Captaincy

All opinions expressed in the blog are my own. This blog is not an official publication or representation of any City of Melrose institution. 

One of the highlights of the breakup banquet is Coach Scott Celli announcing the captains for the next season. He shares the thorough process of vetting the applicants within school leadership, verifying the candidates' character.

Ask yourself what does being a captain mean? 

• Representing the team in school, on and off the court
• Setting an ethical and moral example for your teammates
• Commitment to the norms and standards of the team which must reach beyond those of the 'generic student' 
• Mentoring all teammates, especially younger ones
• Displaying 'extreme ownership' of values of discipline, hard work, integrity, and sportsmanship 
• Being worthy of the responsibilities of all of the above 

Ernest Hemingway understood values in life and sport. I prompted an "AI Consult" seeking insight on captaincy. 

A captain is not made by a vote or a stitch of thread on the jersey. She is made by the mornings when she rises before the others, by the work she does when no one is looking, and by the steadiness she keeps when the game turns hard and the crowd grows silent. A team is a small boat in heavy water, and the captain is the one who keeps her oar in the water when the others begin to doubt. 

She does not talk much. She watches. She endures. She gives the strength she has and asks for the strength she needs. Leadership in sport is the same as leadership in life: you hold fast, you stay true, and you take the blows with your head up, so the others learn to do the same.

Like everyone else, I anticipate the selection of the MVB '26 leadership. I know that the young women selected will have earned the responsibility. Some days captains reinforce, "This is how we do things here." Rarely, they must reinforce, "That is not how we do things. Let's do better." 

Whether you’re chosen as captain or you lead in other ways, strive to provide the best leadership possible - so the entire team grows, improves, and succeeds.

Lagniappe. Thoughts from a team leadership expert, Jeff Janssen, also moderated from ChatGPT Plus:

1. Captains are your internal leaders – and they can make or break your season

Janssen is relentless on this: talent matters, but internal leadership is the separator. He quotes coaches like K, Kay Yow, and Chuck Noll to hammer home that the tone set by the leadership core determines whether the team overachieves or underachieves. 

How you’d frame it to players:

“Our season rides on the standards you set and enforce, not just on my speeches or our playbook.”

2. Character and trust are non-negotiable

In his captain work, the first filter is who they are, not how they play. Great captains are honest, trustworthy, respectful, and high-character people; they keep things confidential, follow through on commitments, and treat everyone—teammates, coaches, officials—with respect.

Captain takeaway:

“If we can’t trust you, we can’t follow you. Your integrity is your license to lead.”

3. The best captains live at the top of the Commitment Continuum

Janssen’s Commitment Continuum runs from resistant → reluctant → existent → compliant → committed → compelled. Great captains live in the committed/compelled zone and pull others rightward, addressing why athletes are stuck in the “red zone” instead of just complaining about buy-in. 

Captain takeaway:

“Your job is to be ALL-IN and to move teammates from ‘just here’ to ‘fully invested.’”

4. Captains must both lead by example and use their voice

Janssen emphasizes that captains should be among your hardest workers and fiercest competitors and be willing to speak up - encouraging, confronting, refocusing. They bring energy, hold teammates accountable, and help solve problems before they get to the coach.

Captain takeaway:

“You don’t get to choose between ‘lead by example’ and ‘vocal leader.’ At this level, you have to do both.”

5. There are multiple kinds of leaders – build a leadership team, not just a captain

He describes five kinds of leaders every team needs: performance/competition captains, locker-room (culture) leaders, social (chemistry) leaders, organizational/campus leaders, and reserve/sub leaders.

The message: leadership is distributed; your best teams have a network of leaders, not one heroic captain.

Captain takeaway:

“You’re not the only leader – you’re the hub of a leadership group. Find and empower other leaders in their lanes.”

6. Captains are co-architects of culture: the 7 C’s

In his team-building work, Janssen lays out the “7 C’s”: common goal, commitment, complementary roles, clear communication, constructive conflict, cohesion, and credibility.

Captains are expected to help the coach protect and advance each of those - especially standards, communication, and handling conflict constructively.

Captain takeaway:

“You’re not just playing in the culture, you’re building it - every day, with how you talk, train, and handle problems.”