LJ Collection Development-She Got Game! Women in Sports

Women's sports have finally come of age in America. Baby boomers can remember, only 20 to 30 years ago, when female college basketball players played in obscurity, coaches of women's teams were unpaid, and figure skaters and tennis players were the rare women athletes seen on TV. Nowadays, if you drive by your local soccer field, you'll often see more girls than boys. Long-established women's pro leagues in golf and tennis have been joined by strong ones in basketball and soccer, while pro leagues in ice hockey, softball, and football are fast emerging.

A number of studies have demonstrated that participation in sports has many benefits for girls, from better grades to lower rates of teen pregnancy and improved self-esteem.

Today's young female athletes may not be familiar with Title IX—officially, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, passed in 1972—because they are too busy enjoying the fruits of that influential legislation. Although the law banned sex discrimination 30 years ago in any educational program (including athletics) receiving federal financial aid, it has taken years of battling to bring about change and redraw the educational athletic landscape. In 1972, one in 27 high school girls played sports; by 2001, the ratio had changed dramatically to just one in 2.5. But increased participation by young women did not alone guarantee increased media interest; the 1996 U.S. Olympic gold medals in softball, basketball, soccer, and gymnastics, the 1998 gold medal in ice hockey, and the hugely resonant 1999 U.S. Women's World Cup victory in soccer brought with them a new level of media focus on women's sports.

What kinds of information do people seek on this subject? Athletes need information on how to play their sport, or how to play it better, and how to train. Harried parents, perhaps roped into coaching their daughter's team, want to know how to teach the sport or how to conduct an effective practice. Students and general readers want more information on the foremothers of women's athletics, and many people just want a good read. This article will focus on competitive sports, excluding general fitness and outdoor pursuits like canoeing and bicycling.

One problem that selection librarians must face is a glut of titles on certain subjects, for example, golf instruction, or running for women. Most titles available on these sports are excellent, if nearly interchangeably so. The only rule of thumb is don't be swayed by a famous name; "no-name" authors can deliver good instruction, too. This list includes several recent recommended titles in each category, but they are not the only good ones.

In other areas, there is too little published. We need more popular (nonacademic) books on women's sports history and more books on coaching women and girls. Some sports such as lacrosse and rugby have been largely neglected by publishers.

Librarians should check out three prominent publishers of women's sports books. Oldest (since 1974) and noted for keeping its backlist in print, is Human Kinetics (www.humankinetics.com), which started out serving the academic physical education market and now publishes many helpful, practical books and videos for the casual athlete and coach. While Human Kinetcs doesn't have a separate women's catalog, women's titles are sprinkled throughout the "Sports and Fitness" catalog.

The new kid on the block is Wish Publishing (www.wishpublishing.com), established in 1999 and exclusively devoted to women's sports books. With 20 titles published, it plans seven to ten new books per year, including ones on such subjects as basketball, fencing, and tae kwon do. (Although outside the scope of this article, one must mention the "Woman's Guide" series from Ragged Mountain Press, an imprint of McGraw-Hill, on popular outdoor activities like climbing, snowboarding, and canoeing—all from a woman's perspective, combining sound advice with pictures of women and anecdotes by and about women.)

As for weeding, make sure you have an up-to-date encyclopedia. If you have an out-of-print classic like Allen Guttman's 1991 Women's Sports: A History, hold on to it. On the other hand, how-to books on individual sports should be from the 1990s—older books may offer excellent instruction, but advice on equipment (at least in equipment-heavy sports like golf and softball) will be outdated. Starred (* ) titles are essential for most collections.

Edelson, Paula. A to Z of American Women in Sports.
Facts On File. (A to Z of Women). 2002. 288p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8160-4565-8. $44.

Edelson, the author of books on swimming, tennis, and figure skating, profiles 152 American women athletes, from swimmer Gertrude Ederle to Nancy Kerrigan. While not every athlete covered merits a photograph (there are 50), each entry does have a brief list for further reading.

