The different ways to choose a captain

While a coach manages a team, a captain leads it.

The captain holds the unique position of bridging the gap between players and management, acting as a role model and reinforcing team culture. 

There are numerous ways to approach how you choose a captain for your team, each suited to different team structures, goals, and player personalities. 

The age and stage of your team is also a factor – the older players get, the more responsibility, typically, comes with being captain. 

Here’s our handy guide to how you can go about deciding how to run your team captaincy.

The coach-chosen captain

What is it?

This is where the coach picks one of their players to be captain, long-term – likely for a full season.

This allows you to pick a player that you think exemplifies your team’s values, and displays the qualities you appreciate in a captain. 

These attributes could include leadership, good behaviour, communication skills or work ethic, for example.

You can also make a judgement based on who you think has the respect of the other players. Who do they look up to and listen to?

Who is it better for?

• Older age group teams
  At the older youth-age groups, and in adult soccer, teams often benefit from more structured leadership. The responsibilities of a captain are also greater the older they get; having one person take on these responsibilities on can help with consistency.
• Teams that really need leadership
  Some teams may exist with very few on-field leaders, or even none. Picking one player to be captain can allow you to work with them and develop their leadership skills.

The player-chosen captain

What is it?

This is where the players vote for their preferred captain.

It can be done based on what they know of their team-mates; or, players can be encouraged to put themselves forward, perhaps with an idea of what they would bring to the table as captain, to be voted for.

Picking a captain this way allows players to feel as if they are part of the decision-making processes around the team, fostering a sense of collective responsibility. 

For the chosen captain, it can also be helpful to know that their team-mates value them, and see them in a leadership role.

Who is it better for?

• Older age group teams
  Choosing a captain this way with younger teams runs the risk of favouritism, or players choosing their preferred captain based on friendships and team dynamics. Doing it with older, more mature teams may mean players are making decisions from the point of view of making the best choice for the team.

Leadership group

What is it?

Instead of a single captain, a leadership group consists of multiple players – perhaps three or four – who collectively assume leadership responsibilities.

These players could be given the role of captain, vice-captain and second vice-captain, for example. This is common in elite professional teams in Europe.

Or, there could be no hierarchy, and the official matchday captaincy is rotated around the group. 

Who is it better for?

• Larger squads
  If you have a bigger squad, having a single captain might not address all of the needs of the team. A leadership group allows for representation across different areas, personalities, or skillsets.
• Teams with complex dynamics
  You may have a team made up of different friendship groups, for example. Forming a leadership group with members of these different groups can make sure different groups have a voice and support bringing them together.
• Teams with lots of leaders
  If several players demonstrate leadership qualities, this structure allows each of them to have a role and make use of these qualities.
• New teams
  If you are working with a relatively new team, having a few leaders can support the building of team cohesion. You can be strategic about how you choose them, too – perhaps you want a leader in each of the units: Defence, attack and midfield, for example.