On most athletic teams, there are certain players that coaches name as “captains.”

A captain, by definition, is one whom the team can look to for leadership and guidance, on and off the field or court.

During high school soccer, most coaches named all senior players as captains, but their role was no different than anyone else on the team. The only difference was they represented their team at the coin toss.

All too often in collegiate sports, teams rely entirely on several key players – mostly upperclassmen – and not enough on the depth of their team. Does the captain’s role lie solely in the hands of the senior players, though? Are they the only ones capable of leading a team to greatness?

From my point of view, there are leaders in every age group.

There are those who lead by example, those who motivate others and those who use that motivation to accomplish great things.

Sometimes those who lead by example need inspiration that can be found only by the athletes on the team who play a less active role.

While it is comforting to have a teammate who is at-ease in high-pressure situations and capable of handling a tough scenario – like being down by one with five minutes to play – the job description doesn’t stop there.

The role of captains or leaders is not only to do their best during games or practices, but off the field or court as well. A good leader is there for their teammates in any situation and is willing to help in any way they can. Good leaders will stand up for their teammates no matter what the circumstances and encourage them to be the best all-around person they can be.

As you can tell, being a captain or leader is much more than a “C” stitched onto their uniform or armband.

All too often, good athletes get caught up in the potential glory associated with the thought of being a captain and fail to fulfill their duty as a leader.

So who’s to say a captain or a good leader cannot come from a benchwarmer as opposed to a starter, or from a freshman rather than a senior?

As long as the success of the team is the focus, any player can fill that role. In the end, good leadership means first improving yourself and being the best you can be, and then challenging others to do the same.

Kaitlin Sullivan is a freshman on the women’s soccer team and a journalism major. She can be reached at 581-7944 or at DENsportsdesk@gmail.com.

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