The Parent Behind the Athlete

The games end. The relationship doesn't.

Lessons I Learned the Hard Way About Raising Kids in Sports

Cover of The Parent Behind the Athlete by BJ Johnson: a father sits on sunset bleachers with his arms around two daughters in softball jerseys numbered 11 and 34.

Because long after the season ends, the relationship remains.

A personal look at the mistakes, sacrifices, and lessons that changed how I understood my role as a sports dad.

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On the way
to practice
In the
stands
On the
ride home

Choose how you experience the book

Paperback & Kindle Coming November 17

Kindle pre-order open now. Kindle and paperback both release November 17, 2026.

Paperback, 241 pages: $19.99
Kindle edition: $9.99

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The book

Every game has a scoreboard.

But the moments that shape a child usually happen somewhere else.

They happen in the car ride home.

In the pressure parents carry.

In the sacrifices families make.

In the words spoken after a bad game, a hard lesson, or a heartbreaking season.

Inside, you'll discover how to:

Support without controlling
Lead without losing the relationship
Protect joy, confidence, and connection
Remember what truly matters when the game is over

This is not just a book about building better athletes. It is a book about becoming a better sports parent.

The car ride home

She Already Had Coaches. She Needed Her Dad.

After a hard game, the ride home can shape a kid more than anything that happened on the field. I learned that the hard way with my own daughter.

51 seconds. Sound on.

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Portrait of author BJ Johnson smiling, wearing a black jacket outdoors.

Why I wrote this book

This Book Comes From a Lifetime in the Trenches.

I've spent decades around athletes, parents, coaches, and families, and I've made a lot of mistakes along the way. This book is what I wish I had when my kids were younger: an honest, practical, sometimes hard-hitting guide for navigating the real journey of raising kids in sports. As a father, coach, hitting instructor, and mentor, I've learned that success in sports means little if the relationship is lost along the way.

BJ Johnson

What you'll learn

Real Lessons for the Real Journey.

The Invisible Scoreboard
Burnout
Expectations
Playing Time
Recruiting
The Investment
Identity
Communication
Failure
Letting Go

Who it's for: parents of youth and high school athletes, parents navigating recruiting, coaches and club leaders, and anyone who loves an athlete.

This book doesn't just talk about better athletes. It's about better humans, for the whole family.

Advance reader feedback

What Early Readers Are Saying.

The chapter about the car ride home really got to me. I've had those exact conversations with my daughter after a bad game, thinking I was helping her get better. Reading how BJ looked back on those moments made me realize I've probably been harder on my own kid than I needed to be. That one chapter alone gave me a lot to think about.

Rebecca S., Advance reader

My husband and I have spent years traveling to tournaments, paying for lessons, and rearranging our lives around our son's baseball schedule. So much of this book felt familiar. What stuck with me was realizing that just because we sacrifice so much doesn't mean our child owes us a certain outcome. That's a hard thing to admit as a parent, but I needed to hear it.

Cynthia Q., Advance reader

Our daughter is getting older, and we've started having conversations about whether she even wants to keep playing. The part where BJ talks about his daughter walking away from softball hit home. You spend so many years supporting their dreams that sometimes you forget those dreams can change. I appreciated that he didn't pretend to have all the answers. He just shared what he got wrong and what he learned.

Paul R., Advance reader

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Bulk orders & speaking

Put this book in the hands of every sports parent.

Bulk copies are available for teams, clubs, schools, leagues, and tournaments. I also speak at parent meetings, banquets, and coaching clinics.

Because eventually,
the games end. The relationship doesn't.

Pre-order on Amazon

The games end. The relationship doesn't.

Hear the Opening Letter.

Choose how you experience the book

Audiobook

Paperback & Kindle Coming November 17

Every game has a scoreboard.

Inside, you'll discover how to:

She Already Had Coaches. She Needed Her Dad.

This Book Comes From a Lifetime in the Trenches.

Real Lessons for the Real Journey.

What Early Readers Are Saying.

Invisible Scoreboard

Put this book in the hands of every sports parent.