The Player Development Pod

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 w...

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 Dev...

Register for the Athlete Career Experience (ACE): https://forms.gle/xAcaD2qgnkFu6zVVA Student-athletes… if you’re trying to figure out what comes next after sports, this video is for you. The Athlete Career Experience (ACE) is a new opportunity happening at the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit in partnership with Northwestern Mutual – Metro Detroit. This is not just a networking event. Th...

Recently, I had the opportunity to work directly with the Iowa State Football Player Development staff, leading a full workshop on the Beyond Player Development Model. In this episode, I break down exactly what we did, what I observed, and what changed after implementing the framework. One of the biggest challenges in player development today is not effort. It is lack of structure. Programs are do...

After 10 years in player development, I finally figured it out. It was never about doing more. It was never about better programming. It was about having a system. In this episode, I break down the BEYOND Player Development Model, a framework designed to bring clarity to one of the most misunderstood roles in sports. If you have ever struggled to explain player development to coaches, administrato...

Donald Trump recently signed an executive order titled Urgent National Action to Save College Sports. In this episode, Ed Jones II breaks down what this order means — not from a political perspective, but through the lens of player development and the student-athlete experience. This conversation focuses on: The growing pressure within college athletics How NIL, transfers, and financial structures...

As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit (May 29–30), this episode gives you a real look at what makes this experience different. In this episode, I break down the true return on investment of the summit. From access to high-level professionals, to the intentional community that’s built, to the real outcomes attendees experience after they leave. You will also hear: What sep...

Four years ago, I started The Player Development Pod for one reason: To clear my name. After being let go and hearing things about myself that didn’t align with who I was, I made a decision… If I showed up every week and gave real value to coaches, athletes, and professionals in this space, the truth would speak for itself. What I didn’t expect was what this podcast would actually become. In this...

As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan on May 29 and May 30, this episode shares insights, conversations, and real experiences that help explain what the Summit is truly about. In this episode you will hear three perspectives that bring the Player Development Summit to life. First, an insight about the Summit and the story behind why Detroit became the host city...

As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan on May 29 and May 30, this episode gives you a deeper look into what the Summit is really about. In this episode, you will hear three important perspectives that help bring the Player Development Summit experience to life. First, a Summit insight that explains the purpose behind the event and why this space exists for profes...

As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan (May 29–30), this episode takes you inside the movement. This isn’t just a conference recap. This is the story of how a virtual gathering of 28 people turned into a national in-person summit with leaders from the NFL, NBA, MLS, collegiate athletics, and beyond. In this episode, you’ll hear: • The origin story of the Player D...

As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan (May 29–30), this episode gives you a clear and honest look at what this experience is really about. This is not just another conference. This is a room built for the people doing the unseen work in athletics. In this episode, you’ll hear: • A 2026 Summit insight explaining exactly who this event is designed for • A powerful...

The 2026 Player Development Summit dates are officially set. The 2026 Player Development Summit will be held May 29 to May 30 in Detroit at TechTown Detroit, and in this episode I share everything you need to know about what the summit is, why it exists, and why Detroit is the right city for this next chapter. I break down: How the Player Development Summit started and what gap it was created to f...

Alumni relations isn’t broken but it is changing. In this episode, I close out the 12 Days of Player Development by tackling alumni relations in a portal-happy world. With athletes transferring more than ever, programs are being forced to rethink alumni identity, engagement, and connection. You’ll hear: Why alumni relations still matter deeply How to define alumni in today’s landscape The importan...

Player development can transform your program. Period. In Day 11 of the 12 Days of Player Development , I break down 8 specific ways player development improves culture, leadership, communication, alignment, and sustainability in sports organizations. This episode is for: Coaches feeling stretched thin Athletic directors seeking long-term stability Programs tired of constant distractions and turno...

Most sports management students graduate without ever hearing about player development. That is a problem. In this episode, I explain: Why player development is missing from most curricula What the role truly looks like day to day Who should pursue it and who should not The challenges behind the scenes Why this role is growing faster than ever I also share why I wrote The Player Development Guide...

International athletes are changing the landscape of college and professional sports. In this episode of the Player Development Pod, I dive into international athlete development and the skills international student athletes gain through intentional player development. You will learn: Why development must start with the athlete’s future goals How shared belonging increases engagement and trust Why...

If you are an assistant in player development and your goal is to become a Director, this episode will give you clarity on what actually matters. In Day 8 of the 12 Days of Player Development, I walk through what I would focus on if I wanted to go from assistant to director in one year. This is not about rushing the process. It is about preparing for the responsibility that comes with leadership....

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 simp...

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 H...

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...

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 unders...

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 Champi...

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...

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...