My sons attended two different HS’s. My oldest was not selected as team captain. At his HS, you made a speech to the team if you were interested, and then it was theoretically voted on by the team. However, in my years with the team, I predicted the captains each year. I 100% know the coaches picked the best/fastest/most popular guys.

At my other son’s school, you indicate your interest as captain to the coaches, interview with them, then they select. Each year, there’s a variety of levels of swimmer selected. My son was selected and he’s one of the slowest on the team, but is one of the most dedicated - never misses a practice, team event, etc.

You certainly don’t need to be the best to be a great leader. But you already know that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was a captain her senior year. Definitely not a popularity contest at her school. There were 4 (2 girls and 2 boys). All were pretty serious club swimmers. It was a no cut sport and welcoming to all. Most of the team knew each other for years through swim and school. Not Whitman. Arlington County.

As a parent of serious club swimmers, I actually think the non-club swimmers should definitely be captains as well.

Did I say they weren’t? It just happened to be all club swimmers that year

Well, you said the captains at your kid’s school:

- included your kid
- were not picked as part of a popularity contest
- were comprised of 4 kids (2 girls and 2 boys)
- were all serious club swimmers

And they oversaw a no cut HS team. Adding that the four captains were serious club swimmers meant something to you when you said it in response to people saying captain-picking was a popularity contest. It hinted at the captains were among the best swimmers on the team. There is absolutely no other reason to mention how they were all club swimmers on a no cut team when responding about how your kid’s team picked captain based on merit, not popularity.

I’m a 6 year varsity swim team parent + 17 year club swim team parent + 2 year college swim team parent and having a club swimmer is wholly unnecessary to be a captain.

Savvy coaches have the team vote and then they consider the vote but announce the captain they want to lead the team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was a captain her senior year. Definitely not a popularity contest at her school. There were 4 (2 girls and 2 boys). All were pretty serious club swimmers. It was a no cut sport and welcoming to all. Most of the team knew each other for years through swim and school. Not Whitman. Arlington County.

As a parent of serious club swimmers, I actually think the non-club swimmers should definitely be captains as well.

Did I say they weren’t? It just happened to be all club swimmers that year

I wish the coaches chose for our HS! Mean girls and bro-y boys the last two years.

Our HS team captains are chosen by the coaches and it is a leadership selection, not speed or high score.

Where is the announcement? I know last year it was bad at Whitman. Then coach admitted almost everyone after tryout, just to make kids who didn't make the team captains. She was fired for another scandal at the season end.

My oldest only finished one year of HS swim; so we are newbies so just one season so far. It’s a no cut sport at his school (small HS) and it seems like the captains that were announced for next year at the banquet were chosen by the coaches

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was a captain her senior year. Definitely not a popularity contest at her school. There were 4 (2 girls and 2 boys). All were pretty serious club swimmers. It was a no cut sport and welcoming to all. Most of the team knew each other for years through swim and school. Not Whitman. Arlington County.

As a parent of serious club swimmers, I actually think the non-club swimmers should definitely be captains as well.

Agree. Being the fastest doesn’t make you the best leader.
-parent of club swimmers

Anonymous wrote:My kid was a captain her senior year. Definitely not a popularity contest at her school. There were 4 (2 girls and 2 boys). All were pretty serious club swimmers. It was a no cut sport and welcoming to all. Most of the team knew each other for years through swim and school. Not Whitman. Arlington County.

As a parent of serious club swimmers, I actually think the non-club swimmers should definitely be captains as well.

My kid was a captain her senior year. Definitely not a popularity contest at her school. There were 4 (2 girls and 2 boys). All were pretty serious club swimmers. It was a no cut sport and welcoming to all. Most of the team knew each other for years through swim and school. Not Whitman. Arlington County.

Anonymous wrote:My kid's school is sadly a popularity contest. Their freshman year only two kids weren't captains, and they were both the nicest most welcoming kids. Both swim in college-- unlike the one captain who skipped all team dinners and wasn't fast enough to swim Districts.

This is us too. Same for other clubs.

My kid's school is sadly a popularity contest. Their freshman year only two kids weren't captains, and they were both the nicest most welcoming kids. Both swim in college-- unlike the one captain who skipped all team dinners and wasn't fast enough to swim Districts.

For us, swim is a no cut sport.

Half of the captains selected at Whitman HS this year probably won't even make team tryout. Is this a joke? How do other HS teams handle this?