New Release
Finally—a Practical Guide for Parents Navigating Youth Sports
The Long Ride Home
How to Help Your Kids Shine in Youth Sports (Without Driving Them Crazy)
Every parent wants to help.
Few know exactly how.
The Long Ride Home gives parents practical guidance for building confident athletes, stronger relationships, and a lifelong love of sports.
Paperback • $14.99 + shipping
Inside you’ll learn
✓ How to support your child without becoming “that parent”
✓ What winning actually teaches—and what it doesn’t
✓ How coaches really view parents
✓ When to push and when to step back
✓ Why youth sports should build character first
WHY IT HAD TO BE WRITTEN
Joe has coached thousands of players over 25 years.
The biggest challenge wasn’t the kids.
It was helping parents navigate the emotional
moments surrounding youth sports.
This book grew out of those conversations…
In The Long Ride Home, author Joe Clemente, a former professional baseball player and coach, long-time baseball coach at Don Bosco Prep High School, and father of four, answers the question that most parents don’t know how (or whom) to ask: what do I need to do, and not do, to best help my child navigate the often treacherous shoals of youth sports?
The Long Ride Home provides invaluable advice and guidance to parents who want their child to maximize his or her athletic potential, but in a way that will enhance, not hurt, their unique parent-child bond. This book, intended for parents, coaches, and mentors of young athletes, provides a much-needed roadmap for connecting with children positively, and with love and unequivocal support, so that they may play with joy and shine in their journeys through youth sports.
The Long Ride Home has been described as “a home run,” … “a must read,” … a book every parent “gifted the blessing of a child should be given,” … “perfect for any parent who wants to support their child’s dreams and keep a strong bond at the same time,” … “a meaningful and impactful read for any parent seeking to raise confident, resilient children,” … and “an honest and refreshing perspective on how our words, expectations, and reactions can either build a child’s confidence or slowly chip away at it.”
“When parents are gifted the blessing of a child, they should be given this book.”
—Joseph R. Azzolino, President, Don Bosco Prep High SchoolMeet the Author
Joe Clemente is in his 25th year of his coaching and training career. He has helped thousands of players fulfill their dreams of playing college baseball and has helped many make it to the Major Leagues.
Joe lives in Rockland County, New York, with his wife Franny and their four children: Joey, Tony, Donna, and Christian. They are the driving force behind everything he does.
Joe attended Don Bosco Prep High School (Ramsey, NJ) in his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Elizabeth High School, where he was twice selected as an All-State player in both baseball and football. He also received the Governor’s Cup—awarded for outstanding athletic performance—for the State of New Jersey.
Joe’s college career began at Mississippi State, where he received an athletic scholarship to play both baseball and football. During his sophomore year, he sustained a serious injury in a car accident. Upon recovery, Joe accepted a baseball scholarship to the University of Maryland at College Park, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree and, later, was inducted into the Terrapin Sports Award Club (Hall of Fame) of Maryland University.
Upon graduating in 1997, Joe played professional baseball for the Detroit Tigers Organization. In 2000, Joe became the Manager of the Pro Team in Codogno, Italy. His team won the Italian World Series; Joe was the youngest manager to ever win that coveted prize and was named the A2 Italian Manager of the Year. Joe was also a part of five national titles as both a player and a coach.
When Joe returned home from Italy, he began training and coaching in New Jersey and New York. He has coached baseball at Don Bosco Prep—which won the New Jersey Non-Public A State Championship in 2022, 2023, and 2025—for fourteen years. Joe is the owner and operator of The Advanced Player Academy in Waldwick, New Jersey.
“The Long Ride Home hits a ‘home run.’ This is a must-read book.”
—Ron Polk, Former Head Baseball Coach, Mississippi State UniversityADVANCE PRAISE FOR THE LONG RIDE HOME
“As a parent, grandparent, coach, and organizational leader, I’ve experienced youth sports from every angle and I’ve seen how easily the focus can drift away from what truly matters. The Long Ride Home serves as a powerful reminder that success isn’t defined by wins, losses, or statistics, but by the strength of the relationship between parent and child, and the joy a child feels in playing the game.
