Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / Young Athletes, THINK Before You INK

Young Athletes, THINK Before You INK

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Apr 04, 2012

No Comments

Increasingly more athletes are getting tattooed these days – sometimes as early as high school.  While it wasn’t that long ago that tattoos were a rarity to see in sports (just watch NBA clips from the ’80’s), nowadays you are seemingly in the minority if you don’t have any ink.  It’s funny, but if you want to be noticed these days you will likely get more attention for not having tattoos than if you do choose to get one, ironically.

Of course, it is to each individual what he or she wants to do with their body, and tattoos are not right or wrong per se. Tattoos are, however, very permanent and it is from this perspective that I would like to offer a few thoughts to young athletes thinking they might want to start working on their “sleeve” this weekend:

  • Take a look back at pictures of yourself from just a few years ago.  Do you laugh at the hideous shirt you wore, and do you cringe at the awful haircut you used to have?  Fortunately, those are days of the past and short of a friend playing a joke and posting those pics on Facebook at your expense, you can probably lock them up in a drawer and prevent the world from seeing the old you.  The point here is that what people like one day can end up being something they don’t like later on in life — with tattoos, you don’t get a do-over, and it’s quite likely that what you think is cool today might be something you hate later (like that haircut in 9th grade).
  • Remember, you are not LeBron James, Dennis Rodman, David Beckham, or even Lil’ Wayne.  People at the top of their craft have a lot more latitude when it comes to what they can get away with — for the rest of us, making permanent decisions like getting a tattoo on your neck can lead to some very negative consequences down the road – like at a job interview.
  • Regardless of what anyone says, people get tattoos for attention (meaning you didn’t get that dragon tattoo down your arm for people not to look).  There’s nothing wrong with seeking the attention of others, but the question is can you still get the attention you seek without tatting up your body for life?  Perhaps a new haircut, different clothes, or even a more inviting smile and affable personality might get you all the attention you could ever ask for!

Again, tattoos are not bad, and there’s nothing wrong with those people who choose to decorate their body with them.  The problem, however, is that many people make decisions about tattoos without much forethought, and only later do they come to realize the full cost of their short-sighted decision.  Don’t believe me?  Ask people over the age of 40 how many of them still feel a connection to their tattoo.  You might be surprised to learn how their feelings have changed, yet the permanent markings on their body still remain.  Short of spending thousands of dollars for painful laser tattoo removal, many of these folks are stuck with a branding that they feel no longer represents who they are — similar to that really ugly outfit they wore back in high school.

www.drstankovich.com

 

 

 

decision, high, ink, pro, professional, school, sports, tattoos, young

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Latest Blog Posts

  • March 22, 2023 Nature or Nurture? Exploring the Psychology of Sport Success
  • March 20, 2023 Morning Sports Practice Before School is Becoming the Norm, but is this Healthy for Kids?
  • March 14, 2023 Understanding Intelligence: Putting Knowledge into ACTION!
  • March 13, 2023 3 Important Tips for Today’s Multi-Sport, Youth Sport Athlete
  • February 26, 2023 The Most Important Sports “Ability” Might Surprise You

Comments are closed.

PREVIOUS POST

Sports Perception and the Impact on Athletic Success

NEXT POST

Tiger Woods “Problem” is One Many Athletes Can Learn From

Category

Athletic Counseling , Coaching , Leadership and Role Modeling , Pro and College Sports , Sport Psychology , Sport Sociology , Sports Culture and Society , Sports Humor , Sports Leadership , Sports Parenting , Training and Development , Youth and Interscholastic Sports , Youth Sports

Tags

decision, high, ink, pro, professional, school, sports, tattoos, young

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Nature or Nurture? Exploring the Psychology of Sport Success
  • Morning Sports Practice Before School is Becoming the Norm, but is this Healthy for Kids?
  • Understanding Intelligence: Putting Knowledge into ACTION!
  • 3 Important Tips for Today's Multi-Sport, Youth Sport Athlete
  • The Most Important Sports "Ability" Might Surprise You
  • The Psychology Behind Breaking Bad Habits
  • What has Happened to Free Play and Recreational Sports for Kids?
  • The Importance of Efficiency Applied to Success & Productivity
  • The Most Important Sports "Ability" Might Surprise You
  • Accident Prone & Forgetful? Poor Stress Coping May be the Reason
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2023 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