Captains

[cooper26]

Team captains at the youth levels:

What are they for?
How many should there be?
How should they be chosen?
What qualities are important?
How should they act?
What power should they have?
What if it is all negative? (tearing down teammates)
When and how should coach step in?

[HockeyDad2016]

1 - to run warm-ups, and get attn of refs for the coach durning a game

2 - two

3 - the coach

4 - attitude, second year at current level

5 - Mature, Respectful

6 - Very Limitied

7 - Should be someone first year players look up to.

[muckandgrind]

HockeyDad2016-

Do you think the coach should select the Captains at ALL youth levels? Or just the youngest? My son's Bantam team's Captains were chosed on a secret ballot by the players, not the coach...which I think is the right way to do it. Many of these kids have played together for years and are in a better position to know who the leaders of the team should be instead the coach, who is a non-parent coach new to the association. But new coach or not, I like the idea of the players choosing their own leaders.

[conditioningsucks]

Hockey Dads responses are good. A slight variation:

What are they for?
Mainly symbolic. Agree that running warmups and working with refs/coaches.

How many should there be? Three

How should they be chosen?
The "C" should be elected by teammates with an election every two weeks. The two "A's" should be selected by the coaching staff as rewards for behavior, hard work, etc. and rotated every two weeks.

What qualities are important?
Leadership (often at youth levels leadership comes down to being done by example and how they conduct themselves personally, rather than someone standing up in the locker room giving speeches to teammates, they should: give everything on every shift, never quit no matter the situation, encourage teammates through tough situations, not harp or blame the refs for their team's failures, etc.), lack of negativity, support for the coach/following instruction.

How should they act?
See above. In youth hockey, lead by example.

What power should they have?
The power to run pre-game warmup. That's it.

What if it is all negative? (tearing down teammates)
Coach needs to lay out expectations for wearing the "C" or the "A"'s and let kids know that they will remove them if expectations aren't being taken care of. Some youth coaches mistakenly think that the captains should solve discipline problems and get teammates in line....these coaches are not doing their job when this happens.

When and how should coach step in?
See above. If coach lays out guidelines in advance for expectations, they should only step in when those guidelines are not being followed or are abused. If a captain is using their "C" to bully teammates because they think they are the boss, this is unacceptable and a failure of the coaches.

[Jimbo99]

Hockey Dads responses are good. A slight variation:

What are they for?
Mainly symbolic. Agree that running warmups and working with refs/coaches.

How many should there be? Three

How should they be chosen?
The "C" should be elected by teammates with an election every two weeks. The two "A's" should be selected by the coaching staff as rewards for behavior, hard work, etc. and rotated every two weeks.

What qualities are important?
Leadership (often at youth levels leadership comes down to being done by example and how they conduct themselves personally, rather than someone standing up in the locker room giving speeches to teammates, they should: give everything on every shift, never quit no matter the situation, encourage teammates through tough situations, not harp or blame the refs for their team's failures, etc.), lack of negativity, support for the coach/following instruction.

How should they act?
See above. In youth hockey, lead by example.

What power should they have?
The power to run pre-game warmup. That's it.

What if it is all negative? (tearing down teammates)
Coach needs to lay out expectations for wearing the "C" or the "A"'s and let kids know that they will remove them if expectations aren't being taken care of. Some youth coaches mistakenly think that the captains should solve discipline problems and get teammates in line....these coaches are not doing their job when this happens.

When and how should coach step in?
See above. If coach lays out guidelines in advance for expectations, they should only step in when those guidelines are not being followed or are abused. If a captain is using their "C" to bully teammates because they think they are the boss, this is unacceptable and a failure of the coaches.

I like this answer. The only problem with letting the kids pick them is that they've never really been taught about what to expect from a leader, or how to be one, so they often end up picking kids for all the wrong reasons and that they really don't even like.

[muckandgrind]

Hockey Dads responses are good. A slight variation:

What are they for?
Mainly symbolic. Agree that running warmups and working with refs/coaches.

How many should there be? Three

How should they be chosen?
The "C" should be elected by teammates with an election every two weeks. The two "A's" should be selected by the coaching staff as rewards for behavior, hard work, etc. and rotated every two weeks.

What qualities are important?
Leadership (often at youth levels leadership comes down to being done by example and how they conduct themselves personally, rather than someone standing up in the locker room giving speeches to teammates, they should: give everything on every shift, never quit no matter the situation, encourage teammates through tough situations, not harp or blame the refs for their team's failures, etc.), lack of negativity, support for the coach/following instruction.

How should they act?
See above. In youth hockey, lead by example.

What power should they have?
The power to run pre-game warmup. That's it.

What if it is all negative? (tearing down teammates)
Coach needs to lay out expectations for wearing the "C" or the "A"'s and let kids know that they will remove them if expectations aren't being taken care of. Some youth coaches mistakenly think that the captains should solve discipline problems and get teammates in line....these coaches are not doing their job when this happens.

When and how should coach step in?
See above. If coach lays out guidelines in advance for expectations, they should only step in when those guidelines are not being followed or are abused. If a captain is using their "C" to bully teammates because they think they are the boss, this is unacceptable and a failure of the coaches.

I like this answer. The only problem with letting the kids pick them is that they've never really been taught about what to expect from a leader, or how to be one, so they often end up picking kids for all the wrong reasons and that they really don't even like.

I go only go by what we've experienced...my son's A Bantam team had the players select the Captain and two assistants by secret ballot and looking at it now, they picked the right players. All three are 2nd year (older) players and all three are good kids with good leadership qualities....and no, my son is NOT one of the three, but he has told me he is happy with the selections.

