What role do captains have?

All sports have captains. It is a role of leadership and responsibility that helps connect players and coaches, uplift players through encouragement and acts as a representative for the team.

Although the amount of captains depends on the sport and varies every year, most coaches designate around 2-3 captains. Coaches often search for hardworking players who have strong leadership capabilities, maintain positive attitudes and are always available for their teammates.

“Responsibility is an important trait because I feel like a lot of people do not hold a lot of value for showing up every day and making sure to do the full runs,” varsity girls distance captain junior Ava Razo said. “Especially with distance, on Saturdays we have our long runs, so it can be anywhere from 8-12 miles. So a lot of people won’t show up on those specific practice days.”

Captains also have many responsibilities. Captains serve to link team members, often reminding players of practice times and notifying them about important events. They also help answer players’ questions regarding their sport. During practices and games, captains often support their teammates through encouragement, raising the overall morale of the team and motivating them to do their best.

“[To be a captain], it’s uplifting everybody, making sure everybody’s not in their own head,” varsity girls basketball captain senior Claire Olia said. “It’s more than making a basket, it’s making sure everybody has chemistry and is understanding what we’re doing.”

Besides the responsibilities that come with being a captain, the role also comes with honor and pride.

“It feels great and also motivating for myself to have this responsibility in helping my teammates. I am proud to be uplifting and essentially just another coach on the court while playing,” captain senior Nathan Yen said. Ω