GAMES GIRLS PLAY

Sports psychologist Silby presents a comprehensive guidebook for parents of female athletes.

Silby's thesis is simple and valuable. She believes that at any level of competition or rate of success, sports teach lessons applicable far beyond the playing field, and that athletics should not be viewed as "a means to an end." She argues not only that "mental agility" fosters physical success, but also that the attitudes of an athlete and everyone around her determine the quality and health of a sports experience. While this may all sound like common sense, it seems that the basics are often forgotten in sports where athletes, parents, and coaches can lose perspective in trying to gain competitive edge. Through case studies, analysis, "fast facts," and checklists, Silby maintains a level-headed approach. Her subjects range from parents choosing a sport for a young daughter to teens dealing with overzealous parents and domineering coaches, and athletes facing issues of sexuality, sexual harassment, and eating disorders. Silby scatters statistics throughout her study, as evidence of the effectiveness of mental training and positive coaching, the scope of various problems faced by women in sports, and the overall benefits of athletics. She reports that 80 percent of Fortune 500 women executives said they played sports and called themselves "tomboys." Other numbers, however, are less conclusive—such as the fact that "half of all girls who participate in some kind of sports experience have higher than average levels of self-esteem and less depression." What about the other half? The heart of the book, however, is Silby's healthy attitude toward sports and the wellness of young women. Though her argument is directed at parents, athletes themselves would be well-served by the lessons in this book.

Silby recognizes that while "throwing like a girl" is no longer an insult, female athletics comes with its own set of unique challenges—and her study is a valuable attempt to rise to the challenge.