Leadership

In our program, any player that wants to be a captain must fill out an application. We (the coaching staff) then look at the applications and schedule interviews. Players go through a 15-20 minute interview with me and we then choose 2-3 players that we feel are the best representatives of the program in all aspects (ability, leadership qualities, off field actions, academic effort, etc.). Our captains are NOT necessarily our stars...they are just our best leaders.

Do you have a copy of the application? If you do can you email it to r_savie@yahoo.com. Thanks

Boy oh boy there's been some great stuff happening in the Coaching Forum these last few weeks. Thanks everyone for pitching in and introducing these topics.

I have coached for a few decades and never had a captain. Personally I don't believe in them. However, I'm an old **** and so, know that many of you in past discussions have made great comments about your Captains etc. Kudos to you and your programs.

Leadership, in my opinion is not about being Captain. Of course, I know coaches try to put into those positions those that exhibit all of the traits that they expect from their Captains. I once coached a team (assistant coach) that won 64 games in a row. We didn't have a Captain. However, we had a bunch of guys that fed off each other. Not the least of which was our catcher JJ Scerba. JJ would run his sprints all out despite the fact that he was not close to the fastest person on the team. Yet, you could hear him grunting as he went doing his best to beat the speedsters. At the end of the sprints, you'd see a faint smile on his face as he drug himself into the dugout. Another day on the diamond and he was one whipped pup. Our players fed off of his enthusiam, hustle, moxie, determination. JJ would say 5 words a practice but he led.

One year I lost a young lady in a car accident. Yet, she led our team in spirit. I was coaching girl's basketball at the time. You'd hear her name about once a week. No one wanted to let her down.

I guess my point is that leadership is one of those qualities that isn't a rock hard given. However, it's importance can't be understated. I'm looking forward to hearing other responses in this thread.

Coach Knight, what do you do if your best, true leader does not apply for the job?

fillsfan, I would say if the kid doesn't want to fill out the application Coach Knight would probably say he isn't much of a leader.

Coach W

In our program the coaches select the co-captains or captain as the case may be---there is no vote-- they look for leaders, leaders are born not made in my mind---leaders cannot be created

socalcoach- I'll send the application to you on Monday. It is nothing overly fancy - just something for a kid to think about before his interview. As for the interview questions, I have some stock questions and then some that I cater to the individual being interviewed. I know my kids like they are my own sons, so I'm always asking questions that will be tough to answer to see how they handle it.
Fillsfan- great question. I haven't had that happen yet....but it is something to think about. Like PatrickW said, if he doesn't want the role as an official captain, I wouldn't want him in that role. That doesn't mean I won't talk to him about leadership in some capacity....just that I NEVER want to put a kid in such an important role if he is not personally driven to play that role to the best of his ability.
Finding quality leadership is always difficult. You have some players that want to be captains that either shouldn't be or can't be, while you have others that have the ability but don't want the role. I always try to make sure I have different TYPES of captains as well - don't need ALL the captains to be "rah-rah" guys...some can simply lead by example.

TRhit, exactly my point

Coach Knight, very thoughtful answer. I like the fact that you would talk to him about being captain. Maybe his idea of being captain and what you expect are different.
IMO their always seems to be that kid who through an outgoing personality, humor and attitude keeps the team loose and whom the other players gravitate towards. Like you said he might not be the rah rah guy but has the respect of his teammates. Respect is probably the most important attribute the captain should have.
Sometimes the rah rah guy will not have the teams respect because it seem phony and self centered.

Here is my view on this. If your going to choose a formal Captain or Leader etc - it should already be apparent to you as a coach who the true leaders are. If not they are not leaders. A leader does not lead just because he has a title he leads because that is what he is.

I would never choose a leader based on anything other than what I have actually seen the player do. If he leads by example and he has the respect of his team mates and coaches based on this then there is no reason to formally name him a captain imo. He already is. The players already know he is. The coaches already know he is. If you want to name him captain fine. But you can put all the titles you want on a player if he has not already demonstrated the ability to lead by example and has not already earned the respect of his team mates by his actions it will be meaningless.

I dont want anyone to be a captain if he is the first guy raising his hand saying "I want to be a Captain." I dont want someone that wants the posistion. I just want leaders who let their actions speak. I can tell you this if your captain is not a very good player he better have a dynamic personality and he better demonstrate a tremendous work ethic. If not he will not garner the respect of his team mates. The top players will have credibility with their team mates. Then if they have a great work ethic and great attitude the others will follow them.

I have never named team captains. I have never needed to. The leaders are already known. Why? Because they lead by example and have the respect of the players and coaches because of this. I am not saying anyone is wrong in the way they do it. This is just one mans opinion.

Coach Knight have you ever thought about having the interviews in front of the team? That way the guys who are going to be lead can see how a captain answered.

I'm like CoachB25 and never really had any. I let my Seniors run stretches and I just grabbed a starter (usually a senior) to go with me to the pregame meeting at the plate. Other than that I didn't have need of captains.

I totally disagree with letting the Seniors be captains - which I have seen at other schools. Just because a kid has been there with you for 3 years doesn't make them a leader. Your team will probably go south quickly if you got a bad attitude senior in a leadership position.

If something came up and I wanted to see how the team felt about it then I would talk privately with players I trusted.

coach2709-
Hadn't thought of that....but I LOVE IT! Great idea - if you're comfortable as a leader, you shouldn't mind speaking up in front of your teammates, right? Love it - might do it next year. Thanks.