The Effective Leaderhsip Roles of Sport Team Captains

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Captains of sports teams are given the stereotype that they are the most athletic player on the team, scoring the most goals and handling the ball best. In truth, captains have a lot of work they have to do that doesn’t even involve playing the sport. Captains are the most looked at player of the game; other players, younger kids and coaches look to them to set examples. They have to set examples in every aspect of the game; athleticism might be part of their job but it is not limited to it. The captain of any sports team must set the leadership standard for commitment, confidence, intelligence, and attitude.

Any captain of a sports team must be committed and dedicated to their team. A captain must ensure that they are present and on time for every practice and game which he or she is intended to be at. Captains have many roles during practices, they are the first one there helping set up drills and organizing the practice. They need to make sure everyone is on the playing area on time and leading the warm-ups. The captain must lead by example by showing that he or she is there to practice or play his or her best and that everyone should give it their all, all the time (Mosher, 1981). They need to show that nothing else matters when that are playing or practicing; everyone’s mind should be strictly focused on the coach if he or she is talking, or the play they are working on, or the game they are in. The captain must be a strong leader and show dedication towards his or her sport.

As well as being dedicated to be at all the team’s events, the captain must have the commitment to know all the plays and roles of all the positions. He or she is the key person that everyone looks up to; if someone is confused about a play, they must be able to go to his or her captain and find the answer they are looking for. The captain must be available before and after the practice to answer any questions put forward by his or her team mates (Brearley, 2000). The captain should be like an instruction manual for anyone who needs it, he or she will help show and tell others how to do a job.

Another major role for the captain is to be committed to talk to the players and the coaches and be the link between them. The captain must ensure that there is a constant flow of communication between the players and coaching staff. To accomplish this, the captai...

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...during the game the captain should be involved for support or stopping depending on the situation. In small hockey towns, for example, all the young children in the town look up to the captain of the local hockey team. If the captain is seen doing something wrong, it is looked negatively upon; he or she must keep a positive status for themselves and for the team. The captain must have the intelligence to dissect problems that have to do with his or her team.

The captain has the potential to effect more results than the assistant coach and/or even the head coach. Captains leave effects on others on every level and interact with everyone; they have the capability of influencing the coach and teaching other players. Captains must ensure that they never step out of line and must keep his or her team in order. They have to have his or her mind on the sport constantly, and always be aware of what they are doing. Captains will always have a lot on their shoulders and coaches should look for more in a captain than just athletic ability. They should also look for commitment, confidence, and intelligence to ensure they choose the best person to lead their team to the championship.

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