Did your coach choose your captain? Did your team choose them? Now that we are half-way through the season, do you think that they are doing a good job? How do you know?

There is no “right” way to be a captain, just as there is no “right” way to coach or play girls hockey. Captains don’t have to be the best player on your team. They don’t need to be the team’s biggest cheerleader. They could play any position and be on your first line, be part of your third defense pair, or even be your goalie. They don’t need to make inspirational speeches but…

They do need to play inspired hockey.

I truly believe that the captain has to embody what the team is all about. If the team is a hard-working, nose to the grindstone, physical team, then it is best to have a player who fits that description as the captain. If you are a flashier team, your players are more likely to identify with a highly-skilled player as their captain. Remember - your best captain is not necessarily your best player.

Your team captain should be a leader, but that doesn’t mean that they are THE leader. Every player on the team needs to lead. That doesn’t mean that you have to be the main leader all the time, but there will be opportunities throughout the year when you feel like your voice needs to be heard and you have to jump into that role in order to help the team.

You don’t need to have a letter to have a voice.

You don’t need to have an official title to play a critical role.

Captain or not, what can you do to help lead your team into the second half of the season?

Share your thoughts below.

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

~ Coach Kim