In your role, there will be times when you are called upon to assert yourself. It could be when there is a team communication or cohesion problem. It could be when one of the younger players is down and needs someone to pick him/her up (in the figurative sense of the word). And it might be setting an example of staying after practice for more conditioning or drills. You need to show the younger crowd what it takes to succeed so that they can someday pass it along.

It is always a good idea to have a meeting with your coach prior to the season to find out his or her expectations and make sure you are both on the same page. In fact you might decide to meet with the coaches once a week to find out what their goals are for the team that week in practice. You can communicate this information back to your teammates.