FUNDAMENTAL TO the success of sports teams are the captains who spearhead their squad’s agenda and drive their teammates towards excellence. However, due to quarantine restrictions preventing the return of face-to-face sports events, team captains have shifted from leading their teammates on-site to guiding them through computer screens and digital platforms.

Among this new line of virtual leaders are Bianca Almeda of the Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) and JD Mercado of the Ateneo Men’s Track and Field Team (AMTFT). Despite the long distance and lack of competition that their teams have to deal with, both Almeda and Mercado have willingly taken on the added duty that comes with being team captains.

Online duties

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the team captain’s role was to be the reliable leader who fueled their team’s bid for a University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) championship. Although these responsibilities remain constant in the online setting, the captain’s role today exceeds improving their team’s athletic performance.

While making the transition to virtual training, Almeda and Mercado took it upon themselves to set the bar during practice. Both captains affirm that being a leader entails motivating their peers to participate in team activities, especially with low team morale from the lack of competition. “Being a captain is being the role model of the team. If I don’t do well, my teammates would think ‘Why should I do well if my captain isn’t doing well?’” Almeda stated.

An important part of Almeda’s role in particular is to ensure that the AWFT solidifies sisterhood among its players given that football is a team sport. Strong relationships within the AWFT are therefore essential to the team’s success, and this sense of sisterhood is what Almeda aims to build on especially amid a time of uncertainty and physical separation. As the team captain, Almeda is the glue that binds the squad together and creates an environment where her peers will inspire each other to improve as athletes.

On the other hand, Mercado leads the AMTFT by serving as the bridge of communication between his teammates, coaches, and the University Athletics Office. With his teammates’ welfare in mind, Mercado notifies the team’s coaches and authorities when training regimens begin to compromise the squad’s mental health. Necessary changes are then made to the team’s athletic workload depending on the intensity of the athletes’ academic workload.

One of the changes implemented under Mercado’s leadership is an adjusted training schedule given the team’s heavy academic workload. From three weekly mandatory sessions, the AMTFT athletes now only need to attend one of two training sessions every week to prevent them from feeling overwhelmed.

According to the AMTFT captain, “No one is going to check up on you and represent the well-being of the team if the captain won’t. We [the AMTFT] need some representation from the student-athletes, and I think that’s where the captain comes in.”

Clearing hurdles 

As Almeda and Mercado take up new duties in virtually leading their respective teams, they also tackle unfamiliar challenges. The main issue both athletes face as team captains in the online setting is the disconnection within their squads, as a lack of motivation ensues due to online training. “Compared to how it is face-to-face, seeing the expressions of your teammates and coaches gives you an emotion back. But in the online setting, it’s just not the same [and] motivation isn’t there,” shared Almeda.

While both captains deal with a sense of detachment within their teams, Almeda and Mercado have different means of addressing this. Once or twice a month, Almeda conducts team-building activities that unify the AWFT—such as group conversations or Netflix sessions on notable sports films such as The Last Dance (2020). Moreover, the Lady Eagle aims to develop close relationships with her teammates by personally messaging them to ensure that they feel comfortable on the team.

In solving disengagement within the AMTFT, Mercado has designated the team’s Discord server as a space for his peers to conveniently bond with each other. He also has plans to implement a buddy system—similar to what the Ateneo Women’s Track and Field team has already established—where teammates monitor each other’s participation in training and overall well-being. Furthermore, Mercado intends to conduct bi-monthly men’s night sessions where members of the team may share their experiences related to the sport in hopes of building team camaraderie.

Another issue both captains face is motivating their teammates to consistently train despite the uncertainty regarding the UAAP’s return, as the absence of competition has sometimes rendered both squads uninspired to practice. Moreover, the lack of access to facilities like the Moro Lorenzo Football Field and Sports Center has geared training programs towards general fitness rather than event-specific training—deeming practice unprofitable for some players. Hence, the motivation to train is at an all-time low in both the AWFT and AMTFT.

To address this concern in the AWFT, Almeda constantly encourages her teammates to perform extra work to maximize their athletic development. These additional workouts are strength and cardio exercises specific to the AWFT, as the team acquired them through consulting a professional trainer outside of the squad.

Although the AWFT leader acknowledges that motivation to improve will not always be present, she is certain that she can instill the discipline that drives her teammates to work. “Motivation isn’t always going to be there, but what I can do is instill discipline. When you stay disciplined, you realize that what you’re doing is working for you, [so] motivation will follow,” shared Almeda.

As for restoring motivation in the AMTFT, Mercado ensures that he regularly acquires feedback from his peers to understand how the team’s online training may be modified based on their expectations. With the goal of replicating on-site practice and amplifying the squad’s determination, Mercado also proposed the idea of specialized training programs and target performance indicators based on each athlete’s personal events.

Both leaders stressed the importance of sustaining their team’s desire to thrive, especially as athletic development among their younger players today invests in their future performances come the UAAP’s eventual return. “I want to assure that their [AMTFT’s] desire for track and field doesn’t die. Kahit ‘di matuloy yung Season 84, may chance pa na makakacompete sila sa following UAAPs,” voiced the AMTFT captain.

 (Even if Season 84 doesn’t push through, they still have a chance to compete in the following UAAPs.)

Redefining captaincy 

With motivation reaching its lowest point and virtual boundaries disrupting the unity within sports teams in the online setting, team captains like Almeda and Mercado are more pivotal than ever. Both leaders have committed to going beyond the athletic aspects of their sports by tending to the holistic welfare of their peers. Though their roles have changed in the pandemic, the AWFT and AMTFT leaders are a testament to the continued importance of team captains today.

Editors’ Note: The author of this article, Augusto Cruz, is currently a member of the Ateneo Men’s Track and Field Team and a teammate of JD Mercado.