Christopher Stankovich, Ph.D.

Hall of Fame Redemption: Rethinking Bonds and Clemens in 2025 | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich The Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Fame contemporary era ballot results will be made public this Sunday, directing attention once again toward two very well known steroid users, and whether they ...

Barry Bonds & Roger Clemens are up for the HOF again this weekend on the contemporary ballot. What has changed in the last 20 years, & why are both likely to get in this time? drstankovich.com/hall-of-fame...

YouTube video by Grandview Heights Schools Building Better Athletes & People | GHS Athletics Podcast | November 2025

Check the Grandview Heights athletic podcast with boys & girls high school basketball coaches Bob Ghiloni and Nina Napolitano! Our in-depth conversation covers each coach's background, player development, & coaching kids in 2025. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IWA... #sports #coaching #mentalhealth

The Impact of Instant Gratification: How Tech is Impacting Human Development & Mental Health | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Like it or not, we have become a hyper-instant gratification society.  Many of the modern-day advances that we love have made life easier, but also make life shallower in ways we often don’t always no...

Human development requires patience, effort, & reflection.
Technology encourages the opposite: speed, ease, & reaction. Instant gratification trains the brain to avoid anything uncomfortable.
But growth only happens in the uncomfortable moments. drstankovich.com/the-impact-o... #mentalhealth

Fundamentals First: The Case for Mastering the Basics Before Joining Elite Teams | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich As we witness increasingly more kids today race to play in the most advanced youth sport leagues possible, there is an important tradeoff occurring that’s not receiving the attention it should.  Speci...

Elite sports teams mean nothing if a kid hasn't mastered the basic fundamentals of his sport. Many families chase prestigious elite teams & programs, but what kids really need is repetition & basic skill-building to increase confidence and strengthen muscle memory. drstankovich.com/fundamentals...

Lane Kiffin: The Latest Example of College Football’s Ongoing Transformation | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Today’s big sports news is college football coach Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss to go to LSU.  A move like this at the end of a contract (not up until 2031), or even at the end of a season, is seen as ...

College football was built on loyalty, identity, and tradition.
Now? Coaches like Lane Kiffin jet the moment a better deal comes along.
Money, mobility, gambling, and chaos.
Not every modern upgrade has improved the product.
drstankovich.com/lane-kiffin-...

Building Champions: How Accountability Shapes Young Athletes | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Coaches regularly want accountability from their players, especially as this applies to maintaining grades, staying out of trouble, and putting out 100% effort for the team.  When kids respond by hold...

If you want your kids to chase big dreams, teach them to own small details. Being held accountable doesn’t tear kids down,
it prepares them for the realities of competition, school, and life. drstankovich.com/building-cha... #kids #sports #mentalhealth

When AI Becomes Your Therapist: The Limits of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Care | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Artificial intelligence (AI), once seen as science fiction, is now seemingly everywhere.  As we watch people more regularly use AI to help with everyday problems, questions arise around the limitation...

AI is great at providing information, but emotional crises require connection, judgment, and humanity — not algorithms.
When AI replaces therapy, we risk swapping professional care for quick comfort — and comfort isn’t treatment. drstankovich.com/when-ai-beco... #mentalhealth

Experts vs. Influencers: How Online Popularity Hijacks Our Critical Thinking & Judgment | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich You hear about “influencers” all the time today, but it wasn’t that long ago when we relied on true experts for help, not individuals who simply gained popularity online.  A modern-day influencer is d...

We trust influencers because they feel relatable—but relatability isn’t expertise.
When popularity replaces knowledge, bad advice spreads fast. drstankovich.com/experts-vs-i...

The Dark Side of Legal Sports Gambling: Fear, Harassment, and College Athlete Safety | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Now that sports gambling has been legalized, we are learning about the problems that have occurred as a direct result of betting   In addition to the growing concerns around gambling addiction, and pl...

Legalized sports betting was supposed to make games more exciting. Instead, some college athletes now face threats and harassment when bettors lose money. If sports betting profits come at the cost of athlete safety, we’ve crossed a line. drstankovich.com/the-dark-sid...

The Decline of Critical Thinking in the Age of Artificial Intelligence | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich There’s a good chance you use artificial intelligence (AI) on a daily basis, and if you don’t now, you likely will in the very near future.  Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, we now regularly use to...

Every time AI does the thinking for us, our mental muscles shrink a little. Curiosity is like fitness — use it or lose it. drstankovich.com/the-decline-...

