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.

Choice Reviews

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.' 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.

Publishers Weekly

[Steidinger] 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. . . . This book is highly recommended for female athletes, as well as the families, friends, and coaches invested in raising and guiding them. . . . Steidinger blends the information seamlessly with athlete experiences, resulting in a straightforward read that will not overwhelm its audience.

Library Journal

Spliced beautifully with anecdotes, experiences of well known athletes, conversations with other sportswomen, and observations of connected individuals including coaches, this convincing analysis discusses issues of special significance to female athletes. . . .Sisterhood in Sports by Joan Steidinger is not only for reading. At almost every turn of the page, a helpful hint, or a bulleted list with many hints, appears with the potential to adapt the recommended strategy in practice. . . .I found most of the experiences and strategies mentioned in the book, though new (I am not a sportsman!) to me, clearly understandable. After reading this, I am in a better position to appreciate the quandary when newspapers speak of unexplained and sudden shift in caliber or unreliable performance graphs of female athletes. This is an excellent read for all; sportsmen, sportswomen, or those who watch sports.

Readers' Favorite

Sisterhood in Sports: How Female Athletes Collaborate and Compete is an important and interesting read for athletes, coaches and parents.

Sporting News

Steidinger’s book may be read as useful by coaches, parents and others who wish to improve athletic performance in females, as well as the athletes themselves. . . .[T]he book, read as either provocative or insightful, . . . [will] stimulate further discussion or analysis in areas such as gender and sport studies, recreation, sport psychology, and other disciplines concerned with teamwork and competition, such as business.

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