Why Every Athletic Program Needs Player Development

Three reasons player development enhances the athlete experience, develops people beyond competition, and creates greater value for athletic programs.

If you have ever struggled to explain why your athletic program needs player development, this is for you.

If you have ever wanted to send something to a coach, athletic director, or administrator and say, “This is why player development matters,” this is for you.

I have spent years working in player development, talking about player development, and helping programs better understand player development.

And I can go deep on this topic.

Really deep.

But recently, I challenged myself to answer one question in 60 seconds:

Why do programs need player development?

My answer came down to three reasons.

1. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ENHANCES YOUR PROGRAM

I define player development as the enhancement of the athlete experience through holistic and intentional programs and initiatives.

The first word matters.

Enhancement.

Athletes already have coaches.

They already have strength and conditioning professionals.

They may have athletic trainers, sports medicine professionals, academic support, nutrition, and other resources.

Player development is not there to replace those people.

Player development is there to enhance the experience.

It gives your program a person, department, or system intentionally thinking about the athlete beyond their performance in competition.

How are they adjusting?

How are they growing?

What are they interested in?

What are they struggling with?

What opportunities could help them?

How can we make their experience in our program better?

That intentional focus enhances the athlete experience.

And when you enhance the athlete experience, you enhance the program.

2. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPS THE PERSON

The game is going to end.

I know we don’t always like talking about it.

But it will.

There will be a final practice.

A final workout.

A final game.

A final time an athlete puts on the uniform.

Then what?

This is one of the greatest reasons player development is needed.

Athletic programs are filled with young people who are still discovering who they are.

Yes, they are athletes.

But being an athlete is something they are good at.

It is not the totality of who they are.

Player development creates intentional opportunities to develop the person beyond the player.

We can help athletes develop their leadership.

Their communication.

Their identity.

Their career interests.

Their relationships.

Their financial understanding.

Their ability to serve others.

Their ability to transition.

We get an opportunity to pour into people during one of the most transformational periods of their lives.

We should not waste that opportunity.

3. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CREATES VALUE

Player development creates value for your program.

Period.

Think about the conversations athletic programs have with recruits and families.

You talk about facilities.

You talk about competition.

You talk about academics.

You talk about strength and conditioning.

You talk about nutrition.

You talk about playing opportunities.

But eventually, a family is going to wonder:

How are you going to take care of my child beyond the game?

Player development helps answer that question.

A dedicated player development professional or intentional player development program shows athletes and families that you have thought about their total experience.

You have thought about who they will become.

You have thought about their transition beyond competition.

You have thought about their future.

That creates value.

Value for the athlete.

Value for the family.

Value for the coaches.

Value for recruiting.

Value for the program.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT IS NOT AN EXTRA

This is the shift I want athletic programs to make.

Stop viewing player development as an extra.

Stop viewing it as another event.

Stop viewing it as something you do when you have extra time.

Player development can enhance your program.

Player development can intentionally develop your athletes.

Player development can create greater value for your entire organization.

The structure may look different at every school.

The resources may be different.

The title of the person responsible may be different.

But the need for intentional development is still there.

So, if you are a coach, athletic director, or administrator, I want you to ask yourself one question:

How are we intentionally developing our athletes beyond competition?

If you do not have a clear answer, that may be the first sign that your program needs a stronger player development strategy.

And if you know someone who needs to better understand the value of player development, send them this newsletter.

We have to continue developing people and elevating programs.