Beyond the Stigma: How “Mental” Became a Barrier to Mental Health | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Having spent my entire career in the mental health field, I have witnessed both the tremendous value of mental health assistance, and the unfortunate tendency for people to avoid it due to lingering s...

The word mental carries history — asylums, stereotypes, and silence. We can’t erase that overnight, but we can start speaking differently today. drstankovich.com/beyond-the-s... #mentalhealth

When Talent Meets Reality: Is Your Child’s Ceiling High Enough for College Sports? | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich The terms ceiling and floor are often used to describe potential performance in sports, where the ceiling is the maximum possible achievement, and the floor is the minimum (or worst) performance. As y...

Every young athlete has a ceiling (their best days) and a floor (their worst).
College athletes? Their bad days still look better than most kids’ good ones.
That’s what separates college athletes from everyone else. drstankovich.com/when-talent-... #kids #sports

Increasingly More Student Athletes Make it to College — Then Quit | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Millions of American families are involved in youth sports, with many interested in helping their child earn a D-1 college athletic scholarship to help offset college costs.  While only about 5-7% of ...

Signing Day feels like the finish line.
But for college athletes, it’s just the begining.
Everyone wants to be a college athlete — until they see what it takes to stay one. Eat, lift, class, practice, film, study, repeat.
Every. Single. Day. drstankovich.com/increasingly...

Push-Ups Over Price Tags: The Case for Old-School Fitness in Youth Sports | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Kids today have a lot of options when it comes to getting in shape, including the weight room at the school, local community gyms, and possibly in the basement of their own home.  In fact, as we incre...

You don’t need a $100/month gym membership to build an athlete. Before there were apps, trainers, or boutique gyms…
There were kids doing wind sprints in the yard and push-ups in the basement. Those methods still work. drstankovich.com/push-ups-ove... #kids #sports

Role Models, or Mere Athletes? Reassessing the Expectations We Place on Athletes | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Are athletes still expected to be role models?  For as long as I can remember, we have always assumed that athletes conduct themselves in healthy, positive ways, including making good decisions and mo...

Are athletes still role models — or just entertainers? Should we hold athletes -- including young athletes -- more accountable for their actions simply because they play sports? drstankovich.com/role-models-... #mentalhealth #sports #kids

From the Field to Real Life: Using Athletic Transferable Skills for Life Success | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich When it comes to sport participation, most athletes overlook (or devalue) the life skills they learn while competing.  This is not surprising, especially when you consider how regularly athletes (of a...

Every team huddle teaches kids how to listen, collaborate, and trust others.
Kids learn quickly that those skills transfer to the classroom, workplace, and relationships.
drstankovich.com/from-the-fie... #kids #mentalhealth

YouTube video by Grandview Heights Schools Building Baseball and Balance with Coach Tyler Fitzgerald | GHS Athletics Podcast | October 2025

I recently had the great opportunity to sit down with Tyler Fitzgerald, head baseball coach at Grandview Heights High School, to discuss his coaching background, recent baseball success, and important tips & advice for kids & parents.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9gl...

Beyond Natural Talent: How Hustle and Attitude Make a Difference in Youth Sports | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich While it is true that most kids aren’t as talented as LeBron James or Caitlyn Clark, there are still many important things that every kid can do while competing in youth sports.  Even though your son ...

Talent is a gift. Effort is a choice.
In youth sports, the kids who show up early, listen, and hustle create their own advantage. drstankovich.com/beyond-natur... #kids #mentalhealth #sports

Youth Sports Playing Time vs. Prestige: Which Matters More for Kids? | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Would kids rather sit the bench on a really good team, or play a lot on a bad team?  For many kids this is a question they (and/or their parents) must answer as they navigate the increasingly complex ...

Sitting on a strong team can hurt confidence, but fuel growth.
Starting on a weak team can build confidence, but limit challenge.
Do kids benefit more from sitting the bench on a good team, or playing a lot on a bad team? drstankovich.com/youth-sports... #kids #mentalhealth

Same Colors, Shared Confidence: The Hidden Value of Team Uniforms | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Youth sports uniforms have come a long way from when you played, with today’s new sweat-wicking fabrics offering better comfort than the old cotton (wool!) uniforms kids used to wear.  In fact, not on...

