Extravagant Grace: Princess or Power Hitter?

As my oldest was grabbing her ball, water bottle, mouth guard, and spiffy new basketball shoes (which God provided at a quarter of the price in a local clearance department store, yippee!), and I was scrambling to get my "busy" things together to do while she was at practice, the familar "bing" of an arriving email caught my attention:

Princess or Power Hitter?
New book blows the lid off some of the most common,
least examined issues in girls’ sports!

Needless to say, I hit reply instantly and agreed to reviewing "God's Girls in Sports," by Holly Page.

I was always a wannabe athlete, wishing my youth was spent getting good in sports instead of graceful as a dancer. Knee injury after knee injury resulted in being neither. By the time I reached college, I played soccer (like a turtle moving no where slowly), softball (if dancing in the outfield counts), track (more like huffed and pathetically puffed until I learned how to speedwalk), and splashed around on the high school swim team (which would be better described moving a little bit faster than the dead-man's float, yet fully rising to participate in all the cheers).

In case you haven't figured it out, I am not exactly an expert when it comes to girls in competitive sports. But thanks to God's great sense of humor, I have a sweet daughter who prefers ball handling to ballet shoes. She takes after her "inner" mother! Her time has finally arrived to dribble, shoot, and score, as she participates in her first team sport this fall. I know, from having lived with teenage athletes of all sorts, that the competition, drive, and demands can take on a life of their own. I want to be prepared for what may be in store, so reading this book from coach, mother, and athlete Holly Page is a script for some "mom of athlete" training.

In light of preparing for my upcoming retreat, I've yet to get beyond the first few chapters, but so far it is a great read. I know I will pour through it next month, but I couldn't wait to share it with you, especially at the start of fall sports. I highly recommend this book for all moms raising sports-minded daughters.

Here's what the publishers have to say,

Since the passage of Title IX legislation in 1972, young women have enjoyed increasing athletic opportunities. At some point, all parents must begin making decisions about their daughters and sports—whether or not to participate, which sport to choose, how to deal with a coach, etc. These decisions may alter the course of a young life. Unfortunately, far too many parents will make these weighty choices with little or no research or wise input.

In her new book, God’s Girls in Sports: Guiding Young Women Through the Benefits and Pitfalls, author Holly Page delves into the often uncharted moral, ethical, and practical issues surrounding girls’ sports. As a former college basketball player, junior college basketball coach, and educator, Page brings an insider’s view of the benefits and dangers of the girls’ athletics culture. But Page also speaks as the mother of four athletes, both male and female, who has spent countless hours as a spectator in the bleachers.

“This book addresses some important, even controversial issues about girls’ athletics that Christian parents are facing today. As believers and parents, we need to be certain that we seek God’s heart on these issues and His best for our daughters,” Page says. “I feel compelled—for the love of daughters everywhere, for the love of sports, and as a mother/teacher—to speak out before it’s too late!”

God’s Girls in Sports includes sections specific to the player, the parents, and the coach. Based on over two decades of experience in each of these roles, Page addresses several crucial questions such as:
· Do girls play sports for different reasons than boys?
· Are some sports naturally more feminine or masculine than others?
· How should parents relate to a coach?
· What are the dangers of “the scholarship syndrome”?
· When is it okay to quit?

Page also includes a special chapter dedicated to “boys and their wounded hearts.” In her quest to fully equip parents to make informed decisions, Page takes on some of the most taboo topics in girls’ sports. Her frank discussions of worshipping the idols of a child’s achievements, keeping up with the Joneses, and the real cost of winning will cause many readers to evaluate their priorities. Page also addresses head-on the troubling trend of lesbianism in women’s athletics, particularly at the college level.

The decisions parents make today regarding athletics may determine their daughters’ peer groups and self-perceptions for years to come. The stakes are incredibly high. Filled with practical pointers, helpful examples, and great discussion starters, God’s Girls in Sports is a must-read for any parent or coach who cares about the well-being of a female athlete.