Encyclopedia of Women and Sport in America.
Oryx. 1998. 384p. ed. by Carole Oglesby & others. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-89774-993-6. $65.

This encyclopedia has entertaining articles on 140 American female athletes, plus features on sports (e.g., soccer) and topics (e.g., exercise). There is more emphasis here on active participation; athletes wrote many of the pieces on sports, and they provide tips on how to join in.

International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports.
3 vols. Macmillan. 2000. 1428p. ed. by Karen Christensen & others. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-02-864954-0. $375.

As budgets permit, large public and academic libraries should consider this multivolume encyclopedia. It is comprehensive, international in scope, and attractive. (LJ 4/1/01)

Sherrow, Victoria. Encyclopedia of Women and Sports.
ABC-CLIO. 1996. 382p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-87436-826-X. $75.

This readable encyclopedia was published just in time to record the historic accomplishments of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. It includes a useful time line, articles on many sports (e.g., bowling), events (e.g., the America's Cup) and organizations (e.g., the U.S. Field Hockey Association). It also includes entries on more than 300 athletes, from swimmer Amy Van Dyken to tennis star Helen Wills, although only a few of these are accompanied by a photograph. (LJ 1/97)

Woolum, Janet. Outstanding Women Athletes: Who They Are and How They Influenced Sports in America.
2d ed. Oryx. 1998. 412p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57356-120-7. $59.95.

Although strictly biographical in coverage, this encyclopedia also has good chapters on the history of female participation in sports in America and one on the Olympic Games. In addition, an extensive appendix lists winners of events such as the Boston Marathon and the U.S. Women's Open in golf, from their beginnings through 1998. All 86 biographies include an accompanying photograph, usually an action shot. (LJ 7/98)

History

*Cahn, Susan K. Coming On Strong: Gender and Sexuality in Twentieth Century Women's Sports.
Harvard Univ. 1995. 349p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-674-14434-1. pap. $16.95.

Ranging from the early 20th-century "modern woman" discarding the shackles (or is that "corsets"?) of Victorian gentility, to today's bodybuilding contests, this fascinating revision of a Ph.D. thesis has both scholarly and popular appeal. Cahn looks at how the media responded to "mannish" women athletes and highlights the many controversies that have sprung up: Can women safely run up and down a whole basketball court? Should women be allowed to slide in baseball?

*Druzin, Randy. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Women in Sports.
Alpha Bks: Macmillan. 2001. 304p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-130-89940-2. pap. $18.95.

Written with verve and spiced up with anecdotes and trivia, this work shouldn't be dismissed as sports history "lite." Four chapters cover women's sports history chronologically, then individual chapters treat sports from auto racing to volleyball. The emphasis is on the United States and Canada, but other countries are included as well.

Akers, Michelle with Gregg Lewis. The Game and the Glory.
Zondervan. 2000. 224p. permanent paper. photogs. ISBN 0-310-23529-4. $19.99; pap. ISBN 0-310-70025-6. $7.99.

Known for her grit and determination, Akers is one of the superstars of women's soccer. Diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, she could have retired from this most physically demanding sport, but Akers battled through to remain a competitive force in Olympic and World Cup victories. (LJ 5/1/00)

*Cayleff, Susan E. Babe: The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias.
Univ. of Illinois. (Women in American History). 1995. 392p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-252-06593-X. pap. $15.95.

In 1951, the Associated Press named Babe the Female Athlete of the Half Century. After 50 years of great strides in female athletics, AP named her the top female athlete of the century. Supremely gifted, she was brash, coarse, and loud, and this biography tells her story wonderfully. (LJ 7/95)

*Hill, Lynn & Greg Child. Climbing Free: My Life in the Vertical World.
Norton. 2002. 288p. photogs. ISBN 0-393-04981-7. $24.95.