The Long Ride Home emphasizes that when we shift our focus from outcomes to connection, everything changes. The experience becomes more meaningful, the impact more lasting, and the lessons far more valuable than any scoreboard could ever reflect. Kudos to Joe Clemente!”
—Joe Wladyka, Founder and President of Wladyka Baseball Club and pioneer of college baseball showcases for high school players
“When parents are gifted the blessing of a child, they should be given this book. I have worked for over thirty years in education at private high schools that have high-level, competitive athletics. I have seen the best and the worst of it. I myself have two highly competitive children and would have been a better parent had I read this book.”
—Joseph R. Azzolino, President, Don Bosco Prep High School
“Most young athletes quit organized sport by age thirteen, not from injury or lack of talent, but because adults unknowingly steal their joy. The Long Ride Home addresses what most adults underestimate: development is shaped not only by performance, but by the environment adults create around it.
Joe Clemente understands the difference between pushing young athletes and breaking them. Grounded in sport psychology and immediately practical, this book gives parents and coaches a framework they can use today. Most kids will never play in college or professionally. But all of them will remember how adults responded after the game. This book is for everyone who wants to get that right, starting today.”
—Dr. Adam Wright, Ph.D., CMPC, Co-Founder, The Antifragile Academy; Former Director of Mental Performance, Washington Nationals
“As Joe Clemente’s college baseball coach at Mississippi State, I enjoyed so very much working with him both on and off the baseball field. Ever since he left Mississippi State, I have followed his career as a college player, pro player, international manager, and now, as the owner and operator of The Advanced Player Academy in New Jersey.
We have stayed in close contact all these years and when I received his book The Long Ride Home, I truly enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. After digesting the contents of the book, I wanted to congratulate Joe on putting on paper essential information that would benefit every parent and family member of a youth sports player. The Long Ride Home hits a “home run.”
It especially hits home for me now that I am in year sixty-one of coaching and watching so many youth baseball games. I am amazed at what takes place in the stands with the parents of these boys. And now I also know a little bit about what takes place, and, more importantly, what should take place, in their cars on the long ride home. This is a must-read book.”
— Ron Polk, Former Head Baseball Coach, Mississippi State University; Member, College Baseball Hall of Fame; National Coach of the Year in 1973 and 1985
“The Long Ride Home is a powerful resource tool for parents and coaches. This book reminds us that winning is not the goal. Sports should be used as a vehicle to enrich the lives of the people we love. To create a safe environment for children to participate, learn, and adapt to challenges without fear of consequence or ridicule. We have all heard that less than 1% will make it to the pros. The compelling counterpoint to that statistic, however, is that 100% of our children will be professional human beings. As a father and coach, I believe this is a must-read.”
—Matt Simms, Host of Simms Complete; Former NFL quarterback
-
“I have been around baseball my entire life. I honestly cannot remember a day when it wasn’t part of my daily routine that continues today.
I was fortunate enough to be a first-round pick for the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1980s. It was the culmination of a lifelong dream of playing professional baseball. Growing up, I loved the game so much that I never doubted I’d make it. No one in my orbit ever said, You’re doing great, but the big leagues are unattainable. While that dream came to an end when I got hurt in the minors, my love of the game never wavered.
My parents and my brother created a safe place for me without even realizing it. I was lucky to have a brother three years older who let me play with his friends. Looking back, that made me better, as I had to “play up” to compete. I’m certain that I started loving baseball because he did, and I wanted to be like him in every way.
My mom and dad loved baseball just as much. I remember missing school in October to watch the World Series when it was played during the day. It was awesome—and my mom never hesitated to write that absence note!
There were also many long rides home. Plenty of 0-for-4 days with a couple of strikeouts. Those days usually included a stop at McDonald’s for a Filet-O-Fish, large fries, and a vanilla shake (still my favorite). We’d talk about the game, and my mom always wanted to blame the umpires. I knew she wasn’t right—but it meant everything to have someone always in my corner.
