We Have A Captain... Now What???

Warn him about adult coaches who want the kids to be leaders. You don't need a captain, you be the captain. Motivate them some other way, this will not work. You will pit the kids against each other. They sound burned out.

I disagree with BP. Captains can be a good thing in a number of ways. One way is they can show by acting correctly, what the expected behavior is. Peer pressure to conform is greater than anything Adults can do. And Coach everyone in this long enough will experience this type of team (you could even get them as your first team). You are also providing the learning experience for a young man to lead. If they have chosen an acceptable(to you)captain, this is a win-win situation.

I would meet with him and explain your expectations.

BTW, I would chose a second one too. THis could be a coach appointed captain for hard work.

I was in that situation last year and will be again this year as a team captain. The coach pretty much gave a little speech saying I wasn't any different and it didn't mean I was better just that I had the leadership skills and that nobody wanted to win more than I did besides the coach himself. You might want to tell your captain to not be too bossy or anything. Just take charge when he needs to. Kids didn't really go against me at all, it actually turned into a joke. On my travel team I was Captain Keeler as they all called me and now on my HS team they call me Coach K. Still the guys listen to me, but I don't boss them around.

He was chosen to be captain for a reason. Its a tough job at that age especially with all the hormones and popularity contests. Maybe you should tell him to be himself and that the players on the team picked him because they thought he would be the best because of how he acts and plays already.

I was in a similar situation last year, but decided against doing it. i figured its kinda like a co-worker who gets promoted - they still want to be your friend, but its never the same.
I agree that the coach needs to step up.