Like rock climbers themselves, this book stands above the crowd of athlete autobiographies. Hill, the first free climber to scale El Capitan's 3000' Nose, is truly one of the elite climbers and tells her exciting story without a trace of pretension or ego. Great color and black-and-white photos capture the photogenic climber and the terrifying ascents, with names to match: Pit and the Pendulum, Thank God Ledge, and Twilight Zone.

Joyner-Kersee, Jackie with Sonja Steptoe. A Kind of Grace: The Autobiography of the World's Greatest Female Athlete.
Warner. 1997. 310p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-446-52248-1. $23.

Double Olympic gold medallist in the grueling seven-event heptathlon, track and field athlete Joyner-Kersee tells her inspiring story of growing up dirt-poor in East St. Louis, her two-sport career at UCLA, her mother's early death, her marriage to her coach, Bob Kersee, and the long struggle with asthma. (LJ 11/1/97)

*Navratilova, Martina with George Vec-sey. Martina.
rev. ed. Knopf. 1987. 322p. photogs. ISBN 0-394-53640-1. $3.95.

This well-told, fascinating story of a tennis icon broke ground when it was first published because Navratilova spoke openly (but discretely) of her lesbian relationships. In addition, readers get a glimpse of life in Communist Czechoslovakia and a participant's view of the storied Martina-Chris Evert rivalry.

Bridson, Karen. Run for It: A Woman's Guide to Running for Physical and Emotional Health.
Burford. 2002. 240p. illus. index. ISBN 1-58080-100-5. pap. $14.95.

Before getting into the "how" of running, Bridson, self-described as "a formerly overweight, unhappy woman" who changed her life with running, starts off with five chap-ters on the many benefits of running, thus providing ample motivation for beginners. She follows with good, sensible advice on diet, weather, safety, gear, etc., including training programs for various distances in both kilometers and miles.

Buller, Debz & Jennifer Lawler. Kickboxing for Women.
Wish Pub. 2002. 182p. photogs. index. ISBN 1-930546-53-X. pap. $16.95.

Not the aerobics version, authentic kickboxing is one of several martial arts more women are taking up. Some 314 photos demonstrate techniques for all levels from beginner to advanced, and many of the book's tips concern women's weight and size differences when sparring against larger opponents.

Dunn, Tricia & others. Gold Medal Ice Hockey for Women and Girls.
Chandler. 1999. 220p. photogs. index. ISBN 1-886284-37-7. pap. $15.95.

The authors, gold medal winners at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, have written a book that doesn't just instruct but also devotes about 50 pages to their personal experience with the U.S. national team. Rules, positional roles, and strategy are covered but not practice drills. Best suited for the player who is also a fan.

Foeste, Aaron. Women's Ice Hockey Basics.
Sterling. 1999. 96p. illus. index. ISBN 0-8069-6511-8. $19.95.

This book by hockey author Foeste excels in its over 100 color photos that illustrate skating moves, each item of equipment, and skills like shooting and passing. With a chapter on women's hockey history (before its 1998 Olympic debut), this work is best suited to young adults.

Graham, Janis. The Athletic Woman's Sourcebook: How To Stay Healthy and Competitive in Any Sport.
Avon. 1999. 339p. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-380-79667-8. pap. $12.50.

Without pushing any single regime or dietary practice, health and fitness author Graham presents reliable, even-toned, user-friendly advice on diet, exercise, and training. There is one chapter each on age and pregnancy and an excellent section on mental training (e.g., goal-setting, concentration, and overtraining). Forty sports each get their own brief description, along with suggestions for new sports to try.

Kowalchik, Claire. The Complete Book of Running for Women.
Pocket. 1999. 432p. illus. index. ISBN 0-671-01703-9. pap. $16.

This book is truly complete: it offers many helpful illustrations, including ones showing the parts of a shoe, and even gives advice about sports drinks. Like the other two running titles in this group, it delves into running's effect on pregnancy, menopause, PMS, and eating disorders.

LPGA Staff. LPGA's Guide to Every Shot.
Human Kinetics. 2000. 189p. photogs. ISBN 0-88011-980-2. pap. $19.95.

