How do you intentionally build belonging before the season even begins?

In this episode, Edward Jones II closes out the Belonging portion of the BEYOND Player Development Framework by sharing one of his favorite player development initiatives from his time at Baylor University: the Summer of Belonging.

The program was coming off a disappointing season, navigating the effects of COVID, adding new players to the locker room, and preparing for another demanding season.

The goal was simple.

Create belonging before fall camp.

But instead of relying on meetings and motivational speeches, Edward was tasked with creating experiences that allowed athletes to build relationships while competing together.

The Summer of Belonging included competitive events such as Topgolf, dodgeball, and a 3-point contest. The most important part, however, was how the teams were constructed.

Players could not simply compete with their closest friends.

Teammates were intentionally placed with athletes from different position groups, different sides of the ball, different classifications, and different social circles. Teams constantly changed so players had to communicate, compete, encourage, and build relationships with people they might not normally spend time with.

The result was bigger than a few fun summer activities.

Players learned how to communicate under pressure.

Veterans developed relationships with newcomers.

Teammates learned how to encourage each other during competition.

Players became more comfortable holding each other accountable.

And relationships formed that the team could lean on when the difficult days of fall camp and the season arrived.

That team eventually went on to win the Big 12 Championship.

The championship was not won because of Topgolf, dodgeball, or a 3-point contest. But those intentional experiences helped strengthen relationships and create a locker room that could stay connected when adversity arrived.

This episode provides a practical example of what belonging can look like when player development moves from theory into implementation.

If you are a coach, athletic director, administrator, or player development professional looking for ways to strengthen your team culture, consider creating your own Summer of Belonging.

Create the environment.

Mix the groups.

Build relationships.

Compete.

And give athletes experiences they can lean on when the season gets difficult.

This episode concludes the Belonging 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 help 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