It is important to understand the responsibilities associated with being a Soccer Team Captain. A good Soccer Team Captain demonstrates leadership on and off the field. Leadership by example is a good quality for EVERY player to have but to become a Soccer Team Captain, you must be willing to be held to a higher standard. Team Captains are representatives of the team and club, they not only find creative ways to motivate the team to victory, they keep players calm when they come under pressure. Captains are advocates for the team who serve as mediators between fellow players, coaches, and referees. At FC Boca Predators, we believe that we all have the potential to become leaders and therefore we strive to show these qualities every day regardless of whether we are Captain.
Representative Team & Club
Good Team Captains lead by example. Captains will represent the team in decisions related to game procedures and sportsmanship but, they should also try to guide players towards making positive decisions off the field. Team Captains should do what they can to encourage team members to eat healthy, exercise daily, and achieve perfect attendance to practice and games; it is important to know the team roster in advance so there are no surprises on game-day. At the start of the game, the captains of both teams meet with the referee to decide which team will kick off and which team will defend which side of the field first. In disputes over questions or rulings, a captain mediates between the referee and the players. Team members often look to the Team Captain for clues on conduct. Captains must remain respectful under challenging circumstances and motivate others to get back on-task quickly after the other team scores.
Motivate Team & Set a Good Example
Captains should be prepared to lead conditioning drills and pregame warm-up routines when coaches are busy. During games, good captains encourage players to do their best and promote good sportsmanship. Captains should encourage teammates to achieve their goals off the field as well. Team Captains are intended to be the example of good behavior. Captains should always attend practice, arrive early for games, put forward exhibit a “can-do” attitude, promote camaraderie among teammates, and work hard on and off the field. It is not enough for a Captain to just know the rules of the game but, the Captain must be able to apply and defend the rules with fairness. Captains earn the respect of their teammates when they treat others fairly, respectfully, and they set a good example for the team to follow.
Coach Mediator
Captains should be prepared to lead conditioning drills and pregame warm-up routines when coaches are busy. During games, good captains encourage players to do their best and promote good sportsmanship. Captains should encourage teammates to achieve their goals off the field as well. Team Captains are intended to be the example of good behavior. Captains should always attend practice, arrive early for games, put forward exhibit a “can-do” attitude, promote camaraderie among teammates, and work hard on and off the field. It is not enough for a Captain to just know the rules of the game but, the Captain must be able to apply and defend the rules with fairness. Captains earn the respect of their teammates when they treat others fairly, respectfully, and they set a good example for the team to follow. Choosing the right person to lead a team is an important decision. It’s not about physical ability; who kicks the hardest, or runs the fastest, or even scores the most goals. It’s about who puts in the work, who team members trust, who can be relied on to do the right thing, who can think and work through problems, who puts the team’s interest above their own, who is respectful and honest, and who listens. It’s the person who can show compassion when a teammate drops the ball and motivate himself and the team to work harder so that together, they can make their dreams a reality.