THE COURAGE OF A CAPTAIN : A GUIDE TO LEADERSHIP IN A FOOTBALL TEAM
Many in the less developed countries in football interpret being captain differently. Some think he has to keep the team Jersey and plan what the team eats 😊, others think the captain is like a coach inside the playing field ( This is wrong ). In this article we look at roles and qualities of team leads called Captain.
Don’t miss out this Sunday (21/07/2024)- Deep coverage on positional responsibilities we should observe when we find ourselves in a position in a match.
The tradition of football (soccer) captains wearing an armband originated in the early 20th century. The earliest recorded instance of a captain wearing an armband was in 1912, when the England national team captain Billy Meredith wore an armband during a match against Scotland. Over time, the captain’s armband became an established part of the game, with most teams and leagues requiring the team captain to wear a distinctive armband during matches. From Quora
WIKIPEDIA
The only official responsibility of a captain specified by the Laws of the Game is to participate in the coin toss prior to kick-off (for choice of ends or to have kick-off) and prior to a penalty shoot-out. Contrary to what is sometimes said, captains have no special authority under the Laws to challenge a decision by the referee.[4] However, referees may talk to the captain of a side about the side’s general behavior when necessary.
The captain roles are mainly embodied in three that is Courageous, Caring and Consistent. The third quality (consistency) is like a quality that is needed for all those on the team but, the captain has to be up there always. Let us break this up a little more.
CARING – There is always something about care. Everyone needs care but only a few can provide it in the right way and amount. Care with demand of returns is not care. In football games, Good captains don’t go around backing commands to teammates, the coach can do that at will. The captain reminds his teammates of the game plan. Teams most of the time concede goals after mistakes of opponents. As a caring captain, you should treat all teammates with respect and recognize the contributions made by all team members.
If you have a problem with a teammate, you should approach that teammate in private and in a positive way to address the situation and find a solution. The captain should be the one to stop rumor spreading and gossiping. These kinds of behaviors destroy team chemistry.
Courageous – How do we define courage. Remember those last minute penalty spot kicks that are to win the game or make it equal. I remember Arteta always taking these. In high temper and risk moments during the game, the courageous are always having a cool head and this is where they shine most as they always cause mistakes by the opponents. A courageous captain you must show that you trust your teammates and coaches, and are also willing to hold teammates accountable to working hard and being prepared.
CONSISTENT – Giving 100% effort in every practice and game 🙄🙄. This is a lot to ask for from anyone but at least be close to that. To be a consistent captain you must remain true to your own style of communication and not try to be someone else. You cannot cut corners and earn the respect from teammates and coaches that is necessary to lead the team effectively. Consistent captains also have an authentic style of communicating. Some lead by their actions, while others are more vocal.
Conclusions
How to be a better Captain.
Nothing is more important in leading your team into competition than being seen as an authentic, credible leader. Acquiring all the above three awards one with one more important quality an ‘C’ – Credibility. All the above is not implemented the same in all teams. One can only grow in a team to become the best captain in a team that is why most of the times someone is voted captain after being in the team for long. You have to first learn the core values of the team.
- Consult with the coach for details of what he wants from his captain because different team setups call for different qualities.
- Do some research on becoming better at it. You are already here thanks, now since we are in the social media age, why not follow some of the known good captains and see how they handle life on and off the pitch. Some links are provided below.
- Be willing to do what is right for the team even if it is “not cool”. And, get out and do it. You will learn much on the job including from your mistakes.
Useful links
- Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal Captain
- Harry Kane – England National Team Captain
- How to spot your next team captain
- Leadership building as a captain
Till the next one cheers, ❤ you all. AM MASALEX
