Forward | Better Athletes. Better People.

What happens when a coach realizes he needs to stop coaching—and start being a dad?

In the first episode of Forward, Joe Clemente shares the story behind The Long Ride Home: How to Help Your Kids Shine in Youth Sports (Without Driving Them Crazy) and the painful car ride that changed the way he approached parenting, coaching, and youth sports.

Joe and Kevin Mulhearn talk candidly about the pressure parents place on young athletes, the mistakes they made with their own children, and why even well-intentioned criticism can damage a child’s confidence, enjoyment, and relationship with sports.

This conversation is not about lowering expectations or giving everyone a trophy. It is about helping kids compete, grow, and work hard without allowing a parent’s pride, frustration, or fear to take over.

In this episode:

• The ride home that inspired Joe to write the book
 • Why parents criticize their children when they are most vulnerable
 • The difference between being a parent and being a coach
 • How pressure and financial investment affect sports families
 • Why young athletes remember our words long after the game ends
 • How parents can help raise better athletes—and better people

Forward is a podcast from Hard Knock Press featuring honest conversations about youth sports, parenting, coaching, growth, and the lessons that extend far beyond the field.

Better Athletes. Better People.

Order The Long Ride Home at hardknockpress.com.

Questions, comments, or stories to share? Email [email protected].

Subscribe to Forward and share this episode with a parent, coach, or athlete who needs to hear it.

Welcome to Forward: Better Athletes. Better People.

Youth sports have changed—but the guidance for parents hasn’t.

Hosted by publisher Kevin T. Mulhearn and veteran coach Joe Clemente, Forward explores the conversations every sports parent needs to hear. Drawing from Joe’s book, The Long Ride Home: How to Help Your Kids Shine in Youth Sports (Without Driving Them Crazy), each episode tackles the challenges of raising young athletes while protecting what matters most: your relationship with your child.

Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, you’ll find practical advice, honest stories, and thoughtful conversations designed to help families navigate the highs and lows of youth sports.

Join us each week as we talk with coaches, parents, athletes, and experts about building confidence, handling pressure, communicating better, and creating an environment where kids can thrive—not just as athletes, but as people.

Better Athletes. Better People.