As high school training camps end and we head into regular season action, most teams have elected captains to lead them this year.

Being elected a team captain is a huge honor that comes with a lot of responsibility, on and off the field. Many young athletes have the wrong impression about what it means to be the leader and captain of a team and the type of person it takes to wear succeed in this role.

I am honored to say that I was elected a team captain for my high school football team and at Michigan State University. It took a tremendous amount of hard work and personal sacrifice to lead my teammates the right way. I wasn’t perfect, but I can assure you that I had, and still have to this day, the respect of every one of my former teammate because of the type of leader I was during those times.

Below are five things that will help any athlete follow suit and be a great team captain.

• Lead by example all the time. Having consistency in the way you carry yourself in school, in the community, in the locker room and on the field is extremely important. Whether you like it or not, you set the standard for your teammates and influence their behavior in all of these environments. A great leader understands the power of his or her influence and always uses it with good intentions.
• Sacrifice personal objectives for the good of the team. You must understand what is best for a team doesn’t always glorify or highlight its leaders. There will be times when you will need to take a backseat and let one of your teammates shine in order for the team to be successful. Ego and pride can poison a team, especially when it is coming from the top.    
• Be competitive and confident, not arrogant … there is a difference. Creating a highly competitive environment for your team is the captains’ responsibility, and without it, a team won’t be successful. Working extremely hard every day and taking the time to properly prepare for opponents will breed confidence and repel complacency in the locker room. Arrogance is a cover up for being insecure and unprepared. Arrogant people or teams usually do a lot of talking with no action or positive results attached.   
• Treat everyone with respect no matter their role. It is vital that you make sure everyone is treated with the same level of respect and that they feel valued as teammates. As a team captain, it’s your job to make sure everyone truly feels appreciated. You can’t expect someone to give 100 percent if he or she feels like an outsider, and no team can reach its full potential without everyone giving 100 percent. You do the math.  
• Be a man of your word. When you commit to doing something for your team or a teammate, always follow through. Be careful not to be a “ra ra” guy who makes a lot of promises and commitments because it sounds like the right thing to say but doesn’t always deliver. This is how you truly gain the trust of your teammates.

Work hard. Be great. 

Travis B. Key is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten safety for Michigan State University and co-author with former teammate Ashton Henderson of “Beyond the Gridiron: How to successfully transition into collegiate football,” a detailed account of what it takes to be a Division I college football player and successful in life. To learn more about their mission and purchase your copy today, visit www.beyondthegridironllc.com.