Team Captain’s Guide

Introduction

So you’ve suddenly been asked to captain a Spectres team 😱 Don’t worry! It happens to all of us at some point. This one-page guide will get you through it. 

Your responsibilities 

#1. Above all else, make sure you have enough players.

Aim for 7 confirmed players each game. Post a poll in the group chat early with the time and date of the game. If you’re struggling to get 5–6, contact your Head of Program at least 24hrs in advance, 48hrs is even better. If you don’t know who that is, ask the committee or whoever asked you to captain in the first place. More than 7? Even better.Note: The team might get fined if not enough players show up to play a game.

#2. Escalate issues.

If a player is causing problems (on or off the court) - including the dreaded “said yes, didn’t show, and didn’t tell anyone” - flag it with the committee. Same goes for issues with other teams. Also let us know if anything serious happens on the court. Major injury, code of conduct breach, etc.

#3. Keep it fun.

We’re not here to impress NBA scouts. We play for fitness, fun, and community. Try to keep the tone light and fun. A few compliments from the captain go a long way!

#4. Be the on-court contact for venue staff.

The committee can’t be everywhere. You’ll rarely need to do anything, but be ready to check on injured teammates or advocate for their care. You might need to tell venue staff who players are, and occasionally they will hassle you about registration or fees, but feel free to defer to the club.

What we don’t expect from you

We asked you to captain because you’re kind, social, and reliable. We don’t expect you to:

#1. Be the coach.

If the team’s playing badly, that’s on everyone. You can step in if you want, or let someone else lead, or just let chaos happen. It’s not your responsibility. Generally though, a senior player will step up and do this.

#2. Be the star player.

Captains usually aren’t. Be organised, have fun, play your best - that’s all anyone expects.

#3. Run subs.

Some captains do, but fair court time is a team responsibility. If someone’s hogging minutes, it should be managed gently. In close games you might keep your best players on towards the end, but otherwise, aim for balance. Consider nominating someone to handle subs if needed.