Always Fall Forward: Life Lessons I’ll Never Forget from “The Coach"

by Todd Gerelds, Rick Burgess (Foreword)

"Make your mistakes full speed." "Always fall forward." "There are worse things than dying."

Todd Gerelds, author of the bestselling book and hit movie Woodlawn, believes the most meaningful life lessons he has learned have been on the playing field. The voice of his coach rings in his head when life gets tough or when his day becomes off-kilter. It just happens that his coach's voice is also his father's. His dad was Tandy "The Coach" Gerelds, the subject of Woodlawn and the man who led his team to victory in the racially charged atmosphere of 1970s Alabama. The Coach led his team both on and off the field, always speaking wisdom wherever he went. For him, leading his team wasn't a responsibility he took lightly. After all, the Coach wasn't just training these boys to be good football players--he was helping them build the foundation to becoming good men.

In Always Fall Forward, join the Coach's son, Todd Gerelds, as he reflects on fifty-two of his dad's most formative "coachisms." From "Your stance is critical" to "One play at a time," you, too, will start hearing the strong and encouraging voice of the Coach when life hits you hard. Packed with life application, Always Fall Forward challenges men each week to live the way the Coach lived--grounded in faith and willing to stand up for what he believed--no matter the cost.

You won't want to forget these lessons--both on and off the field.

240 pages, Hardcover

Published January 2, 2018

About the author

Todd Gerelds is author of the book Woodlawn, which became a major motion picture that played in theaters across the country. In the book, Todd recounts the events he witnessed as the son of Coach Tandy Gerelds. This true story of hope, faith, and love has made an impact in schools, churches, athletic teams, businesses, charity organizations, and in many individual lives.

Todd has spent over 20 years as an award-winning sales professional, sales trainer, and sales manager with three Fortune 500 companies. Todd is married to Jennifer Morgan Gerelds. They have four daughters: Morgan, Bailey Kay "BK", Alli, and Maggie Leigh.

Reviews

[Brandi D'Angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an inspirational devotional book that would make a great gift to a young (or older) man. I think it would be especially meaningful to any boy who plays football or another sport, as each week's reading builds off of different elements of playing football. I liked the size (about 5" x 7 1/2") too, as it makes it easy to keep on a nightstand or carry with you. There is a reading for each week of the year.

[Todd Gerelds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I'm allowed to rate my own book. :) I liked it a lot. I could really, really relate to the author. It was as though he was living my own life. I have read this book so many times. I think I will always remember the lessons contained within.

[BartandBrandi Crum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was anxious to receive this book, to review, because the movie is *such* a hit with my family.  I have 4 sons and 3 of them love sports (the fourth is only 4), so my hope was that my husband would interact with the boys because, he too, is a sports fanatic.  What a good way to bond, dig deep in the Word, and relate about similar "sporty" analogies.  

One phrase that stuck out to me was "Make your mistakes at full speed."  I tell my kids, often, that I would rather than try 1000x and fail then to never try at all.  They are so stuck on perfection and not screwing up, but that is not life.  Life is full of "making your mistakes at full speed" and then learning from them.....from there, you get better, you get wiser.

I encourage you to check out, not only the movie Woodlawn, but to read this 52 week devotional....whether you have children or not, there is so much that can be learned through life lessons from the field.

To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, please mention as part of every Web or Amazon review that Tyndale House Publishers has provided you with a complimentary copy of this book.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through GoodReads First Read program.

What a great devotional for the football fan. Gerelds gives you lessons he learned from his dad who was a high school football coach in Alabama. He was the coach set out in the movie "Woodlawn".

The book is set for 52 weeks, with a lesson every week. I read it as a daily devotional. The book consists of a 3 page football lesson that can be applied to life and is set out in the Bible. This is followed by 3-4 sets of Bible readings. Finally there are 2-3 questions that make you think about your life and how this lesson needs to be applied.

This devotional got me through a very hard time in my life which oddly enough started on the day I began the devotional. I don't think that was an accident. I think God knew I needed this book at the time I started it.

I loved high school football and played a couple of years at a small Division III school. I can remember many of these lessons being applied in football but I had never considered how they fit in with what Jesus said in the Bible.

This is a great gift for your father or friend who loves football and God. I plan on passing it on to former high school football teammates.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy.

Review Q & A-

- What did you like about the book and why? At first I thought it was going to be smug and pretentious or stuffy or maybe it would be a sad homage to a man that was loved by his son. I enjoyed that fact that it was a little of both but with good spirit and uplifting moments blended in. You can really tell that this author has a love for his father and a respect that went deep.

- What did you not like about the book and why? While I understand the point of the book, I feel like the author could have shown more sides of the stories and feelings in a way that was more connecting instead of kind of putting it out there.

- What did you learn? Again I feel like the author really had a love and respect for his father and wanted to share his knowledge with the world.

- To whom would you recommend this book and why? A male late in their years or to someone who has just lost a father, perhaps someone who needs a bit of support and healing.

[Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A goodreads giveaway
An interesting mix of football philosophy, religon and every day life. It is a 52 week study guide of the bible with a connection to football. Really a 2.5 for me as I would have liked more depth on some of the topics.

[Jamie Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be awesome of the young man who plays football.

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

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