International Journal of Sport Management

The Management and Development of Sport Team Captains as Human Capital Resources: Perspectives from Collegiate Coache

Leeann M. Lower-Hoppe, Tarkington J. Newman, Shea M. Brgoch, Taylor A. Hutton

Abstract: Sport team captains serving in formal athlete leadership roles provide human capital instrumental to athletic team operations and performance. Given the important functions team captains fulfill, the management and development of athlete leaders is critical. The purpose of this study was to utilize the Developing Sport Team Captains as Formal Leaders (DSTCFL) model to empirically explore how collegiate coaches manage their sport team captains, as part of a larger study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 Division I coaches representing six athletic programs in the United States. Thematic analysis revealed four management practices demonstrated: team culture, recruitment and selection, development and support, and performance evaluation and reinforcement. The utility of the DSTCFL model for the management of sport team captains is discussed with implications for coach education.

Keywords: sport team captains, athlete leaders, collegiate coaches, management practices, coach education

Citation: Lower-Hoppe, L. M., Newman, T. J., Brgoch, S. M., & Hutton, T. A. (2020). The management and development of sport team captains as human capital resources: Perspectives from collegiate coaches. International Journal of Sport Management, 21(3), 261-292.

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