Ep 363: Team Captains – Who and How Important Are They Really?

In this episode, we discuss the importance of captains in soccer teams, debating whether leadership qualities are innate or can be developed.

We explore what makes a good captain, using real-life examples from both professional and youth soccer.

The conversation later transitions to the political nature of sports, emphasizing how soccer serves as a vehicle for social, political, economic, and cultural expressions globally and domestically.

We also touch on the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged fans in accessing live games. Insights from the hosts’ personal coaching experiences and testimonials from professional coaches are shared throughout the episode.

00:00 Intro
03:07 Senior Players as Partners with the Coach in the Locker Room
06:55 Who Should Be the Captain at the Youngest of Youth Levels
11:44 Is Leadership Nature or Nurture?
19:47 Subtopic: How Can the Worst Player Become a Captain?
26:40 Parent’s Role in Developing Their Kids into Leaders
34:13 Do Center Backs Make the Best Captains?
41:43 Soccer is Deeply Political
46:11 Subtopic: MLS vs anti-MLS demographics
49:52 Subtopic: The MLS Business Model
01:02:16 On Getting a Red Card as a Coach

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