O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
- Walt Whitman
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
Sam Walker's The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest Team explores the makeup of the most elite teams in history. Unsurprisingly, he uncovers the leadership role of captains. Astonishingly, he reveals that during Derek Jeter's twelve years as captain, the Yankees won one championship.
He includes the following:
THE SEVEN TRAITS OF ELITE CAPTAINS
- Extreme doggedness and focus in competition
- Aggressive play that tests the limits of the rules
- A willingness to do thankless jobs in the shadows
- A low-key, practical, and democratic communication style
- Motivates others with passionate nonverbal displays
- Strong convictions and the courage to stand apart
- Ironclad emotional control
How do we 'select' captains? Let's survey the Net.
Leadership expert Jeff Janssen discusses three options with pros and cons:
- Team vote
- Coaches selection
- Team Nominates and coaches select
Functional Basketball Coaching stratifies into the first two, with the salient point:
"No matter what strategy chosen selecting a team captain can be a very good opportunity to build relationships amongst the group."
Daniel Benjamin at Breakthrough Basketball shares captain qualities. Here are a few:
- "Team captains firmly believe that the best interest of the team always comes first."
- "Team captains expect and demand the best from themselves and their teammates."
- "Encourages teammates. A good leader keeps the team upbeat and positive."
Jeff Janssen shares another article from Power Basketball:
I see this frequently..."Seniors automatically named captains.
This option puts the leadership responsibility on the veterans of the group by automatically naming the seniors as captains." Janssen wrote that six percent of teams used this method.
Stephanie Zonars shares a comprehensive selection model from FastModelSports. Our local volleyball coach uses something similar, with an application model. He then confers with fellow teaches for input about character and leadership. A vote ultimately ensues.
My comments...
I was voted "Captain" on a high school basketball team a lifetime ago (1972-1973). We had a talented, mature, motivated senior-laden team (eight seniors) with multiple leaders. Leadership was plentiful and diffuse. I chose the title, "Team Representative" instead of Captain. I was more surprised by the vote than any other emotion.
It worked out thanks to great coaches and terrific teammates.
It worked out thanks to great coaches and terrific teammates.
My sense is that for some, Captaincy has become 'an entitlement' or 'resume builder'. Captaincy has to be about the team, not the captain. Captains should be "like Caesar's wife", communicators, and lead by example, not by decree.
Because I coach middle school, I do not elect or select captains. Our values include teamwork, improvement, and accountability. Middle school girls don't need another reason for pettiness, jealousy, or cliques.