How to Become a Team Captain
Basketball is a team game where player leadership is essential. Player leadership can be the difference from your team being good rather than mediocre.
You may be asking, “ Why do I need to be a leader, when my coach is an exceptional leader?”
The reason player leadership is so important is because athletes typically respond to peer motivation and peer pressure at a much deeper level than when the message is received from a coach.
Being a team captain is not easy but it is a very important part of the composition of your team. Team captains are generally selected a couple of ways; either the coach chooses the team leaders or there is a team vote.
Either way it is a great honor to be named captain and it shows the team and coach have confidence in your leadership ability. Remember you don’t have to be the star of the team or starter to be a captain.
Here are 10 qualities you need to be an effective team captain.
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You must be self-motivated. Team captains are the heart and soul of a team, going all out every minute you are on the floor during games as well as in practice. You also should be the first one at practice and one of the lasts to leave.
Team captains firmly believe that the best interest of the team always comes first.
Team captains are bold, tenacious, fearless, prepared, fluid and enthusiastic.
Team leaders are great listeners and have a thirst to improve. When a coach tells you something, you should listen to the meaning of the words and not how it is said. If a coach didn’t care, he wouldn’t bother to help you become the best player possible.
Team captains expect and demand the best from themselves and their teammates.
Know your role. A key part of being a leader is knowing your role on the team (scorer, rebounder, shutdown defender, sixth man, etc.). If you don’t know, ask.
Team captains choose their words carefully. The words of the team captain mean more than that of any other player.
Encourages teammates. A good leader keeps the team upbeat and positive. If a teammate is down, the captain picks the player’s spirits up.
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Understand that mistakes will be made. Team leaders can’t get down on themselves or others when mistakes because if you do others will follow. So, instead of chastising yourself or teammate learn from the mistake and move on. Simple statements like “I got you next time” or “Relax, I will get the ball again next time”, will do wonders for a player’s confidence after a mistake.
Team captains do not allow others to talk negatively about the team. You should take any insult about a team member as an insult against the whole team.
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