What's an Ultimate Captain For?

I note over on the essential-to-read blog of Rueben, he’s finished his reflections on Nationals with a call for a formal position of ‘rules advisor’. This is partly a reflection of Rubes’ experience of being one of the most knowledgeable people in the country as far as the new rules go. This also follows up his call last year for teams to have an official Spirit Captain.

My initial thought was "Isn't that stuff what we have Captains for?"

Now before I go too far, I think just about every Ultimate Captain I've observed has been awesome in their dedication etc etc.

Anyway, I was thinking about this again on the train this morning and realised that there's a lot of different views on what we have Captains for.

One point Rueben has made to me in the past (iirc) is that Captains have a lot to do, so they could use the help of a Spirit Captain and presumably a Rules Advisor and who knows what else (I see 'leadership groups' as an increasingly common phrase too, along with Coaches and Managers and such).

But Captains really have a lot to do?

If you check out the rules of Ultimate (WFDF 2009 edition), there are five (5) mentions of Captains.

Three simple ones first:
1. the Captains determine which team will make the first pull and which ends the teams will start the game at (Rule 6.1);
2. the Captains agree what sort of flying disc will be used in the game (Rule 3.1); and,
3. during a break between points, a Captain may call a time-out (Rule 20.5);

None of this seems particularly onerous.

Next is:
4. Captains also have a role in the double negative with regards how people off the field help apply the rules to play - that is, SOTG formally involves only those players involved or those with best perspective to make and contribute to calls - non-players, except Captains, should refrain from being involved (Rule 1.10).

All this really says is that it is generally spirited for those on the sideline not to get involved in calls, although a Captain may do so (etiquitte in Australia though is to largely accept comments offered from the sideline that are delivered in a calm and respectful manner; and to consider comments that are asked for).

The final mention of Captains is:
5. Each team will nominate a Captain to represent the team (Rule 5.3).

This is perhaps the broadest job of the Captain as described in the rules - to represent the team. In essence, this means applying the rules above, representing the team when dealing with another team, and representing the team when dealing with administrators.

But even 'represent' isn't that big a role.

The reality is that teams and clubs have made assumptions about what Captains should be doing - assumptions I think that are drawn from other sports.

Remember, Ultimate is a sport based on putting responsibility on all the individuals involved - this is one of its great beauties.

Looking at the rules - an Ultimate Captain is at least 80% just a necessary administrator - when you just need one person to do something simple.

So in my garbled away I think maybe I'd like to see Captains thinking about how to make their role as outlined in the rules more of a priority, and keep pushing as much as they can back onto the individuals who make up their team.