Sports uniforms don’t just make teams look unified — they make them feel unified.
Uniforms turn “me” into “we,' and gives kids confidence, connection, a sense of purpose, and an athletic identity. drstankovich.com/same-colors-... #kids #mentalhealth #sports

The Grind Before the Glory: Why the Best Athletes Never Skip the Basics | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Most kids practicing sports will do things they enjoy, already do well, and/or are allow them to experience immediate success.  For example, watch kids when playing on their own and you will often wit...

The secret to greatness isn’t secret at all. The basics aren’t flashy.
They’re repetitive.
They’re tiring.
But for athletes like Paul Skenes, they’re the difference between good and great. drstankovich.com/the-grind-be...

High Salaries, Low Returns: Why So Many College Coaches Aren’t Worth the Price Tag | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich When it comes to sport success, there have always been debates around the overall impact the coach has on a team.  In recent years sports fans have often used the New England Patriots as an example, w...

College coaches get extensions after losses, buyouts after collapses, and millions no matter what.
It’s time to ask: What are schools really buying? drstankovich.com/high-salarie...

Morning Sports Practice Before School is Becoming the Norm, but is this Healthy for Kids? | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich If you haven’t been paying close attention you might be surprised to learn that increasingly more student athletes today not only practice after school, they are also expected to train in the morning ...

Once reserved for elite college programs, pre-dawn practices are now routine in high school. Are we building toughness and commitment — or putting kids’ health and development at risk? drstankovich.com/morning-spor... #mentalhealth #kids #sports #psychology

The End of Amateurism: How NIL Money Is Transforming the Meaning of Youth Sports | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich When the NCAA approved for student athletes to begin collecting Name, Image, & Likeness (NIL) deals in 2021, it was the first significant blow to the “amateur” sports model Americans have recognized s...

The line between college and pro sports disappeared years ago.
Now high school athletes are cashing in too. With NIL money reaching high school locker rooms, true "amateur" sports hang in the balance. drstankovich.com/the-end-of-a... #sports #mentalhealth #kids #coaching

The Sports Brag Trap: Why the Best Sports Parents Don’t Brag About their Kids | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Bragging is defined as excessively proud and boastful talk about one’s achievements or possessions.  A humble brag is a self-promotion wrapped in a complaint, self-deprecation, or faux modesty.  While...

Your kid does not need a hype team — he needs a support system.
Reel in the parental sports bragging, encourage all kids, and let their play on the field do all the talking.
drstankovich.com/the-sports-b... #kids #mentalhealth #sports

Big Salaries, Bigger Buyouts: The Hidden Price of College Coaching Contracts | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich James Franklin was fired from his head football coach position at Penn State over the weekend, a move that many fans expected after watching Franklin amass a 4-21 record against top ten teams during h...

Fired — and $50 million richer.
James Franklin’s buyout at Penn State shows just how out of control college football contracts have become.
When losing still pays, who’s really winning?
drstankovich.com/big-salaries...

Should Baseball Chase Perfection — or Preserve Its Imperfections? | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System is coming to Major League Baseball in 2026, meaning for the first time in baseball history (since 1876!) MLB umpires will be assisted by technology whe...

Every fan’s dream: the end of bad strike calls.
Every purist’s nightmare: the end of human umpires.
Baseball’s biggest change is coming — are we ready for it?
drstankovich.com/should-baseb...

Building Champions with Character: The Role of Accountability in Youth Sports | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich One word that coaches like to use with student athletes is accountability, or simply being responsible for your actions.  Coaches emphasize accountability as an integral piece to building a successful...

When kids learn accountability early, they don’t just become better athletes — they become better people.
Sports are the classroom; accountability is the lesson. drstankovich.com/building-cha... #kids #sports #psychology #mentalhealth

Betting on Trouble: Why the NCAA’s New Gambling Policy Misses the Mark | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich So, is sports gambling good or bad?  Healthy or unhealthy?  To answer that question you might want to steer clear of what the NCAA has to say, as their recent decision to allow college athletes and st...

The NCAA just opened the door for athletes and staff to bet on sports. It’s being framed as “modernization.”
In reality? It’s a dangerous gamble with integrity on the line.
drstankovich.com/betting-on-t...

Addicted to Approval: How Social Media Rewired Our Need to Be Liked | The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich Believe it or not, there once was a time humans conducted their lives without any thought of attracting “likes” for something they did, said, or photographed.  For young people today, their lives have...

That tiny dopamine hit when someone “likes” your post?
It’s no accident — it’s neuroscience.
Discover why we’re hooked on digital validation. drstankovich.com/addicted-to-... #psychology #mentalhealth