Captain (sports)

A captains meeting before a waterpolo match.

Iker Casillas, current Real Madrid C.F. and Spain national team captain

In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field. In either case, it is a position that indicates honor and respect from one's teammates – recognition as a leader by one's peers.

The longest serving captain of any major professional sport is the Detroit Red Wings' Steve Yzerman, who led the Red Wings for two decades from 1986 to 2006 in the National Hockey League.

Depending on the sport, team captains may be given the responsibility of interacting with game officials regarding application and interpretation of the rules.

Various sports have differing roles for team captains.

Further information: Captain (cricket), Captain (baseball), National Football League team captains, Captain (ice hockey), Captain (association football), Skip (curling), and Captain (Australian rules football)

• In martial arts, the class lead instructor, acting under the direction and authority of the Master or a senior belt, may be called the captain.