The Game Plan
Our game plan (mission) is to create avenues for student-athletes, educate, to help define themselves regardless of their playing level in the hopes to be life-changers and icons in today's society.
About the Founder
Zedralyn Butler is a Pine Bluff, Arkansas native who played collegiate women's basketball on the Division I NJCAA and NCAA level. This 2001 graduate of Watson Chapel High School, Tyler Junior College and Stephen F. Austin State University also received her master's degree in Sport Management from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in May 2020. Zedralyn also completed the Women's Entrepreneurship Certification from Cornell University in May 2020.
Zedralyn put together Pine Bluff's first alumni game to raise money for Watson Chapel High School student-athletes going to college,which provided 4 athletes with stipends for college. In addition, she has followed her passion to have motivational conversations with collegiate athletes at her alma mater, Tyler Junior College.
Throughout Zedralyn's young sporting career, she was considered one of Arkansas' Top 25, participated in the Juniors Top 50 Camp in Hawaii, and competed nationally among other female basketball players. received several awards and an invitation to play internationally in Munich, Germany. Zedralyn started The Ball Code to help pave the way, bridge the gaps and help prepare student-ahtletes for their next level.
She is the proud mother of four children, Dralyn (deceased), Zaleigh, Zion, and Zavannah. Zedralyn has spent nearly 15 years working in the child welfare division for the state of Texas and Arkansas. She has served in many leadership roles such as supervisor, served in work groups and created specialized trainings for workers and supervisors statewide. Zedralyn is also a sorority member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated.
WHY DID YOU START THE BALL CODE?
"My intent to start The Ball Code was to become the person I wish I had. With nearly 15 years of experience working in the field with children and families at the state level and 15 years as a former athlete, I wanted to merge my experiences and become the athlete social worker, or what I call myself, The Student-Athlete Mentor. I am someone who values being resourceful, strategic and who has insight in order to help athletes effectively get to their next level."
Zedralyn Butler