SCIENCE DISCUSSION(NO PLAGIARISM, A++ WORK, QUALITY, ON TIME)

Hi Class and congratulations to you all for completing a great course.   We have had some important topics to discuss and I have learned a great deal from each of you and your thoughts.   As we look at this weeks topic of team captains and player recognition, it is important to understand that there are always negatives to positives.   Over  my years of coaching I have tried different ways of choosing captains for the team.   Sometimes it ends up well and sometimes not so well.   I think it has a lot to do with the team dynamic.   Since no two teams are ever the same, I believe that this is what will dictate how and if captains will be made.  

The typical ways that captains are made in a team are coach appointed or player elected.   I prefer player elected captains.   This allows the players to choose who they want to lead them in certain aspects of the team and who they are more likely to listen too.  One problem with this, is that it can become a popularity event instead of a leadership event.   Players can campaign for the position and this becomes an issue.   When I have older players, I like to have my older players become captains since they are more experienced and know the systems in place a little better and can assist younger players by truly leading them.   There is no perfect system for choosing captains, but a coach needs to understand the team and its needs.  I have had many teams that I do not have captains on and let the leaders naturally surface and take charge.   There is less pressure on players that naturally lead instead of leadership be pushed on them. 

Player recognition is truly important for rewarding players work and dedication.   I believe it build self-esteem and pushes players to be recognized for their efforts.   Recognition can take forms of verbal recognition to awards.   An award needs to be special and not for every player.   Verbal recognition and physical recognition should be passed out frequently.   High fives pats on the head or back, telling a player how well they performed are instant gratification and players feel that their work is noticed and praised.   When we verbally praise a player especially in front of other players, there is a greater sense of accomplishment and greater pride in the players performance.   Many coaches only talk to players about the things they did wrong or things that they could improve on.   These corrective actions are important, but players also need to hear when they perform correctly and satisfy the coach and team.   Best of luck to you all and thank you all for your contributions, I have truly learned a lot from you all. 

Mcgraw ( respond no more than 150 words)