By: Warren Shiu, Staff Writer
The team captain has been a staple of sports for many decades, helping to lead his or her team to success and enabling players to realize their full potential. These positions are very instrumental in ensuring teamwork within a group. However, how much power and responsibility the captain deserves is debatable. While the captain is expected to unite the players and drive the team forward, a question that lingers is whether his authority encourages camaraderie among the players or brings competition for a higher position on the team.
Sometimes, being the captain of a team involves more than just playing in the game. It includes directing the team, either in celebrating its successes or managing its defeat. Senior Tyler Ngo has been playing basketball since he was young, and is now the captain of the varsity boys basketball team. He shared his perspective on the importance of leadership. “The main role of a team captain is just being a leader, just keeping people locked in for games and practices. If your captain isn’t leading by example, nobody else will,” says Ngo. A captain’s influence goes beyond the actions of the court into the mentality of a team and the focus that it would require, no matter the situation.
Besides leading by example, captains also bridge the gap in communication, quite literally serving as a bridge between coaches and players. Reece Roach (12), captain of the girls varsity soccer team, said, “If there’s something the coach might not see, then I have experience to just lead a drill in practice.” The relationship between players and coaches enables captains to iron out any disagreements in strategy and maintain order during games and practices to keep the team running smoothly both on and off the field.
Yet, with leadership comes emotional burdens as well. For first-time captains, the position can be a bit daunting, as senior Lainey Tsai describes when she assumed the position of a captain of the varsity girls volleyball team this year. “I felt a little more pressured since people depended on me more.” Being a captain means the team follows your lead, all while providing good examples for them both in the court and out of it.
Although leadership can be a challenge, some still question whether or not captains build up unnecessary competition or resentment towards other teammates. This is somewhat understandable in certain aspects, but effective leadership – whether it be by one captain or multiple – can help overcome these issues and promote mutual respect among one another. Teams must realize they are all working towards a common goal, which is winning and bringing pride to their team. Without captains, teams may not have the guidance they need to get them through critical situations.
Captains are very important in shaping the identity of the team through emotional support, organizing practices, and setting examples. The ability to unite players and support teammates during good and difficult times is what makes a team successful. Whether on the field or in the locker room, team captains remain indispensable to guide their teams toward achieving their goals.
