Includes bibliographical references and index.

Sisterhood in sports: talking, relationships, and the unique qualities of female athletes -- Best friends forever: teenage trials and building long-lasting friendships -- The family that plays together stays together -- Athletic moms' challenges -- Romantic relationships -- Body image of female athletes -- Team spirit: practicing collaboration and camaraderie -- Coaches are cornerstones -- Pioneering female athletes laid the foundation -- Female collaborative competition: girls just wanna have fun.

"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 those of their male counterparts. Female strengths are grounded in both mind and body, and they take these strengths onto the court, field, and track." -- Back Cover