One of my favorite aspects of The Long Ride Home is how it captures the balance of wanting your kids to succeed without pushing them to the point where the joy is lost. That message felt especially real and relevant.
Joe Clemente has done a great job offering practical ways to communicate with your kids. Not everything in the book will apply to every situation, and it’s not supposed to. But you’ll find the pieces that fit. And if you trust your love for the game and for your player, those insights will fall right into place.
Bravo, Joe Clemente! This is a book every parent should have as they navigate the journey of youth sports and parenthood.”
—Rick Abbott, Former Chief Executive Officer, Cooperstown All Star Village
“As both a lifelong athlete and a youth coach, I’ve seen how powerful the moments after a game can be. The conversations in the car ride home often shape how young athletes see themselves, their effort, and even their love for the sport. The Long Ride Home captures this in a thoughtful and practical way, reminding parents and coaches that the goal isn’t just developing better athletes, it’s developing confident, resilient young people.
Joe Clemente offers an honest and refreshing perspective on how our words, expectations, and reactions can either build a child’s confidence or slowly chip away at it. This book is an important reminder that the greatest gift we can give young athletes is support, perspective, and the freedom to love the game!”
— Cynthia Plackis, USA Sambo National Team Athlete and Youth Coach
“In my role as a school principal, I have had the privilege of working closely with children and families, and I have seen how deeply a child’s confidence and emotional well-being are shaped by the messages they receive from the adults in their lives. In The Long Ride Home, Joe Clemente captures this reality with honesty, insight, and compassion. This book offers far more than guidance for youth sports. It provides a thoughtful framework for how parents can support their children in ways that build confidence, resilience, and a genuine love of participation.
Joe Clemente encourages parents to reflect on their own behaviors and communication while offering practical tools for navigating the emotional moments that come with youth sports. His emphasis on effort over outcome, unconditional support, and knowing when and how to provide feedback is both powerful and necessary. The lessons in this book extend well beyond athletics and speak to what truly helps children thrive. This is a meaningful and impactful read for any parent seeking to raise confident, resilient children.”
—Julie Upton, Principal, Laurel Plains Elementary School
“Now that my son plays in college, I can see how much this book would have helped us back in the day. It helps you handle the “Long Ride Home” the right way. It’s perfect for any parent who wants to support their child’s dreams and keep a strong bond at the same time.
This book is a must-read, especially for parents dealing with athletes in youth sports for the first time!”
—Chris Lemonis, Co-Founder, Covenant Sports Group; MLB Certified Agent; Former Major League baseball player
“Communication in relationships is essential. There is no more essential relationship in life than that of parent and child. In The Long Ride Home, Joe Clemente teaches parents to communicate in a manner where their emotions and ego remain in check, while their children are allowed to take ownership of their journeys.”
—Mike Rooney, Head Coach, Don Bosco Prep High School Baseball, New Jersey Non-Public A State Champions: 2022, 2023, & 2025
“Not only is this a must-read, it’s a must-keep in your car! Keep it close by to refresh yourself and get your mind and emotions right before your son or daughter gets in the car after their competition. Joe Clemente has knocked it out of the park with this parental guide!”
—Mike Dwyer, Coach, Don Bosco Prep High School Baseball; Father of three softball-playing daughters
“The Long Ride Home is essential reading for parents of athletes. Joe Clemente is able to use his vast knowledge and experience to provide parents with talking points and conversation starters to help you support your child during all of the ups and downs that come along with playing sports. I wish I had this book years ago, for it would have helped me to be a more supportive parent to my two baseball player sons.”
—Tim Ayers, Former Public School Educator; Father of two college baseball players
“In The Long Ride Home, Joe Clemente nails all of the do’s and don’ts for parents of student-athletes on the head. This is a tremendous blueprint to help parents get their child-athletes through the process of youth sports. This is a book that all parents of this generation of athletes definitely need. Kudos!”
—Ingrid Stallworth, Professor, Life Skills for Student Athletes; Former Division 1 basketball coach