This week my club frisbee team is voting for three players who we want to be captains for the upcoming year. Anyone who wants to be in the running sends an email out to the team, with what is essentially his “campaign speech.” In it, players explain why they will make a good captain and what they would do if they were to become captain. It got me thinking about what I, and other teammates, value in a leader.
Some of the most inspirational and best emails had the following in them:
“I want to be captain because I know that I can be the standard-bearer for this new mentality. I want to set the tone for what I see as a new era for Santa Clara ultimate. Whether it is getting in extra throws before practice, leading intense work-outs, or watching endless hours of film, I will always lead by example.”
This really struck a cord with me because although the person who wrote this email isn’t the best player on the team, he is always showing up to practice early, clearly putting in effort to become the best player he can be. It’s clear that he really wants to succeed and I can tell that this is an extremely valuable asset in a leader.
“I love ultimate, I love this team, and I am excited for what this team can accomplish not only next year, but beyond. This is a team on a Mission, and I hope that you think I’m fit to be one of its leaders.”
This is just a simple closing remark. However, it comes across as incredibly sincere. The team is full of players who absolutely love the sport and that’s exactly what this player will bring as a captain. He’s not running for captain because he feels like he’s better than everyone else, he wants to be our leader because he simply loves the sport and wants to give everything he can to the team.
To my surprise, I came to the conclusion that a captain doesn’t need to be the best player on the team. This is something that I’m not used to thinking. Through all of my sports career, the captain of my teams has always been the best player on the team. However, I’ve come to realize it’s more important for a captain to be a strong leader than a good player. They need to be the tone-setters for the team, it’s their responsibility to make sure everyone gets along and has fun while still pushing the team in a positive and winning direction. This is what makes a leader respected by their peers.
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