Text version available here!

Today's installment of #GemSessions is actually a snippet from an upcoming course that I'm releasing called the Gen Z Playbook. The Gen Z Playbook is an interactive course designed to help coaches learn how to better serve, lead and impact the emerging generations by closing the generational gap. The context behind today's installment is how to deal with the free agent mentality that so many individuals in the younger generations have.

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Another major challenge you may be faced with when working with a Gen Z athlete is the Free Agent Mentality. This is similar to the Shiny Object Syndrome in the previous lesson, but much more specific to relationships, commitment situations and loyalty.

A 2018 study from the National Student Clearinghouse estimates that 39% of all undergraduates who initially enroll in a four-year institution transfer schools at least once.

True story, I once trained a high school senior that attended four different high schools in four different states.

Mind-blowing, yes. But I don’t know that there is an inherently right or wrong way to look at this situation. Everyone has their own unique life and circumstances, I could never judge someone for doing what they feel is in their best interest.

This does, however, illustrate the Free Agent Mentality. We are talking about the most empowered and connected generation ever. Years ago, you chose a school and rode out the decision, but those days are long gone because the emerging generation knows they have more say-so than any crop of athletes ever before.

Things that used to be nice to have, bonus perks or out of the ordinary benefits are now expectations in many cases. This, again, has driven many athletes to have shorter attention spans, less loyalty and more fluidity when choosing programs, coaches, trainers, etc. Athletes have the resources and info, and were born with it, when some coaches still can’t grasp the concept of an emoji.

The tough pill to swallow is that this is our fault. If we lose an athlete to another program (barring all family or medical emergencies), it’s because we did not provide a captivating and enjoyable experience full of value for that athlete. Plain and simple. If we did, they wouldn’t have left.

And to be clear, the reason you should be upset about losing an athlete is not because it will cost you games in the win/loss column. It’s because it will cost you the opportunity to make an impact in a young man or woman’s life.

The recipe for fixing this Free Agent Mentality is to provide value with the TEAM model — Transparency, Evaluation, Advice, Management.

In the course, I go into details on the TEAM Model and how it can help us more effectively communicate with different athlete archetypes. This also applies to non-athletic settings. If you're interested in this content and want updates on the course release date, head to www.genzplaybook.com for more info!