“Everybody knows who the leaders are.” Curt Cignetti said he has never voted for captains. The longer I coached, the more I understood exactly what he meant. Some years we had captains. Some years we didn’t. We selected them differently depending on the team. But I also saw choosing captains create more problems than it solved. So when coaches would ask me, “What if we pick the wrong captains?” My answer became pretty simple: Then don’t pick them. Develop ALL of your leaders. Build collective leadership. Give kids opportunities to lead without needing a title. Because Cignetti is right. Your players know who the leaders are. Your coaches know. Your locker room knows. Leadership rises to the top. You don’t need a “C” on your chest to lead. And giving someone the title of captain doesn’t suddenly make them a leader. Sometimes it just gives the wrong person more influence. That can be dangerous. Develop everyone as leaders. Then let leadership emerge. 🔥

The 10 Truths Parents Rarely See 1. Coaches lose sleep. 2. Decisions aren’t personal. 3. Playing time is complex. 4. Culture matters more than stats. 5. Accountability is care. 6. Coaches invest emotionally. 7. Development isn’t instant. 8. Hard feedback is intentional. 9. Wins don’t tell the whole story. 10. Coaches remember kids forever. Perspective matters.