This book, concentrating on the shots and leaving topics like equipment, rules, and etiquette to other guides, will help the experienced golfer. Great color photos illustrate LPGA players taking basic shots and more advanced ones like fairway bunker and green-side rough shots. Each shot concludes with a checklist, summary, and about five drills.

Saunders, Vivien. The Golf Handbook for Women: The Complete Guide for Improving Your Game.
Three Rivers: Crown. 2000. 224p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-609-80511-8. pap. $18.

Many excellent color photos answer such golf mysteries as the "loft" in clubs. Suitable for beginners as well as more-advanced players, the book starts with the basics, such as equipment, rules, and golf links etiquette, but goes on to cover topics like specialized shots and course strategy.

Scott, Dagny. Runner's World® Complete Book of Women's Running.
Rodale. 2000. permanent paper. 308p. illus. index. ISBN 1-57954-118-6. $24.95; pap. ISBN 1-57954-466-5. $15.95.

As Women Outside's editor Scott says, "Running possesses virtually no learning curve." Even so, every runner finds she has lots of questions about training, injuries, diet, equipment, etc. Scott covers all of these, although with a minimum of illustrations, and leavens the advice with personal stories and anecdotes.

Stenzel, Kellie. The Women's Guide to Consistent Golf.
Thomas Dunne Bk: St. Martin's. 2002. 183p. photogs. ISBN 0-312-28230-3. $23.95.

Intended for experienced golfers who want to improve their play, this book starts with basic swing fundamentals and proceeds to give advice on how to practice and set goals. It's illustrated with black-and-white photos and is completely up-to-date with new techniques like "left-hand low" putting.

*Stewart, Barbara. She Shoots...She Scores! A Complete Guide to Girls' and Women's Hockey.
Firefly. 1998. 204p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 1-55209-288-7. $17.95.

Stewart starts with a chapter on women's hockey history, then has an excellent how-to section illustrated with line drawings. She excels in her section on equipment, offering advice on when to buy used, what to look for, and prices (United States and Canada) you should expect to pay. Adult players would benefit most.

The Softball Coaching Bible.
Human Kinetics. 2002. 360p. ed. by Jacquie Joseph. ISBN 0-7360-3827-2. pap. $21.95.

This book provides excellent instruction from top softball coaches on all aspects of the game, covering offensive and defensive play, pitching and catching, with drills and strategy. The text gives much attention to conducting effective practices, inspiring and motivating players, developing loyalty and team chemistry, and the administrative end of being a coach.

Silby, Caroline & Shelley Smith. Games Girls Play: Understanding and Guiding Young Female Athletes.
St. Martin's. 2000. 304p. ISBN 0-312-26163-2. $24.95.

Directed to parents of teenage girls, this book by sports psychologist and former figure skater Silby (with ESPN's Smith) provides much practical advice for teens, their parents, and coaches. (LJ 7/00)

Wilson, Susan. Sports Her Way: Motivating Girls To Start and Stay with Sports.
Fireside: S. & S. 2000. 256p. index. ISBN 0-684-86512-2. pap. $12.

With practical information to help parents and coaches provide a positive sports experience for girls, this book suggests games parents can play with their toddlers to develop motor skills, recommends which sports to start at various ages, and advises how to evaluate recreation programs.

Becker, Lisa Liberty. Net Prospect: The Courting Process of Women's College Basketball Recruiting.
Wish Pub. 2002. 288p. ISBN 1-930546-56-4. pap. $16.95.

A senior writer for Women's Basketball magazine, Becker writes firsthand about the world of women's college basketball, whose recent success has forced on it the growing pains and tricky dealing once known only to its male counterpart.

Doren, Kim & Charlie Jones. You Go Girl!: Winning the Woman's Way.
Andrews McMeel. 2000. 344p. photogs. index. ISBN 0-7407-0856-2. $22.95.

