It's Not About the Bra: Play Hard, Play Fair, and Put the Fun Back Into Competitive Sports

I very much enjoyed this book because of the variety of advice you receive while reading it. It's very interesting to see an Olympian and World Cup winner's view on youth sports today. She raises some different points about how youth soccer is today which I hadn't thought of before. Another aspect of the book which I liked is how she included excerpts written by her teammates, families, and friends. These portions help to vary the book's contents and portray more people's views on soccer techniques. Since I'm a soccer player, I found the advice given on teamwork, sportmanship, technique, and finding a team to be very helpful. However, I believe that all athletes could benefit from the advice given in this book because many aspects of sports are similar and needed in all games. Lastly, I enjoyed hearing stories about her soccer career and life because these experiences provide insight about the game of soccer. I suggest that parents of athletes should read this book because it gives instructions on how to behave and be a good sport at children's games. Aditionally, coaches may benefit from the advice given about soccer in this book.

Brandi Chastain did a wonderful job of informing people about what really goes on behind the scenes of an inspiring athlete. If you have never played soccer, there is no way you can disagree with what she has to say in this book. Brandi Chastain has been my favorite soccer player since i was 7 years old and I am now 16. She explains the difficulties of making it as a professional female athlete (in soccer especially). Soccer is not as monumental as it is in other countries but it is becoming a world wide infatuation. Because of the woman like Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Julie Foudy, Carla Overbeck, Joy Fawcett and many others. This is why "soccer mom" is officially becoming an american symbol. Of what the "91'ers" have set up as a way for female athletes to have a chance in history. People can say how much soccer will never be a big deal but rather they like it or not it is growing rapidly throughout the United States. I had the chance of meeting Brandi Chastain at a soccer convention as one of her skills demonstrators. She was the most inspirational person I have ever met. I can say that my entire team would be happy with just meeting her. But Brandi did not stop at that she scrimmaged with us and made our lives complete. If I had to meet anyone in the world it would be that woman. But I could have anything in the world it would have been to be able to have a team picture with her (all of us in our sports bra's) just to show that it's not about politics or rich people that think showing a bra in the heat of the moment while celebrating is a big deal. I would like to disagree, she had to "guts" to do so and I respect her for that. The woman is an amazing individual that will go down in history for being the one individual that steped up infront of millions of people and scored the winning goal. She should atleast deserve a celebration for all of her hard work.

I was impressed with the book. It was a good read - I read it in one night. There was good life advice in it - but what I probably liked more were the stories about things that had happened to Brandi or to her teammates and the other anecdotes. I also liked the pictures and wished there were more. The guest essays by Mia, Lily, Shannon Boxx etc. were great.

Its Not About the Bra: How to Play Hard, Play Fair and Put the Fun Back into Competitive Sports by Brandi Chastain. If you want to learn how to deal with pain, struggle, heartache and how to love life or love a sport you play this is the book for you! Its Not About the Bra is an autobiography of Brandi Chastains Life. Brandi Chastain is a member of the Womens National Soccer Team and has been a member for over a decade. Shes won Gold medals; World Cups and still has the want to play the game she loves. Its Not About the Bra demonstrates why soccer and sports, in general, are good for both girls and boys to play sports because they are able to interact with others and it teaches them to be a better person, even though you may not think so. Soccer or any other sports, but soccer in this book, is a way to teach you life lessons and ways to help you through life tragedies. This book also taught you if for some reason you lose the love of the game, give it time and if you truly love it, you will have the need to play sooner or later, hopefully sooner. A few important aspects of this book were to be a team player, sportsmanship versus gamesmanship and that you must try your hardest and be able to inspire to your dreams! Its Not About the Bra was a great book to read because it taught me about how to deal with curve balls that are thrown at you both in life and in soccer. From learning to decide if you should play with the boys, or how have better sportsmanship, learning how to deal with all the distractions that occur while playing on the field, learning the love the game and learning to play aggressively but not too aggressively and everything you would ever want to learn. Its Not About the Bra made me think more before stepping onto the field and just doing what I usually do, rather to do the same routine because it makes you play better and to learn how to help people but to not be mean or criticize them. The book taught me that if challenges or road blocks to your path are given to you to become a better person you must be able to work around them. Brandi got hurt and had to have multiple surgeries on her knee and she still would not stop playing soccer, she worked through the pain, the heartache and the depression. She worked very hard at training and trying to practice and even being the great sport she is cheered her teammates on no matter what, even though she was not able to play. That shows heart and I wish I would be able to do that! To be a great leader you may think you have to be loud, like Julie Foudy, who is the captain of the womens national team or you could lead by example, like Joy Fawcett, who is the assistant captain. Being a leader or a captain comes from within, but can also come from desire or striving to do your best and helping others on your team and Its Not About the Bra taught me that! If you are interested in sports, especially soccer or are a young female athlete that would like to be able to learn a lot from a book y