Warrior Girls: Protecting Our Daughters Against the Injury Epidemic in Women's Sports

I originally purchased this book after reading a blog exchange between the Author and a Senior person at the Tucker Institute at the University of Minnesota in which I felt that Tucker was very dismissive of Sokolove's work in general and his conclusions in particular. That didn't make sense to me which I why I read the book.From my perspective Sokolove was very "Title IX" friendly in his approach to his research. In spite of the startling data presented, here we are in 2010 and I can't see that it has been effectively validated or dealt with by the substantial government and university funded women's sports establishment. It appears to me that those in power are concerned that if this information became commonly known there would be a backlash against Title IX. Seems they have some explaining to do.It's one thing to expand sports participation opportunities for girls via Title IX, but frankly if an issue this basic has not been effectively dealt with over the past three decades it makes one wonder if the right people are in charge from a directional standpoint.Torn ACLs and concussions are very serious injuries at any age and the earlier in life they occur the higher the potential for negative quality of life issues for these women down the road.

My daughter recently tore her ACL playing soccer at the club level. She was a freshman in HS, at the time. I wish I had come across this book before that fateful day and not a month after.Warrior Girls is well-written, well thought out, and well-researched. The first chapters are grim with cautionary tales of promising female athletes who were forced to give up their dream of a career in sports because of serial injuries. Fortunately, as the book progresses, the author passes on information about research that is being conducted and prevention programs that are being adopted for the prevention of these serious, debilitating, and purposely ignored injuries to our teen-aged daughters!My daughter's surgeon told us it is very unlikely that she will tear her ACL again. However, after reading this book, I've learned that my daughter my have a pre-disposition to knee injuries and without some sort of training and prevention program, she may likely do it again! More parents and coaches should be aware of the terrible risks to our daughters' health and sports careers and insist that schools and clubs institute an injury prevention program.A must-read for parents, coaches and club-directors!

I only wish I had known about and read this book years ago; not now after my daughter suffered an ACL tear. Soccer programs and parents alike must start acknowledging the risk our young women are at for these injuries and be aggressively addressing preventative measures. It is sad very young girls are rehabbing and being put back on the field at lightning speed only to be re-injured. If you have a young daughter player soccer, basketball or any sport in which pivoting and cutting, jumping and landing are a major part of the activity you need to understand how to proactively help your child in preventing injury.

A very insightful look into the disproportionate injuries suffered by female athletes. ACL injuries for female athletes occur at rates as high as 8 to 1 versus their male counterparts. Everyone seems far more concerned with being labeled as chauvinistic rather than facing the truths that male and female anatomies differ in their strengths and weaknesses. Because female legs are not as sturdy for athletics requiring planting and turning hard (like soccer, basketball, and volleyball) doesn't devalue women, it only points out a need to do intense biomechanical studies to reduce the risks and protect our daughters from painful injuries and a lifetime of pain and discomfort in adulthood. It's a good read. I'm glad I bought it.

Unfortunately, the book is mostly comprised of anecdotal stories and interviews which the author uses to convince us that there is a problem with ACL injuries in women's athletics. There are about three pages in the end that suggest solutions to this problem. The author himself seems conflicted as to whether the problem is truly over-participation in a single sport or just a factor of the number of "exposures" a female has to any sport that causes them to changes directions quickly or land on their heels. I was hoping for specific help in what I can do as a coach to help my U11 soccer team avoid ACL injuries. A full chapter on specific preventative training methods and exercises would have made this book complete. But I appreciate his efforts at calling attention to the problem.

This book brought my attention to several issues in kids' sports that are really important. While it is focused on girls' sports, there are many issues that transfer to boys' athletics. We are so methodical about so many aspects of our children's lives (academics, music, art), it is absolutely time that we start making conscious decisions about the healthy pursuit of sports as well. After reading this book and passing it to several other parents, I feel empowered!

I heard the author interviewed on NPR and have been meaning to buy the book ever since. Sports have become so much more competitive, SO much earlier in children's lives, which I believe is a travesty to childhood. This book truly helps understand the situation for parents that are educated and not so much educated about sports, sport's injuries, and where our country is today regarding children's sports. The story of Amy interwoven with the analysis of what is going wrong in training and rehab is perfect.

This is a must read for parents, coaches and trainers who work with females in basketball, soccer and volleyball. What makes this even more pathetic than the numbers of serious injuries to female athletes indicate is that the solution is so simple. Parents must demand this attention because coaches are just too focused on competition and skill development and not on general physical preparation of the athlete