From Setbacks to Comebacks: Raising Mentally Tough Athletes With Dr. Rob Bell

From Setbacks to Comebacks: Raising Mentally Tough Athletes With Dr. Rob Bell. How do you help young athletes bounce back after failure? Can you really teach mental toughness, or is it something kids learn by facing adversity? In this episode of I Love to Watch You Play, Asia Mape sits down with Dr. Rob Bell—sports psychologist, author, and advocate for raising resilient, joyful athletes.

Dr. Bell opens up about his own “hinge moment”—a life-changing event that ended his sports career but led to his passion for helping athletes thrive under pressure. He explains why failure is a bruise, not a tattoo, and shares why it’s essential to prepare kids for uncomfortable situations instead of shielding them from challenges.

Parents, this episode is a game-changer. You’ll learn how to:

Shift from “should-ing” on your kids to building their confidence.

Turn mistakes into tools for growth, not roadblocks.

Create an environment where athletes thrive on their terms—not yours.

If you’ve ever wondered how to strike the balance between pushing too hard and not pushing enough, Dr. Bell’s wisdom will resonate deeply. He also shares powerful insights on fear, why kids quit, and how one coach or moment can change everything.

It’s packed with actionable advice and fresh perspectives for anyone raising or coaching young athletes. Don’t miss this conversation, which will transform your approach to sports and parenting.

Resources & Links to Connect with Dr. Rob Bell

🌟 Dr. Rob Bell Official Website

Find Dr. Bell’s books, blog posts, and resources, including his Daily Focus Roadmap with "7 super-fast ways to win the day."

Social Media

📸 Instagram: @drrobbell

🐦 Twitter/X: @drrobbell

Books

📚 Explore Dr. Bell’s impactful books, such as:

Puke and Rally: It’s Not About the Setback, It’s About the Comeback

Don’t Should on Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness

I Can't Wait to Be Patient: The Fastest Way to Get There

For a complete list, visit his Books Page on his website.

Free Resources

💡 Download the Daily Focus Roadmap to discover quick strategies for winning the day and sharpening your mental game.

Take Back the Game: Restoring Joy in Youth Sports With Linda Flanagan

Take Back the Game: Restoring Joy in Youth Sports. What if the very thing you thought would set your child up for success is actually causing more harm than good? Today, we’re diving into the world of youth sports with Linda Flanagan, a journalist, coach, and author of Take Back the Game. Linda unpacks how the youth sports industry plays on parents’ fears, pushing competition and pressure at the expense of what sports are truly about—character, connection, and joy.

We’ll explore the seismic shift from kid-driven fun to adult-driven pressure, the emotional highs and lows parents feel on the sidelines, and how societal expectations have transformed sports into a high-stakes rat race. But it’s not all doom and gloom—Linda shares how we can reclaim the magic of sports, give kids agency in their journey, and model a balanced, happy adulthood.

Get ready to rethink everything you know about youth sports. Let’s jump in! 

Follow Linda on Instagram

Email Linda 

Linda on X

Unlocking the Secrets of Raising Athletes: Insights from a Youth Sports Expert

Unlocking the Secrets of Raising Athletes: Insights from a Youth Sports Expert. Linda Martindale may be one of the most qualified youth sports experts we've had on the podcast. Her father was a coach, she played D1 basketball. All four of her kids play collegiate sports—basketball, beach volleyball, skiing, soccer, and Lacrosse. She is the head coach of a men's high school varsity basketball team, has a podcast where she speaks to athletes about overcoming challenges, and also happens to be an athlete mental wellness coach! 

This is one you don't want to miss.

We discuss reframing pressure as a privilege. Normalizing female athlete jealousy - how it brings unnecessary shame and why we need to accept it as competition and use it as motivation. We also talk about why when an athlete quits, this is a normal reaction to hard things and why Linda considers herself a quitter. Linda shares the superpowers female athletes need, how to conquer performance anxiety, and how to teach our kids to be hungry - even if they have never missed a meal. 

You can find Linda, her Podcast, how to work with her, and all her socials on her website, MartindaleCoaching.com.

Listen to more great podcasts:

Bring Back The Joy! Coach Ballgame Is Changing The Way We Coach Our Youth Athletes.

George Mumford: How Mindfulness Can Help Your Athlete

Tony Snethen: Good Enough: 45 Minutes that will change YOUR life.

Max Rooke: Pepperdine's Associate Women's Soccer Coach: Performing, Playing, and Living Life To The Max.

Katie Wood: The Author of a Simple Seed. A book that will change your athlete's life.

Bring Back The Joy! Coach Ballgame Is Changing The Way We Coach Our Youth Athletes.

Bring Back The Joy! Coach Ballgame Is Changing The Way We Coach Our Youth Athletes. Calling all coaches and parents who want to instill A LOVE of sport in their child. Today’s guest is NONE OTHER Than James Lowe; you probably know him as “Coach Ballgame.”  Coach Ballgame is the Ambassador of PLAY BALL, partnering with Major League Baseball coaching camps and growing the game of baseball.  He has also partnered with the Chicago Cubs and FOX SPORTS.

