Selecting captains

None of my son's teams - HS, Legion, JuCo, D2 - had captains.  The closest was at the HS level where the seniors were the de facto captains.  They pretty much lead the team.

Our varsity team names captains at the end of the season, which makes no sense to me. 

I can only talk from my experience in HS Track.  In my case only seniors were eligible to be captain.  Coach printed out a sheet of senior names, handed each team member a sheet and they circled their choice.  All sheets were returned to the coach, he tallied them and announced who "won".

We got away from captains and now do a Leadership Council. Kids vote for 3 players, 2 in their class and 1 in any class, and we pick the top 2 per class. This way we have 8 "leaders" or developing leaders spread across the program. In theory, you'll never have an absence of leadership from year to year.

We got burned by captains, so I found this much more feasible.

ironhorse posted:

We got away from captains and now do a Leadership Council. Kids vote for 3 players, 2 in their class and 1 in any class, and we pick the top 2 per class. This way we have 8 "leaders" or developing leaders spread across the program. In theory, you'll never have an absence of leadership from year to year.

We got burned by captains, so I found this much more feasible.

 

interesting idea, never thought of it before.

I like Ironhorse's idea. For my boys teams over the years. Captains were only named in Varsity HS sports. Never saw one in travel ball, aau basketball, JV, frosh, MS, etc.

As far as selections in basketball, The coach narrowed it down to senior players + occasionally 1-2 juniors. Then the team voted. 2 became captains.

For baseball coach let boys vote for 4 players juniors / seniors - top 2 became captains.

I found that being captain was given more responsibilities in basketball at least at my kids HS

Captain is a title.  I'm not big on titles.  From what I've observed over the years it doesn't mean much in baseball.  None of my three son's ever had a captain (elected or appointed) in high school, but I guarantee you everybody knew who (player) was leading each of their high school teams.

I hate selecting "captain" or having the seniors be the "captains".  What if you have a terrible senior class?  Do you really want that group in charge of leading players?  I don't like captains because 99% of the time they turn into do as I say people who boss around everyone.  "Hey you go pick that up" or "Hey you're a freshman so you do what I say"  I can't stand that.

I do like what ironhorse is doing with his leadership council but I'm a big believer in if you establish the program correctly then you don't have to worry about having a captain.  I tell my guys all the time......

1.  You're either doing the right thing or you're doing the wrong thing - why choose to do wrong?

2.  You're either working hard or you're not working hard - why choose to not work hard?

3.  You're either hustling or you're not hustling - why choose to not hustle?

4.  You're either a head case or you're not a head case - why choose to be a head case?

You can have the list include whatever you want but you're establishing expectations of how to act and perform.  When they get "IT" then peer pressure does your leading for you.  Nobody wants to be "that guy" who does their own thing.  If you get someone who does their own thing now you work to change that or get rid of them since they're a cancer.  When you're part of a team everyone is equal in terms of importance because those seniors who are having their last run may need that talented freshmen to come through in the clutch to win.  You can't do that if there is a hierarchy just to have a hierarchy.  

If you want to have captains the first thing you need to figure out is what do you want the captains to do?  Second thing is how do you want them to get that accomplished?  It's easy to say you want leadership but rarely does anyone ever teach them how to be leaders.  Next thing you know you got a bunch of jerks running the team.

coach2709 posted:

It's easy to say you want leadership but rarely does anyone ever teach them how to be leaders.  Next thing you know you got a bunch of jerks running the team.

Exactly. This fall we spent 12 weeks going through Jeff Janssen's Team Captain's Leadership manual. Literally teaches them how to be leaders. Great stuff.

The most powerful phrase our kids use is "that's not how we do it around here." The "it" being any negative behavior. Positive peer pressure.

coach2709 posted:

I hate selecting "captain" or having the seniors be the "captains".  What if you have a terrible senior class?  Do you really want that group in charge of leading players?  

Seniors are de facto captains in our program and this ^^ is exactly what is happening this year. We only have 2 seniors and neither are leaders. I think the natural leaders will rise to the top during the season, so it won't really be an issue, but it is definitely an odd system when your seniors are not the leadership type.   

Ironhorse thanks for putting that.  I'm going to google that guy and look into his stuff.  Sounds like some good reading.  It would be great if I could use it for my AD job.

KandKFunk - it is an odd system and it can work if you're seniors have talent and leadership ability.  Typically those are lacking.  Senior leadership is an entitlement mentality.  "I'm owed the leadership mantle because I'm a senior".  It drives me nuts when we put seniors on such a high pedestal in the regular school setting.  Seniors get to do this because they're seniors or they get to do that.  Senior year is a special thing and there should be special things for them but it's not a competition to one up from one year to the next. Nor is it a title to be inherited in a sports team.

kandkfunk posted:

coach2709 posted:

I hate selecting "captain" or having the seniors be the "captains".  What if you have a terrible senior class?  Do you really want that group in charge of leading players?  

Seniors are de facto captains in our program and this ^^ is exactly what is happening this year. We only have 2 seniors and neither are leaders. I think the natural leaders will rise to the top during the season, so it won't really be an issue, but it is definitely an odd system when your seniors are not the leadership type.   

Wait, what? Your team only has two seniors? What the heck happened?

2019Dad posted:

kandkfunk posted:

coach2709 posted:

I hate selecting "captain" or having the seniors be the "captains".  What if you have a terrible senior class?  Do you really want that group in charge of leading players?  

Seniors are de facto captains in our program and this ^^ is exactly what is happening this year. We only have 2 seniors and neither are leaders. I think the natural leaders will rise to the top during the season, so it won't really be an issue, but it is definitely an odd system when your seniors are not the leadership type.   

Wait, what? Your team only has two seniors? What the heck happened?

Yeah, there is a real lack of baseball talent in the senior class. Most of the kids in the area are insanely loyal to a Little League system that does not prepare them to actually play baseball. Familiar story of parental politics overriding the development of the players. The anomaly is the junior class that largely played outside of the rec league. They are a very talented group of players. Last year, the JV team was filled with juniors who couldn't beat out Sophomores and Freshmen to make the Varsity roster. Those Juniors saw the writing on the wall and are not trying out this year as seniors. Actually, only one of the seniors has played at the varsity level and he's been there since he was a Sophomore. This year, the varsity squad will be majority junior with 1-2 sophomores and the 2 seniors.