The Dad Coach: How to Lead Kids to Succeed On and Off the Baseball Field

The New York Times bestselling author of The Matheny Manifesto offers the definitive guide to coaching youth baseball and instilling positive values on and off the field.

Long before he became manager of the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals, Mike Matheny grasped the core values of what really mattered when it came to playing baseball. It wasn’t attention from fans or the trophy at the end of a season that guided his morals, but the hard-won discipline, labor, and humility that he incorporated into every game he played. Now, in The Dad Coach, Matheny puts his philosophy into action and provides a step-by-step template for coaches and parents to develop solid fundamentals and a strong sense of character in their players, including:

• Age-specific drills and exercises to develop skills, along with practice plans to help young ballplayers improve
• Game preparation and evaluation techniques to help coaches stay on track and keep kids engaged
• Advice on making coaching a meaningful experience and investment of time
• More than seventy QR codes leading to instructional videos featuring Matheny and other Dad Coach advocates

Drawing on Matheny’s playing and coaching expertise at every level of the game, The Dad Coach is an engaging and essential resource for anyone, regardless of experience, who wants to coach their players to success in baseball and life.

Mike Matheny is the author of The Matheny Manifesto, played thirteen years as a catcher for four Major League teams, won four Gold Gloves, and holds the MLB record for most consecutive chances at the position without an error. He was the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals for six seasons--leading the Cardinals to the postseason in each of his first four campaigns and winning the National League pennant in 2013--and the Kansas City Royals for three seasons. He has appeared on Fresh Air, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, and more.

Jerry B. Jenkins is the author of twenty New York Times bestsellers. His writing has appeared in Time, Reader's Digest, Parade, Guideposts, and dozens of Christian periodicals.