Recommended Reads for Coaches, Parents and Athletes

A curated collection of essential books on team culture, athletic mindset, and strategic leadership that continue to inspire me every day.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny's New York Times bestselling manifesto about what parents, coaches, and athletes get wrong about sports; what we can do better; and how sports can teach eight keys to success in sports and life.

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.

Legacy is a unique, inspiring handbook for leaders in all fields, and asks: What are the secrets of success - sustained success? How do you achieve world-class standards, day after day, week after week, year after year? How do you handle pressure? How do you train to win at the highest level? What do you leave behind you after you're gone?

Does your young athlete struggle with in-game confidence? Do you wish that you could help them bring out their inner confidence? Does your kid practice a lot better than they play? Well this book is the key to helping them fix that issue. If this sounds like you keep reading....

Part 2 Of Mental Toughness for Youth Athletes

This book will help parents understand how to help your young athlete navigate this mental toughness journey. I know where you are and I know how to help you help your young athlete find their mental toughness.

In 3D Coach, National Coaches Training Director Jeff Duke shares his own journey through the three dimensions of coaching and how it has impacted his life and those around him. And he also shares the personal stories of coaches from all levels who have implemented the 3D concept into their own programs.

In this inspirational yet practical book, the man Parade called “the most important coach in America,” subject of the national bestseller Season of Life, Joe Ehrmann, describes his coaching philosophy and explains how sports can transform lives at every level of play, from the earliest years to professional sports.

In this heartfelt and humorous book, Bergstrom draws from his own experience as a coach, a parent, and a grandparent to share stories of both his triumphs and his mistakes. This book is not a lecture on what parents are doing wrong; it is a candid and insightful look at the common pitfalls that can make youth sports a stressful experience for kids.

Recognized as a Winner of the NYC Big Book Award 2025 (Parenting and Family Category) and rated five stars by Readers’ Favorite, Wisest Learners: Guiding Your Child’s Athletic Journey is an award-winning guide that helps parents support their children through the ups and downs of youth sports.

It’s not an optimization hack or a cheat code. It’s a different way of using your brain. It offers a new neuroscientific approach to intuition, imagination, emotion, and commonsense, helping you think more like van Gogh and Jobs, Lincoln and Shakespeare.

Books By Me

For Coaches/Parents

The Constant Coach delivers 365 motivational messages for coaches who lead with more than a whistle and a clipboard. Whether you’re on the field, in the gym, or at the kitchen table planning practice, this book will guide you to show up with purpose, patience, and presence.

Each daily entry is built around real coaching values and comes with practical insights, tough love, and thoughtful reflection.

It’s written for:

  • Volunteer parent-coaches stepping up to lead.

  • Career coaches seeking steady perspective.

  • Parents helping their child athletes at home.

  • Anyone trying to grow the next generation through sports.

For Youth Athletes

A heartwarming, confidence-building sports book for kids ages 7–12 — created to help young athletes grow not just on the field, but on the inside too.

Stories for Young Athletes is a collection of 10 powerful short stories written for every kid who has ever felt nervous before a game, frustrated after a mistake, excited for a big moment, or proud of a comeback. Each chapter follows a different young athlete—across sports like baseball, soccer, basketball, hockey, track, softball, golf, and more—as they face challenges, learn life lessons, and discover their own courage.

Have a Book Recommendation?

I'd love to add more to this page. Let me know if you have a favorite that I don't have listed.

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