The leader. The inspiration. The catalyst for something special. The believer in times of doubt. The special one for bringing individuals together to form a strong and united group. The captain is an important role. Don’t let anyone ever diminish the significance this title has. The captain bares the weight of responsibility on his shoulders and must be the right person for the job. In sport, the captain is just as vital for the success of his team as a captain is in a war setting.
In many aspects, soccer (and all sports) is like a battle. You are in an open setting trying to outwit your opponent maximizing your own strengths and exposing their weaknesses. A group is giving everything they have to defeat the other group doing the same exact thing. Blood, sweat and tears are left on the battlefield. There can be only one winner in these wars. Of course it is required to remember that in the end soccer is just a game and should not be treated like a war, however the comparison is clear to be made.
Being captain of my college that I cared so much for meant a lot to me and is one of, if not the greatest honor of my life. To be the person everyone looks to for help, guidance, inspiration and reassurance in the toughest times is very gratifying. There are many different types of leadership between the silent leader, the perfectionist, the vocalist and anything in between. There are certain qualities that a leader absolutely must have in any type of leadership role. Honest, courageous, dedicated and motivated are a few of these constant qualities that without, leads to an ineffective captain. If the captain is not honest with himself, teammates, and the coaching staff then the team will not improve because weaknesses are not being addressed. If he is not courageous then the easy option will always be selected, which is not always the correct decision. The captain has to be brave enough to take the difficult option when things are not going their way. The captain must be the first to dedicate themselves to the cause. If not, then why would the others. He addresses any issue, big or small, because he cares and will do anything to help the group succeed. All of the duties and responsibilities of a captain require plenty of effort and energy. Motivation is what makes it possible. The desire and drive to be the best captain and player one can be provides that energy for the individual to be fully committed. It comes from within and is contagious to those around him.
The silent leader is the guy that leads by example. Teammates look to this person to learn how things are done properly 100% of the time. They are never late, all team rules are followed, complete effort is always demonstrated, and he acts as the coach wants all player to whenever he steps on the field as well as off of it. Notice, the significant aspect mentioned throughout is that there is not a moment of let-off. The silent leader does not drop his level. This captain might appear timid. He does not speak much, but when he does, his followers listen. Respect is commanded for how he carries himself, which is why he does not need to constantly shout and scream at others. The vocalist is also an effective leader. This is the television image that often comes to mind when thinking about an inspirational leader. This person galvanizes the group with an inspirational speech in the team huddle. He is the first to speak up when the team is down. If someone is not at their best, the vocalist gets on their teammate immediately. He barks orders during the game to keep everyone switched on and engaged. The perfectionist is obviously detail-oriented, but also mixes many of the qualities of the vocalist and the silent leader. Under his leadership, every little detail is under his microscope. He understands that everything an athlete on a team does is important and can make a difference. Nothing under the optimum level is accepted. He too must lead by example and have effective communication when upholding the team’s standards. The perfectionist captain is the extension of the coach to the team, making sure everyone understands fully their role in the team and what they need to do during the game.
One thing that is important to address is the “fake” leader. This person wants to be viewed as the leader either for their own egotistical needs or because they enjoy the recognition of having the captain’s armband. Typically, this person can be perceived as a vocalist because they shout and scream at every opportunity, usually when a teammate makes a mistake. More often than not, a player at a high enough level knows straight away that they made an error. A sudden scream of “COME ON” will not make up for the error or give confidence to that player. A quick word of encouragement to stay focused is incredibly more effective. This “fake” leader always looks to blame others and not take responsibility upon himself. My fault as a captain was probably that I took too much of the responsibility. I would be very hard on myself when the team did not play well. Sometimes it is important to remember that you cannot control other people and what happens is out of your hands. The “fake” leader does not demonstrate the qualities mentioned before constantly. They may be incredibly dedicated during an important game, but it is easy to be up for a game against your rivals. True dedication is shown the night after your game, your days off, and through hard work on the training field day in and day out. A true captain is the first one at training and the last one to leave. He turns the lights on because he must be the shining sun for the group. This is the kind of example that breeds proper habits and a winning culture for younger players that one day will have to take over important leadership roles.
One memory in particular that sticks with me happened in my senior season. This player had began the season as a starter but was finding minutes in games harder to come by as the season progressed. He certainly was a player with talent, but was not quite fulfilling his potential. Then his grandmother passed. He kept it private to the team. After a Friday training session (day before a game), it was just him and I left in the locker room. I could tell something was a bit off. I told him that he had done well in training that week and would be important tomorrow so have a good rest. Then he told me the unfortunate news. It had happened a few days before. Now, I am not usually one for hugs and embraces, but I am a very emotional person, so I knew that what my friend needed was reassurance. So I hugged him and tried to be a comforting outlet he could release this sadness upon. He broke down a bit, but that’s okay. Crying is one thing that makes us human, and a leader (whether in the business world or soccer locker room) must always remember that they are dealing with humans, not just their outputs. It had been a tough year for him. Our team was recovering from its worst year and he was not playing as well as he had hoped. Then he lost his grandmother, someone that was very special to him and his family. It was difficult. All I knew was that I had to be there for him and that is all I could do.
We are gladiators out there on the field. Pulling on your jersey is like putting on your armor. Adding a captain’s armband gives you another bit of adrenaline and pressure. You are leading your troops to battle and nothing makes you feel more alive than this feeling that you are giving everything you can to something greater than yourself to accomplish a common goal. There is no secret formula to being a good captain. The important thing to always remember is that you are a person that others will naturally look to as a role-model. Never underestimate the influence a captain can have. Embrace the unique experience.