His mission is simple: build character and get kids to fall in love with baseball. He has a unique ability to engage kids of all ages through music, poetry, and enthusiasm. Coach Ballgame was a four-year starter at Brown University, where he was captain and All-Ivy League.

We discuss the importance of building trust and a connection with young athletes, and he shares his secrets on how to make coaching fun and engaging. He also discusses the challenges of reaching coaches and parents who may have a different mindset and offers advice on how to approach them. The conversation emphasizes the significance of prioritizing joy and character development over winning. Coach Ballgame also discusses the challenges of separating oneself from the experiences of watching kids play sports and the importance of letting them have their own experiences.

Where To Find Coach Ballgame:

Coach Ballgame Website 

Instagram

Facebook

Listen to more great podcasts:

George Mumford: How Mindfulness Can Help Your Athlete

Tony Snethen: Good Enough: 45 Minutes that will change YOUR life.

Max Rooke: Pepperdine's Associate Women's Soccer Coach: Performing, Playing, and Living Life To The Max.

Katie Wood: The Author of a Simple Seed. A book that will change your athlete's life.

Today’s guest is Katie Wood, the author of A Simple Seed. The Simple Seed recently became the best-selling children’s book on Amazon, passing Harry Potter and Dr. Seuss. It also hit the #1 best seller for Happiness Self-Help, passing Jay Shetty, Glenn Doyle, and the Dalai Lama. She's been on The Today Show, and the Simple Seed is now in schools all over the country.

It helps with confidence, gratitude, and a growth mindset and allows parents to show their kids how much they matter. It helps create positive habits and routines and connects parents and kids.  Here’s one of my favorite quotes from the book. "The simple act of planting a seed each and every day has a significant impact on how your kids view themselves and the world around them," {and if I might add - how they feel about their relationship with us)

Katie is a former teacher. She was also a college basketball player, and her husband played hockey overseas. She is raising four kids, all of whom play competitive sports. 

Follow Katie on social media:

Instagram

The Journal

Not Good Enough - The Toxic World of Youth Sports

My guest on this episode of the Ilovetowatchyouplay.com podcast is Tony Snethen, the executive producer of the documentary Not Good Enough. Snethen is also the Vice President of brand innovation for the Kansas City Royals. It perfectly captures the last nine years of the content we’ve shared here rolled into a perfect and powerful 45 minutes. 

The film is critically acclaimed and was recently recognized, earning 3 Telly Awards!

A MUST watch and MUST listen for anyone involved in youth sports.

You can find the film at Shutoutthestigma.com

And The Kansas City Royals Youtube Channel

Read about my experience here: My Daughter Quit Youth Sports and This is What I Want All Sports Parents To Know

Articles to help you be a great sports parent

Listen to more great podcasts:

George Mumford: How Mindfulness Can Help Your Athlete

Max Rooke: Pepperdine's Associate Women's Soccer Coach: Performing, Playing, and Living Life To The Max.

Katie Wood: The Author of a Simple Seed. A book that will change your athlete's life.

The conversation explores the themes of high performance, habits, and team culture with Pepperdine assistant women's soccer coach, Max Rooke.

How Mindfulness Can Help Your Youth Athlete: George Mumford

Summary

How Mindfulness Can Help Your Youth Athlete: George Mumford. In this conversation, George Mumford discusses his new book 'Unlocked' and the importance of mindfulness for athletes and non-athletes alike. Mumford believes that everyone has a masterpiece inside waiting to be unlocked through mindfulness and self-awareness. Mumford discusses the power of thoughts, self-talk, and beliefs in shaping our reality. He emphasizes the importance of creating space between stimulus and response and choosing our attitudes and values. Mumford also explores the concept of flow and the role of mindfulness in achieving peak performance. He encourages embracing discomfort and pushing the boundaries to unlock our full potential. Ultimately, Mumford highlights the significance of vulnerability as a source of power and choosing how we want to meet life's challenges.

Listen to more great podcasts:

Katie Wood: The Author of a Simple Seed. A book that will change your athlete's life.

Tony Snethen: Good Enough: 45 Minutes that will change YOUR life.

Max Rooke: Pepperdine's Associate Women's Soccer Coach: Performing, Playing, and Living Life To The Max.

Fuel Your Athlete For Success (49 Minute watch/listen- Subjects discussed in order below)

Fuel your athlete for success. We are asking and demanding so much of young athletes these days, yet, they don't have the knowledge or understanding of basic nutrition; 40% of athletes don't even eat breakfast. Sports Nutritionist Tavis Piattoly helps us sort through fact and fiction to give parents and athletes an actionable plan to help them succeed. Piattoly is the former New Orleans Saints, Pelicans, and Tulane Athletic dietician and the Co-founder and Director of Sports Nutrition for My Sports Dietitian (www.mysportsd.com) and the Eat2Win Nutrition App. Youth sports parents, this is a podcast you don't want to miss.