[Chaos777]

Team captains at the youth levels:

What are they for?

To lead the team emotionally, to motivate the team. Also to run the warmups and serve as a communicator with the refs. To lead.

How many should there be?

Depends on the age and skill level of said youth hockey team. At the A Bantam, B1 Bantam and A Peewee, and B1 Bantam levels, I would say 3.

How should they be chosen?

They should be chosen by the coach and how he observes objectively who is the leader in the locker room for the team, and who can best fill the role.

What qualities are important?

Leadership, motivational skills, communication skills, mature attitude, solid playing ability, not necessarily the best on the team, but solid enough to lead the team.

How should they act?

They should act with leadership, maturity, integrity and dignity.

What power should they have?

All the power that comes with the title of Captain. They have no decision making power in terms of line composition, defensive pairings, and solving issues with players and parents and coaches, however they do have the power to communicate with the referees regarding plays during the game, along with the power that is needed in order to properly lead their team, which means they should be entitled resepct.

What if it is all negative? (tearing down teammates)

This is the place where the coach should recognize what's going on, and handle the problem appropriately. If that means stripping the player of the "C", then so be it.

When and how should coach step in?

See Above.

[cooper26]

I go only go by what we've experienced...my son's A Bantam team had the players select the Captain and two assistants by secret ballot and looking at it now, they picked the right players. All three are 2nd year (older) players and all three are good kids with good leadership qualities....and no, my son is NOT one of the three, but he has told me he is happy with the selections.

I agree, sometimes it works, but it seems like dumb luck when it does. Good points raised above by others.

[muckandgrind]

I go only go by what we've experienced...my son's A Bantam team had the players select the Captain and two assistants by secret ballot and looking at it now, they picked the right players. All three are 2nd year (older) players and all three are good kids with good leadership qualities....and no, my son is NOT one of the three, but he has told me he is happy with the selections.

I agree, sometimes it works, but it seems like dumb luck when it does. Good points raised above by others.

I wouldn't call it "dumb luck"...I think kids can be more perceptive as to who are the leaders, or who possesses the qualities that make them a leader, than some might believe. Maybe they can't put their finger on it or give a great definition of what a true "leader" is...but like how the old saying goes "they know it when they see it."

Of course, I'm talking Bantam age...these kids are more experienced than the younger kids.....I would probably agree that coaches are the best people to pick Captains at the Squirt and PeeWee levels, if they even HAVE captains...

[5thgraders]

Do the parents of the Captain Sew a Big C on their Team Jacket as a
symbol of status or would that be over the top ?

Heck the Wild do not even have a full time Captain and we need them
for Squirts and Pee Wee. REDICULOUS, If any serious matter occurs
during the game the coach is going to let the 10-12 yr old handle it
for him and the team Cmon NOW how stupid is that it never happens.

Rotating Captain in the dressing room only but nobody wears the C
except for the dad's jacket of the Captain of the week of course.

[Titan2020]

What are they for?
Kids enjoy having captains.

How many should there be?
3

How should they be chosen?
1. should rotate throughout the season. Check out www.thecaptainonline.com for detachable patches that go on the front of the jerseys. Depending on how games/tourneys fall once a month is usually good.
2. Coaches & Players pick

What qualities are important?
Hard work in practice & games, positive attitude, brings teammates up, committed to team (always at practice/games or misses very few), plays smart hockey (no stupid/selfish penalties)

What power should they have? None - it is a reward for efforts above under qualities. They have a responsibility (not power) to do certain things...responsibilites would depend on level of play.

[middle of nowhere hockey]

[quote="muckandgrind"]HockeyDad2016-

Do you think the coach should select the Captains at ALL youth levels? Or just the youngest? My son's Bantam team's Captains were chosed on a secret ballot by the players, not the coach...which I think is the right way to do it. Many of these kids have played together for years and are in a better position to know who the leaders of the team should be instead the coach, who is a non-parent coach new to the association. But new coach or not, I like the idea of the players choosing their own leaders.[/quote]

I have helped coach on some squirt teams and peewee teams and the thing i have noticed that even in secret ballots kids still just vote for their friends

[Bronc]

HockeyDad2016-

Do you think the coach should select the Captains at ALL youth levels? Or just the youngest? My son's Bantam team's Captains were chosed on a secret ballot by the players, not the coach...which I think is the right way to do it. Many of these kids have played together for years and are in a better position to know who the leaders of the team should be instead the coach, who is a non-parent coach new to the association. But new coach or not, I like the idea of the players choosing their own leaders.

I have helped coach on some squirt teams and peewee teams and the thing i have noticed that even in secret ballots kids still just vote for their friends

From PW's down (and depending on the maturity of the Bantams) C's & A's are purely symbolic of:

1) Popular kids on the team

or

2) Ones that the coaches either like from a performance or personality style (sometimes both).

The kids that get them like it, but for the rest of the kids and true impact on the team it is nominal.

If coaches want it to matter or mean anything they need to pull the kids aside that have been selected and let them know what is expected (ie; lead by example on and off the ice, team unity, positive reinforcement to teammates, talk to officials during the game when (and only when the coach has a question), etc). If they meet those expecations they keep the letter if not the coach pulls it and gives to someone more deserving and has the same conversation with them and holds them to the same standards.

[whockeyguy]

Captains at the youth level--- GET SERIOUS,,it is a team sport and to pick one over the other, you all have missed the most important thing of a captian,
they are a liason between the officials and the coaches, . Now tell me how many at the youth level can handle that job, NONE,
If the coach cant instruct his kids what they want to do in a 4 minute warm up then find a new coach

[HockeyMN1]

I think the captians should be chosen by the players, and they should be 2nd year at current level.