyone else.

Find your community.

Enjoy the moments.

Share your work.

Do not measure your impact only by what you see.

Stay close to your why.

The work can be demanding, lonely, and underappreciated. Some of your greatest impact may happen in conversations nobody else hears or through seeds you may not see grow for years.

Keep showing up. Keep serving. Keep developing people. Your work matters.

Share this episode with someone who serves athletes and needs encouragement today.

Developing People. Elevating Programs.

#PlayerDevelopment #BeyondTheField #StudentAthleteDevelopment #SportsLeadership

Get YOUR SIGNED copy of the Beyond The Field Player Development Guide: https://forms.gle/AJozwnjEw4UHNaH29

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

Complete the BEYOND Framework Assessment https://forms.gle/CC6DoBQGF8UkJj5h6

Do you need Power 4 resources to create meaningful player development?

Absolutely not.

In this episode of the Player Development Pod, Edward Jones II shares the practical framework smaller schools can use to create transformational athlete experiences regardless of budget.

Learn why intentionality is the true competitive advantage and discover the 4 C's that every player development professional should leverage:

• Campus

• Community

• Conference

• City & County

Filled with stories from Houston, Kansas, Baylor, and successful HBCU player development leaders, this episode provides practical strategies for directors, coaches, and administrators looking to maximize impact with the resources they already have.

If you're responsible for developing student-athletes, this episode belongs in your playlist.

Want to build a player development program from the ground up? My book, The Player Development Guide, provides practical frameworks, templates, and strategies you can implement immediately.

📘 Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/4fZGqBD

At the 2026 Player Development Summit, I had the opportunity to present one of the foundational ideas behind Beyond The Field.

In this episode, you'll hear my complete presentation on the BEYOND Framework, the system I've used to organize player development initiatives into one intentional model.

Rather than viewing player development as disconnected events and programming, the BEYOND Framework provides a clear structure that helps coaches and player development professionals create alignment, intentionality, and lasting impact.

If you're building or refining a player development department, this episode provides practical strategies you can begin implementing immediately.

Complete the BEYOND Framework Assessment:https://forms.gle/CC6DoBQGF8UkJj5h6

Building trust with an athlete’s family should not begin when there is a problem.

It should start on day one.

In this episode of the Player Development Pod, Edward Jones II breaks down the importance of building intentional relationships with parents and families throughout the athlete experience.

Drawing from his experience working in college football player development, Edward shares practical ways to connect with families, create consistent communication, and establish trust before difficult situations arise.

From newcomer orientation and sharing your contact information to connecting at games and creating family-focused communication, this episode provides simple strategies player development professionals and programs can implement immediately.

If family engagement is part of your player development responsibilities, this episode will challenge you to ask one important question: What are you doing intentionally to build trust with families?

Developing People. Elevating Programs.

For more player development information, get The Player Development Guide here:https://amzn.to/4fZGqBD

It's been a month since the 2026 Player Development Summit, and I finally have the words.

In this episode of the Player Development Pod, I take time to reflect on one of the most meaningful experiences in Beyond The Field's history. Rather than simply recapping the event, I share the stories, lessons, and moments that have stayed with me since leaving Detroit.

We discuss why the Player Development Summit was created, how it has evolved from a virtual gathering into a national community, and why creating spaces for player development professionals to grow, network, and partner has become more important than ever.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why I created the Player Development Summit

• The moments from Detroit I'll never forget

• Lessons in leadership and community

• The importance of belonging in our profession

• Why this summit is about legacy, not just an event

• My vision for the future of the Player Development Summit

Most importantly, I want to say thank you.

Thank you to every attendee, speaker, volunteer, sponsor, partner, and team member who helped make the 2026 Player Development Summit possible. Because of you, we're building more than a conference. We're building a community dedicated to developing people and elevating programs.

As always, thank you for listening to the Player Development Pod. If this episode encourages you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another coach, administrator, or player development professional.

For more player development resources:

📖 The Player Development Guide:

https://amzn.to/4fZGqBD