A wide range of female athletes share anecdotes and thoughts on winning, overcoming obstacles, fear, passion, and drive. An attractive, inspiring, and gripping book.

Gogol, Sara. Hard-Fought Victories: Women Coaches Making a Difference.
Wish Pub. 2002. 272p. photogs. index. ISBN 1-930546-51-3. pap. $16.95.

Gogol, a professor of English and women's studies, here covers the waterfront, looking at U.S. college coaches both young and old, whether satisfied or frustrated with their careers, famous or obscure, black and white, involved in big-time sports like basketball or unheralded ones like rowing. Action photos and the coaches' words bring these fascinating women to life.

Gregorich, Barbara. Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball.
Harcourt. 1993. 168p. photogs. ISBN 0-15-698297-8. pap. $14.95.

Women play hardball--not in the boardroom but on the diamond. Despite the success of the film A League of Their Own , the history of women playing baseball remains little-known. Here it gets its due in Gregorich's fascinating and popular work, graced with 60 great photos.

Olsen, Marilyn. Women Who Risk: Profiles of Women in Extreme Sports.
Hatherleigh. 2001. 188p. photogs. ISBN 1-57826-092-2. $22.95.

Young people today like adrenaline sports, and young women will enjoy reading these profiles of women rock climbers, surfers, heli-ski guides, and Indy car racers.

*Game Face: What Does a Female Athlete Look Like?
Random. 2001. 224p. permanent paper. ed. by Jane Gottesman. photogs. ISBN 0-375-50602-0. $35.

More than 180 color and black-and-white photographs here answer the question in the subtitle. Poignant, funny, exciting, or beautiful, the photos are historical (a long-skirted 1910 tennis player) and contemporary (Pat Summitt nose-to-nose with her player Chamique Holdsclaw; Michelle Akers heading the ball in the 1999 World Cup). Captions fill out the story and put the eloquent pictures in context. (LJ 10/15/01)

Whatever It Takes: Women on Women's Sport.
Farrar. 1999. 323p. ed. by Joli Sandoz & Joby Winans. ISBN 0-374-52597-8. pap. $13.

More than 50 sparkling essays (and some poems) by such writers as Annie Dillard, Jewelle Gomez, Diane Ackerman, and Mariah Burton Nelson entertain readers, while reminding us how central sports can be in our lives. (LJ 7/99)

*Real Sports.
q. $29.99. PO Box 8204, San Jose, CA 95155-9988; 800-650-0122; www.real-sports.com. ISSN 1524-8631.

Real Sports covers real competitive sports, pro and college, without an ounce of ink spilled on fitness, makeup, or "which shoe is best for you." Great color action photos dominate the almost 100 pages per issue, along with four to five articles about soccer, the WNBA, etc. A real fan's magazine.

Sports Illustrated Women.
8/yr. 10 issues for $19.90. PO Box 61981, Tampa, FL 33661-1981; 800-950-5150; www.siwomen.com. ISSN 1524-9409.

When Sports Illustrated for men has articles and features on sports watches, gear, and what athletes like to wear off the field, then their inclusion in this magazine can be justified. Even so, there is enough sports content here to keep the most ardent fan happy. Profiles of athletes in all sports, great photos, plus previews and reviews of sports events contribute to an attractive magazine.

Ladies Professional Golf Association
www.lpga.com

A well-produced site that caters to fans, this includes extensive message boards, up-to-date tournament results, player information, video and photography from tournaments, "fan club," and much more.

Women's National Basketball Association
www.wnba.com

In addition to scores, statistics, and schedules, this site offers video clips, a fantasy game you can play, chat, Rebecca Lobo's e-journal, and links to local newspaper and web stories.

*Women's Sports Foundation
www.womenssportsfoundation.org

An attractive site with a wealth of articles to interest anyone who follows women's sports. Visitors can read an interview with Sheryl Swoopes, get a time line of women's sports history, follow links to sports jobs sites, sign up for a weekly newsletter, ask questions of experts, get information on dozens of sports, and much more.