This Week in Player Development
A weekly roundup of the newest player development resources from Beyond The Field.
Every week, my goal is simple:
Help more people understand what player development is and why it matters.
As Beyond The Field continues to grow, I believe we have a responsibility to educate coaches, administrators, player development professionals, and anyone who impacts athletes. The profession is growing rapidly, but with that growth comes a need for clarity.
That’s why this week was dedicated to creating practical, foundational player development content.
Here’s what was released this week.
Monday: Player Development in 60 Seconds
One of the biggest challenges in our profession is that everyone seems to have a different definition of player development.
So every Monday, I’m launching a new series called Player Development in 60 Seconds.
In one minute, I’ll explain one player development concept that helps define our profession and make it easier for others to understand.
This week’s topic:
What is Player Development?
If you’re introducing someone to this profession, this is a great place to start.
Watch here:
Tuesday: The Secret to Building Team Buy-In
This week we also began walking through the BEYOND Framework, starting with the first foundation:
Belonging.
Before leadership...
Before accountability...
Before culture...
Athletes have to feel like they belong.
In this episode, I discuss why belonging is the foundation of player development and why it may be the missing ingredient in building stronger teams and healthier athletic programs.
Watch here:
Beyond The Field Content Announcement
Before you go, I want to share something I’m really excited about.
As Beyond The Field continues to grow, so does our content. To make it easier for you to find exactly what you’re looking for, we’ve expanded our YouTube presence into three dedicated channels, each with its own purpose.
🎙️ Player Development Podcast by Beyond The Field
This is the new home for the full video version of the Player Development Pod. Every podcast episode, live conversation, interview, and long-form discussion about player development will now live here.
If you clicked on the 2026 Player Development Summit reflection video, you’ve already seen the new page. If not, you can subscribe here:
https://www.youtube.com/@PlayerDevelopmentPodcast
📺 Beyond The Field | Player Development
This is our original Beyond The Field YouTube channel and will continue to be the home for educational player development content. You’ll find videos covering the BEYOND Framework, leadership, culture, athlete development, and practical strategies that you can implement with your athletes, coaches, and staff.
https://www.youtube.com/@btf_program
⚡ Beyond The Field | Player Development Shorts
Need something quick?
This channel is dedicated entirely to short-form player development content. You’ll find 60-second tips, quick insights, myths and facts, and practical nuggets that you can watch on the go and immediately put into practice.
https://www.youtube.com/@beyondthefieldshorts
No matter how you like to learn, there’s now a place for you.
Whether you’re looking for a deep conversation on the podcast, educational videos that help you grow as a player development professional, or quick insights you can watch in under a minute, we’ve built a channel with you in mind.
Thank you for being part of the Beyond The Field community. I’m excited for what’s ahead as we continue creating resources to help you develop people and elevate programs.
Wednesday: The Player Development Pod
Wednesday was all about reflection and conversation.
Episode 1
Reflecting on the 2026 Player Development Summit
After taking a few weeks to process everything that happened in Detroit, I finally sat down to share my thoughts on what made this year’s summit so special, what I learned, and where we’re headed next.
Listen here:
Episode 2
Live from the Player Development Summit with former Baylor football player Jacoby Clark
One of my favorite moments from this year’s summit was sitting down live with one of my former players.
We discussed his journey from student-athlete to financial advisor and what player development looked like from the athlete’s perspective.
Those conversations matter.
Because player development should always include the voices of the people we’re serving.
Listen here:
Thursday: Myth or Fact
This week’s statement:
“Player Development is just life skills.”
My answer? Myth.
Life skills certainly matter.
But player development is much bigger than life skills.
It’s relationships.
It’s mentorship.
It’s leadership.
It’s community engagement.
It’s career development.
It’s wellness.
It’s creating an intentional experience that develops the whole athlete.
In this episode, I explain why reducing player development to “life skills” actually limits the impact our profession can have.
Watch here:
Friday: 5-Minute Fridays Returns
Many of you have asked for it...
So 5-Minute Fridays are officially back.
This week’s episode answered a foundational question:
Why Every Athletic Program Needs Player Development
Whether you’re a head coach, athletic director, administrator, or player development professional, I believe intentional player development isn’t a luxury anymore.
It’s a competitive advantage.
Programs that intentionally develop people create stronger cultures, stronger relationships, stronger leaders, and ultimately stronger athletic programs.
Watch here:
Why I’m Creating So Much Player Development Content
The profession is growing.
More schools are investing in player development than ever before.
But if we want this profession to continue growing, we have to help people understand exactly what player development is and why it matters.
That’s my commitment.
Every week I’ll continue creating practical content that helps you better serve your athletes, strengthen your program, and elevate our profession together.
Thank you for reading, watching, listening, sharing, and supporting Beyond The Field.
We’re just getting started.
Developing People. Elevating Programs.