Team Captains

[rocko]

coaching 13 and 14 year olds for first time. I do not expect to have any reliable assistants to help out at practice (which really blows and cramps my small group teaching/station style). I was thinking about either selecting or having the kids pick three captains. Maybe they select two and I pick one.
they could lead the drills, exercises, etc...

anybody have captains at this age group? good idea?

what else does the captain do for you?

I know in hockey our captains go over to the other team before the game and shakes the other coaches hand and wishes the other team good luck. Nice gesture.

[Jake Patterson]

coaching 13 and 14 year olds for first time. I do not expect to have any reliable assistants to help out at practice (which really blows and cramps my small group teaching/station style). I was thinking about either selecting or having the kids pick three captains. Maybe they select two and I pick one.
they could lead the drills, exercises, etc...

anybody have captains at this age group? good idea?

what else does the captain do for you?

I know in hockey our captains go over to the other team before the game and shakes the other coaches hand and wishes the other team good luck. Nice gesture.

Yes I have them and use them here's their responsibilities:
18106

[bruno]

Get through a couple weeks of practice, and you'll figure out who the captain(s) should be. Don't let the kids pick them, you'll make a better choice than they will.

[Jake Patterson]

Get through a couple weeks of practice, and you'll figure out who the captain(s) should be. Don't let the kids pick them, you'll make a better choice than they will.

Disagree about how to select - see the above article. If you make the kids part of the selection process (The coach has the final say) then the captains are better accepted. In all the years doing it as above I have not had a different choice from the kids. The key is in establishing the criteria before the selection is made. Waiting a couple of weeks makes sense.

[TG Coach]

Our middle school selects captains. They are considered for selection based on ability, then chosen based on how they are respected by teammates and their ability to lead. My son plays football, basketball and baseball. The co-captains control warmups in practice and games.

In 13U travel we named two new co-captains every week. Due to the nature of the talent and carefully selected personalities, each could lead in their own way (except for one kid hardly anyone liked). If one was a little off the wall he was paired with a more serious type.

[YankeeFan01]

Due to the nature of the talent and carefully selected personalities, each could lead in their own way (except for one kid hardly anyone liked).

I hate to say it, but I kinda laughed at this part.