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