 

The interview is also available on our podcast (see above), iTunes, and Spotify. 

(The contents of these videos and podcasts are not to take the place of your health care provider; always consult with your doctor first. The opinions expressed by our experts do not necessarily reflect those of Ilovetowatchyouplay. )

Topics Covered 

-Convincing youth athletes nutrition is important

-Stop demonizing food — there is no good or bad

-What should youth athletes be eating & what should they stay away from?

-Traditional carbs vs. “healthier” options (e.g., white rice vs. brown rice)

-Gameday eating guidelines

-Eating prior to a game - how much and when? (Gameday eating guidelines continued)

-Is caffeine okay for youth athletes prior to a competition?

-How important is hydration, and how much should athletes drink?

-Can you drink too much water?

-What counts as a fluid in terms of hydration?

-Recovery drinks 

-Importance of electrolytes

-Is there a danger of drinking too many electrolytes? (Be cautious of high potassium and low sodium drinks.)

-There is no “one size fits all” approach to sports nutrition

-Examples of carbs, protein, and fats to eat before training or competing

-Protein powder supplementation for kids (viewer question)

-Eat 2 Win app & My Sports Dietician

-Nutrition during injury

-Guidelines for gaining and losing weight

-Healthier fast food options

-What credentials should youth sports parents look for when searching for a sports dietician?

-The healing powers of food

-Wrap-up and contact information

Contact Us

Reach Tavis Piattoly at Instagram @Tavis Piattoly & Twitter @Tavis Piattoly, Mysportsd.com

Follow Dr. Sam Maniar at Centerforpeakperformance.com and Twitter @sam_maniar

Follow Asia Mape and ILTWYP here.

 

Check out more in-depth discussions on the topics that matter most to parents in youth sports:

Sleep: One of the most important factors in keeping your child healthy and successful in school and sports

How to protect your child from addiction

Everything a sports parent needs to know about concussions, including what predisposed conditions lead to them

High Performance For Youth Athletes (54 Minute watch/listen- Time Stamps below to jump to topics on video)

Director of High Performance For The Chicago Cubs, Dr. Adam Beard, shares the latest information on high performance for youth sports parents. He gives great insight into so many topics; a few are; tips for maximizing performance, youth athletes and strength, conditioning, sports psychology, recovery, heat vs. cold, and electrolytes and sports drinks.

 

The interview is also available on our podcast (see above) or on iTunes and Spotify. 

(The contents of these videos and podcasts are not to take the place of your health care provider, always consult with your doctor first. The opinions expressed by our experts do not necessarily reflect those of Ilovetowatchyouplay. )

Time Stamps For Topics

1:37: What is “high performance” and “sports science”?

2:57: Challenges of getting multiple disciplines to work together

4:00: Differences between U.S. sports and sports in other places in the world

6:00: Resistance and skepticism toward sport science

7:40: Tips for helping athletes maximize performance

10:54: Developing athletes

12:25: Kids and strength training

14:41: Finding a qualified strength coach

15:22: Skill-specific strength training

16:58: Looking at sport improvement from a holistic perspective; using film and checklists to improve skills

17:54: The psychology of performance and training our body to perform under pressure; how the body self-organizes

19:02: Learning can be accelerated by controlled mistakes and growth mindset

19:47: Recovery tips

24:00: It’s easy to take short-cuts; stacking positive habits

25:35: Heat vs. cold for recovery

29:34: Massage guns and massages

31:22: Placebo effects and doing no harm

32:28: Stretching, warming up, and cooling down

37:00: Injury prevention

43:00: Electrolytes and sports drinks

47:00: Importance of using a performance log or journal

48:15: Catchers and maintaining knee health

50:27: Improving ankle and hip mobility

52:03: Women and ACL prevention

 

More Resources For You And Your Athlete

Position paper – Youth resistance training 

https://www.nsca.com/globalassets/about/position-statements/position_stand_youth_resistance_training---2009.pdf

 

ACL prevention in female athletes

https://www.aspetar.com/journal/viewarticle.aspx?id=82#.YMJXHS9h23W 

 

https://kneesurgerysydney.com.au/preventing-acl-injuries-with-the-fifa-11-program/

 

Ankle mobility links via YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Vqc2gypkE

 

Contact Us

Reach Dr. Adam Beard at Instagram @ajbeardo & Twitter @ajbeardo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-beard-ph-d-5b80082a/

Follow Dr. Sam Maniar at Centerforpeakperformance.com and Twitter @sam_maniar

Follow Asia Mape and ILTWYP here.

 

Check out more in-depth discussions on the topics that matter most to parents in youth sports:

Sleep: One of the most important factors in keeping your child healthy and successful in school and sports

How to protect your child from addiction

Everything a sports parent needs to know about concussions, including what predisposed conditions lead to them