Let Them Know! Why Your Player Development Messaging Matters More Than Ever

In this episode of The Player Development Pod, I share the hard truth: our silence is costing us.

Player development roles are being cut across college athletics—not because they’re not valuable, but because the value isn’t being communicated. Coaches and administrators can’t defend what they don’t understand. And too many of us are doing great work in the dark.

That’s why I commissioned a study of over 150 college football player development professionals to see how visible we really are. The results were eye-opening:

• 79% had an updated LinkedIn title

• But only 23% had ever posted about what they do

• 54% updated their Twitter bio

• 44% showed their role on Instagram

In this episode, I react to those findings and challenge everyone in the field to do one thing: Let them know. Let people know what you do, how you do it, and why it matters.

I also break down four key ways to communicate your impact right now:

1. Your Pitch

2. Your Program Details

3. Your Content

4. Your Resume

If you're in player development, this episode is a call to action. No more staying quiet. No more assuming people understand. It's time to speak up—for your athletes, your future, and the field as a whole.
🎯 Take the ScoreApp assessment and join the next Player Development Accelerator: https://edward-jones-po11g9mt.scoreapp.com

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About Ed Jones II

Founder | Educator | Culture Builder | Voice of the Player Development Movement

Ed Jones II is a nationally respected authority in player development—known not just for what he does, but for how he builds people. With a career rooted in service, leadership, and transformation, Ed has impacted over 500 student-athletes across Power Five programs, including the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, and Baylor University, where he rose to Assistant Athletic Director.

Today, he is the founder and CEO of Beyond The Field, a pioneering company that equips schools, organizations, and leaders with the structure, strategy, and soul to build intentional off-the-field experiences for athletes. Through assessments, certification programs, high-impact workshops, and strategic consulting, Ed is helping shape the future of athlete development across the country.

He is also the creator of a fast-growing educational ecosystem that includes:

– The Player Development Pod (200+ episodes and counting)

– The Player Development Summit (the leading national event for professionals in the space)

– The Player Development Newsletter (insight and strategy delivered weekly)

– The Player Development Plan Course & Cohorts (a step-by-step blueprint for building programs that matter)

– Three published books, including the bestselling Player Development Guide

What sets Ed apart is his clarity. He doesn’t just speak about change—he builds systems that make it possible. Ed’s work sits at the intersection of education, athletics, and personal growth, and he’s quickly becoming the go-to mind for departments, directors, and decision-makers who want to build better, not just louder.

If you're building a program, a department, or a career in the space of athlete development, there are two types of people:

– Those who have connected with Ed Jones II.

– And those who are about to.

Connect with Ed here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edjonesii/

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