The Player Development Pod

Edward Jones II
  • 5.0 (27)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

The Player Development Pod explores how to build programs that care for athletes beyond the game. Hosted by Edward Jones II—former Director of Player Development and founder of Beyond The Field—each episode delivers real stories, proven strategies, and expert insights from college, pro, and high school sports. Learn how to enhance the athlete experience, avoid common mistakes, and create generational impact through personal wellness, community engagement, and career development.

  1. 1d ago

    Stop Being Random: How to Educate Athletes With Intention

    What do you actually want athletes to learn while they are in your program? That question sounds simple, but too many programs rely on random programming, passive learning, or the hope that athletes will simply "pick up" leadership, accountability, communication, and maturity along the way. In this episode, Edward Jones II begins the Education portion of the BEYOND Player Development Framework. Drawing from his experience at the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, Baylor University, and Beyond The Field, Edward explains why education in player development must go beyond the classroom. Athletes are already receiving academic instruction through their schools and universities. The responsibility of player development is to identify the additional knowledge, skills, habits, and values athletes need to succeed during and after their time in the program. This episode focuses on three important reflection questions: • What do you want athletes to learn during their time in your program? • Where is your current programming intentional, and where is it random? • How are you aligning your programming with what coaches want for their athletes? Edward also explains why the same programming will not work for every team, every year, or every coaching staff. Rosters change. Leadership changes. Needs change. That means effective player development requires regular evaluation and intentional planning. Random programming can sometimes produce success. Intentional programming creates impact. Whether you are a player development professional, coach, athletic director, administrator, or someone responsible for developing athletes, this episode challenges you to stop assuming development will simply happen. Decide what you want athletes to learn. Structure it. Teach it. Reevaluate it. And make sure your educational efforts align with the vision of the program. This episode begins the Education portion of 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

  2. Sep 2

    The Summer of Belonging: How We Built a Championship Team Culture

    How do you intentionally build belonging before the season even begins? In this episode, Edward Jones II closes out the Belonging portion of the BEYOND Player Development Framework by sharing one of his favorite player development initiatives from his time at Baylor University: the Summer of Belonging. The program was coming off a disappointing season, navigating the effects of COVID, adding new players to the locker room, and preparing for another demanding season. The goal was simple. Create belonging before fall camp. But instead of relying on meetings and motivational speeches, Edward was tasked with creating experiences that allowed athletes to build relationships while competing together. The Summer of Belonging included competitive events such as Topgolf, dodgeball, and a 3-point contest. The most important part, however, was how the teams were constructed. Players could not simply compete with their closest friends. Teammates were intentionally placed with athletes from different position groups, different sides of the ball, different classifications, and different social circles. Teams constantly changed so players had to communicate, compete, encourage, and build relationships with people they might not normally spend time with. The result was bigger than a few fun summer activities. Players learned how to communicate under pressure. Veterans developed relationships with newcomers. Teammates learned how to encourage each other during competition. Players became more comfortable holding each other accountable. And relationships formed that the team could lean on when the difficult days of fall camp and the season arrived. That team eventually went on to win the Big 12 Championship. The championship was not won because of Topgolf, dodgeball, or a 3-point contest. But those intentional experiences helped strengthen relationships and create a locker room that could stay connected when adversity arrived. This episode provides a practical example of what belonging can look like when player development moves from theory into implementation. If you are a coach, athletic director, administrator, or player development professional looking for ways to strengthen your team culture, consider creating your own Summer of Belonging. Create the environment. Mix the groups. Build relationships. Compete. And give athletes experiences they can lean on when the season gets difficult. This episode concludes the Belonging portion of 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 help 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

  3. Aug 26

    The Warning Signs Your Athletes Don’t Feel Like They Belong

    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

  4. Aug 19

    Seen, Valued, and Heard: The 3 Keys to Athlete Belonging

    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

  5. Aug 12

    Do Your Athletes Actually Feel Like They Belong

    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

  6. Aug 10

    Your Network Is Your Next Opportunity | Live at Duke Football

    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

  7. Jul 29

    Fall Camp Survival Guide: How Player Development Professionals Win the Toughest Time of the Year

    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

  8. Jul 28

    You Are Needed: 8 Reminders for Everyone Serving Athletes

    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

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About

The Player Development Pod explores how to build programs that care for athletes beyond the game. Hosted by Edward Jones II—former Director of Player Development and founder of Beyond The Field—each episode delivers real stories, proven strategies, and expert insights from college, pro, and high school sports. Learn how to enhance the athlete experience, avoid common mistakes, and create generational impact through personal wellness, community engagement, and career development.

Information

  • Creator
    Edward Jones II
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    284
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Edward Jones II
  • Show Website
    The Player Development Pod

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