Choosing captains can be a tricky decision, with a lasting impact. With the right players as team leaders, a coach can strengthen his or her influence and add to the success of a season. Team captains are also a great way to develop and teach leadership skills through sports. When deciding how to choose and manage team captains, you’ll want to consider three main topics: criteria, specific responsibilities, and maintaining culture.

The criteria for who becomes captain is crucial for sending the right message to your team. At Positive Coaching Alliance, we encourage coaches to choose a Triple-Impact Competitor® as their team captains. These athletes strive to make themselves, their team, and the game better. If the criteria for captains are represented in these qualities, the players at the helm of the team will be positive leaders who will contribute to a successful season.

The responsibilities of captains should also be planned and well-thought out by the coaching staff. Hopefully you chose captains who set the right example for the rest of the team, but coaches can take one step further by giving specific responsibilities that will aid in team success. For example, captains can be responsible for organizing off-field activities, or setting up a buddy system for younger players. This gets the team leaders involved in player dynamics, an area in which coaches may not be able to fully take charge.

Choosing the right captains and managing them properly will lead to successful maintenance of team culture. Coaches should strive for consistency in positive culture, and strong captains play a big role in making sure this remains constant as team members change year after year. If you're a 1st-time coach this might be especially helpful. For more details on how to choose and manage captains, see the article below.