Sisterhood in sports : how female athletes collaborate and compete / Joan Steidinger.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Sisterhood in Sports: How Female Athletes Collaborate and Compete tells the stories of all kinds of female athletes in a variety of sports. Their natural tendency to use talking as a primary form of communication is essential to their experiences and successes in sports. Women and girls tend to have BFFs, collaborate during periods of stress, express empathy for one another, worry about themselves and others, and desire to have fun in sports, which makes their experiences of sports and competition different from their male counterparts. Female strengths are grounded in both mind and body, and they take these strengths onto the court, field, and track. There are now dozens of studies showing how the female brain and hormones operate quite differently than those of men. This book reveals the ways in which these differences confirm that intense emotions about relationships are part of the sporting life for female competitors. Joan Steidinger uses real stories to show that women and girls compete at very high

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Building on 20 years of work experience, sports psychologist and runner Steidinger (kinesiology, San Francisco State Univ.) looks at female participation in sports and its relevance to published research findings on the female brain, including supporting information from her own experiences and other real-life stories. Though some of the points are made repetitively, the author provides a solid argument for the influence that communication and support have on female athletes, particularly through examples of athletes achieving success after developing their connection with teammates and others in their lives. In contrast to male athletes, Steidinger asserts that female athletes' main motivation for participating in sports is to have fun; each chapter relays valuable advice to ensure that enjoyment thrives alongside hard work. While readers can find titles on women's issues in sports, other texts don't appear to focus on the part female psychology plays. VERDICT This book is highly recommended for female athletes, as well as the families, friends, and coaches invested in raising and guiding them. Although featuring discussions of research studies throughout, Steidinger blends the information seamlessly with athlete experiences, resulting in a straightforward read that will not overwhelm its audience.-Katie McGaha, Simi Valley P.L., CA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

Sports psychologist and former competitive ultrarunner Steidinger takes an in-depth look at women and girls in sports in this informative book. Drawing upon interviews with a wide range of female athletes, neurology, and anecdotes from her psychology practice, the author notes differences between the male and female brain that influence their attitude toward sports: "Whereas girl athletes tend toward best friendship and collaborative, emotional relationships, boy athletes line up in order of dominance in teams and have activity-based, (thinking) relationships." Male and female athletes, she asserts, do not "think alike." Even in the competitive sisterhood of sports girls "just wanna have fun." Girls do best when they are encouraged to value and enjoy their relationships with friends. Each chapter concludes with a bullet box of strategies (e.g., "Ten Mental Strategies for Teenage bffs," "Ten Mental Strategies for Coaching Female Athletes," or "Ten Family Strategies for Supporting a Young Female Athlete). Female athletes and those who strive to support them will find plenty of practical ideas here that will help girls succeed and find fulfillment in sports as well as in their family and social lives. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

CHOICE Review

A specialist in sports psychology, Steidinger offers a fascinating look at the psyche of the female athlete. The subtitle says it all: "How Female Athletes Collaborate and Compete." Interpersonal relationships and skills appear to be as important in predicting women's sport success-especially team success-as physical skill and ability. That males and females are different in terms of brain chemistry is often suggested, but Steidinger delves into the research and presents the findings in a compelling and understandable manner. This is an important work for any female athlete wishing to understand herself and her performance better, for any athlete wishing to take a leadership role on her team, or any coach wishing to maximize team effectiveness as well as individual success. Sport psychologists will gain much from this book because it provides a broad range of strategies about matters from garnering socioemotional "buy in" from female athletes to new styles of coaching and new approaches to offense or defense. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, professionals; general readers. --Randall E. Osborne, Texas State University