SO
YOU
WANT
TO BE
CAPTAIN ? Top tips from sporting heroes
Declan Gane
Author’s dedication
For my team – Louis, Rosa, Mariel and the real captain, Emma.
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 50 Bedford Square London WC1B 3DP www.bloomsbury.com Copyright © 2012 Declan Gane ISBN 978 1 4081 3183 1 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems – without the prior permission in writing of the publishers. Declan Gane has asserted his rights under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Cover photograph © Getty Images Inside photographs © Getty Images With the exception of: pp 6 courtesy of DCMS; 9 © Declan Gane; 47 © Grant Treeby/WSP; 91 © ESPN; 93 This book is produced using paper that is made from wood grown in managed, sustainable forests. It is natural, renewable and recyclable. The logging and manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin. Designed and typeset by James Watson Printed and bound in Croatia by Zrinski
Note
The author and publishers would like to thank all the contributors to this book. As promised a donation from the author’s royalties has been made to Sport Relief. For more information on the author and the book see: www.soyouwanttobecaptain.com
Contents Letter from Lord Sebastian Coe Preface by Jeremy Hunt Foreword by Tom Watt Introduction
5 6 7 8
1 Get yourself ready: Prior planning and preparation prevents poor performance
10
Set goals – Michael Vaughan Know the game – Jo Yapp Have vision – Justin Langer Good loser – Rhona Martin Your game – Stuart Hooper Early bird – Colin Montgomerie
10 12 14 16 17 18
2 Know your players: You know, the fast one with no neck…
20
Put names to faces – Tanni Grey-Thompson Involve new players – Paul Sculthorpe Different characters – Sam Torrance Listen – Mark Butcher Feel at ease – Karen Atkinson
20 22 24 26 27
3 Work for the team: There’s no ‘I’ in team (but there’s an ‘M’ and an ‘E’ if you look hard enough!)
28
Be a team player – Kelly Holmes You can’t please everyone – Robin Ejsmond-Frey Of benefit to all – Will Carling Believe and be believed – Malcolm Alker Build relations – Mark Chilton Care about the group – Tom Lehman Don’t go changing – Martin Corry Individuals need a team – Chemmy Alcott
28 30 31 32 34 36 38 40
4
So you want to be captain?
4 The field of play: Follow me, men!
42
Actions speak louder – Jamie Peacock Lead by example – Richard Swain Front man – Ben Hawes Dig deep – Andy Todd Mix it up – Lee Briers R-E-S-P-E-C-T – Bob Casey
42 44 46 48 50 52
5 Not according to the plan: Mistakes happen, deal with it
54
Always smile – Matthew Burke Be your own person – Geoff Boycott Encourage – Matt Holland Enjoy – Mike Catt Don’t worry – Andy Griffin
54 56 58 60 62
6 The big unwind: Life off the field
64
Off-field understanding – Jeremy Snape Honesty, the best policy – Kevin Sinfield Be good! – Gary Lineker Never stop learning – Gavin Hastings Community worker – Kevin Davies Go the extra mile – Phil Neville
64 66 68 70 72 74
7 Captain Sensible: Look into my eyes
76
A degree in people – Ian Botham Step up – Hugh Vyvyan Knit it all together – Graeme Murty It’s an honour – Leighton Baines Actions speak louder than words – Rory Best The list is long – Rob Andrew
76 78 80 82 84 86
8 Seen it all before, have you? Commentators tell it like it is
88
Say thank you – Brian Moore The odd white lie – Ray Stubbs Get angry – Henry Winter Once more unto the breach – John Inverdale Mr Motivator – Jonathan Davies Inspire – Mark Lawrenson
88 90 92 94 95 96
Letter from Lord Sebastian Coe
5
6
So you want to be captain?
Preface
Foreword
Foreword
7
8
So you want to be captain?
Introduction
Introduction
9
Chapter 1
Get yourself ready Prior planning and preparation prevents poor performance Set goals Being captain is a great experience, even though sometimes it can be a bit stressful. A captain can make or break a team, and there are many responsibilities that come with the job. For a team to do well, captain and coach/manager must be on the same wavelength. Rule 1 is to maintain a good relationship and keep communication channels open – that means no slanging matches, especially in front of the team. But the chances are you already do get on well with everyone, otherwise you probably wouldn’t be captain! Here are a few practical pointers to remember when you’re selected for captain: • List the things you want to accomplish and describe how you want to help or improve the team. Be specific and realistic. • List the good traits (e.g. being a good role model) and bad traits (e.g. not listening to team members) of captains you have known. You could carry this with you in your kit bag; keep it in your boot, so you are sure to glance at it every time you play.
t p 1 w
Get yourself ready 11
fact file
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12 So you want to be captain?
Know the game The laws and rules of any sport can be very complicated. As captain, you need to know the options when something out of the ordinary happens on the field. A fast decision and quick reaction to a strange set of circumstances might catch the opposition off-guard, and result in a score.
Get yourself ready 13
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14 So you want to be captain?
Have vision Once you’ve settled on your goals, share them with your team and create a vision for the season – you might want to do better in a cup competition, aim for your side to be unbeaten all season or do the double over the local rivals. It is important for each to know what he or she is working to achieve.
Get yourself ready 15
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16 So you want to be captain?
Good loser Knowing what it feels like to lose should spur you and your team on to win. After all, who wants to lose and see the others walk away with the medals? Stay cool, shake their hands, but don’t forget that feeling of failure. Remember it when you’re behind in a match so it spurs you to try harder to win.
fact file
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Get yourself ready 17
Your game If you’re going to be captain, you need to be a pretty good player, so make sure you put in 100 per cent effort on the training ground and train harder and faster than the rest of the team. Listen to the coach, watch the pros and use what you pick up when you are on the field.
fact file As captain of Leeds Ty kes for the 2005–2006 Guinness Premiership season, Hooper became the youngest captain in the league. Born in Devon, he could have be en a league basketball pla yer, having played at county level until he was 16, before opting for rugby union. He broke into the Saracens team while still a teenager, an d while there he played alongside the French legend Abdel Benazzi in the second row. A surprise move brought him to Leeds in 2003, an d in June 2005 he was called up for England ‘A’ against France and was part of their Churchill Cup success in Canada . ‘Hoops’ moved to Bath Ru gby in 2008 and was named club captain for the 2011/12 season.
18 So you want to be captain?
Early bird Elite sportsmen will tell you it’s often the small things that make the difference between winning and losing. So when you’re asked by the captain to be ready on time, even if ‘on time’ means 5 minutes early, just do it!
c fi o se Ce ach
Get yourself ready 19
fact fi
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Top Tips From Major Names In The Sporting World