111. Asia Mape, Founder of I Love to Watch You Play

Hi I’m Scot Cooper and this is the Tales From the Trail Podcast by MatchPlay. In this episode I welcome Asia Mape the founder of I Love to Watch You Play. She discusses her experiences as a parent of athletes and the lessons she’s learned from along the way. I Love to Watch You Play has the motto helping sports parents raise healthy, happy athletes- the name says it all, young athletes repeatedly express that what they want to hear from their parents is ‘I love to watch you play’. Check out Asia’s podcast at ilovetowatchyouplay.com.

Summary

Asia Mape, a former sports television producer and founder of I Love to Watch You Play, shares her journey in the sports industry and the importance of supporting young athletes. She discusses the pressure parents often put on their children in youth sports and the need to remember the true purpose of sports. Asia also opens up about her own experience with her daughter quitting sports and the lessons she learned as a parent. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for balance, communication, and trust in youth sports. In this conversation, Asia Mape discusses the importance of mindfulness practice for both parents and young athletes. She shares her personal experience of realizing her attachment to her children's sports performance and how mindfulness helped her find balance. Asia also emphasizes the significance of positive behavioral contagion in creating a supportive and positive team environment. Lastly, she offers insights into the college recruiting process and highlights the importance of character in standing out as an athlete.

Takeaways

Parents should remember the true purpose of youth sports, which is the process of learning, character development, and personal growth, rather than focusing solely on outcomes.

Putting pressure on young athletes can have negative effects on their enjoyment of sports and overall well-being.

Parents should prioritize supporting their children's interests and goals, rather than imposing their own agendas.

Building trust and open communication with children is crucial in understanding their needs and desires in sports. Mindfulness practice can help parents find balance and avoid becoming overly attached to their children's sports performance.

Creating a positive team environment through positive behavioral contagion is crucial for athletes to thrive.

The college recruiting process can be unpredictable, and it's important to keep all options open and focus on character development.

Character and personal qualities can make a significant difference in the college recruiting process.

Chapters

00:00 Running into Chris Brown at UCLA

01:14 Asia Mape's career in sports television

04:00 The behind-the-scenes of sports broadcasting

04:50 Starting I Love to Watch You Play

08:11 Remembering the why in youth sports

10:15 The effects of putting pressure on young athletes

11:38 Transition from enjoyment to pressure in youth sports

13:11 Effects of pressuring instead of supporting

21:09 Building trust with your child

23:25 Repairing the parent-child relationship

25:19 Recognizing when a child is ready to quit

28:08 Reflecting on the parent's role in youth sports

29:17 Mindfulness Practice

38:16 Positive Behavioral Contagion

48:39 College Recruiting Process

56:26 The Importance of Character