How to Become a Great Captain in Soccer

How to Become a Great Captain in Soccer

There is a lot that goes into being the captain of a soccer team, but many captains don’t do all that it takes to be the best captains that they can be. That’s unfortunate because great captains can make the entire teams better just putting in a little bit more effort into their jobs.

There are plenty of little things that you can do to become a better captain. If you can master the things mentioned below, you will be well on your way to being the type of leader that every team wants.

Get to Know Your Teammates

A lot of people seem to think that the captain is supposed to be the best player on his or her team and nothing else. The truth is that they absolutely do not have to be the most talented player, but they do have to be the one who knows his or her teammates the most.

Get to Know Your Teammates

There are multiple reasons why getting to know your teammates is so important. First off, you will know how to communicate with them regardless of the situation. Secondly, you will be able to quickly recognize when they are in a situation where they can get the most out of their skills. When you know these things, you can help them and your team be the best that they can be.

When you get to know your teammates, remember that they get to know you too. Teammates who understand each other form a better bond, which obviously is a great thing when you are trying to become a successful team.

Understand Your Team’s Tactics

Even though everyone on the team should understand what their job is on the field, a captain has to do more than that. They have to learn what everyone is supposed to do, including off-ball movement and defensive responsibilities. Yes, this means that the captain has to put a bit more work in than everyone else, but it is worth it if you want to get the most out of your team.

Understand Your Team’s Tactics

Remember that the captain is the coach on the field, so they have to recognize when the team is losing its shape and when players are not taking care of their responsibilities.For example, if your team is not taking care of the ball, then it's your job to let them know about it.

Recognizing those things and fixing them as quickly as possible greatly ups your team’s chances of winning soccer games. If they go unnoticed or the captain chooses not to do anything about them, the game can be lost very quickly.

Since you do have to understand your team’s tactics, it’s a good idea to spend a little extra time with your coach. In most cases, coaches want their captain’s to be their voice on the field, so they will be more than willing to go over what they want to get from every position in their formations.

Stay Composed

Captains have to be composed and mentally strong throughout every soccer match. If they aren’t, then there’s a good chance that the entire team will lose their composure every time something doesn’t go their way.

Stay Composed

One of the best ways to lead by example is to not let mistakes bring you down. Be a more composed soccer player and it will spread to the the rest of the team. When teammates see a captain trying to fix problems rather than just being angry about mistakes, it gives them a lift and they will usually work harder.

Great leadership comes in the form of motivation in most cases, and a captain who is willing to motivate in the worst of times is the type of captain most teams want to have.