The Controversy in Choosing a Captain of a High-School Team

CAPTAIN’S DECISION

THE CONTROVERSY

LAWRENCE FAN business manager/copy editor

Whether playing a team sport or an individual sport, athletes spend countless hours with their teammates through scrimmaging practices or competing together in matches. Thus, by the end of the season, many teammates will have formed strong bonds with each other, seeing each other as both companions as well as competitors, motivating one another to achieve their best.

Team captains play an integral role in forming team chemistry, and their leadership helps the team progress in tough times. Due to the importance of the role of the team captain, only the most qualified candidates should be given the position. As a result, some may question: what is the best method for selecting team captains?

A team captain directly represents the team, leading their teammates and acting as a liaison between the team and the coaches, referees and making sure information and messages are clearly communicated between the respective parties. They also serve as the team’s emotional leader--leading, inspiring, and supporting all members of the team. Some responsibilities they bear include leading the team during warm-ups and drills, arranging rides to games, organizing team bonding events, and motivating the players during matches.

Said Mishti Gokhale, senior and girl’s captain of the varsity swim team, “The team captains spread all the information on Facebook pages, they’re the ones that make sure all the meet sheets are done, we ask people what events they want to swim for sign-ups, we organize all the team bondings, any equipment, and money we need, it’s up to the team captains to decide how and where we’re getting the money… It’s kind of just doing all the technical stuff.”

In most teams, the coach selects the team captain based on their demonstrated performance and leadership, selecting team captains who work hard, help out others and set a positive example. Oftentimes, the coach would ask for the team’s approval to appoint a player as captain.

“[The tennis coach] suggests two people, says these are going to be the team captains, and everybody acknowledges yes they are ok with it,” said Pranav Medikonda, a junior on the boy’s varsity tennis team.

While this may ensure that the most qualified player serves as captain, it can also lead to bias and a subjective decision on the coach’s part. Instead of choosing the student best suited to lead, the coach might pick based on favoritism.

“I feel like [the water-polo coach] just picked people that he knew, not necessarily the people with the best leadership qualities,” said Andrew Chen, a junior on the varsity water-polo team.

In other cases, the selection process is not as straightforward. In swimming, for example, there was no official process for choosing the team captain. Rather, veteran players stepped up and took on more responsibilities, eventually being recognized as team captain.

“For girls, I was expected to be captain because I was one of the only senior girls who could do it and I planned all of senior night last year and then Jacqueline and Giwoo were interested in helping out as well,” said Gokhale.

Some teams are considering collectively voting for their captains, having the players choose the leader for their team. This past year, the girls’soccer team tried holding a team vote to pick their captain, giving the players a bigger say in the process. However, this method also raises some concerns, specifically that it would turn into a popularity contest.

“It would turn more into a popularity vote instead of a reflection of the leadership qualities, people who might not be fit for leading become leaders, and that might not be a good thing,” said Medikonda.