What are reasons for a person to be or not to be a captain of a sports team?

Question

what makes a player stand out enough to be chosen for the position of captain besides their skill?

Answer 1

lead the team

Answer 2

someone who will lead the team, give a speech before games(not necessarily in amateur but in professional sports) someone who looks out for the team, and will work with the coach and not undermine him, in public anyway, and who is willing to make sacrafice for the good of the team.  

Answer 3

I think that skill is the last thing that determines a captain, but a captain should be a hardworker, someone who wants to win, someone who understands the game, in hockey someone that protects his teammates by fighting or hitting, someone that is vocal

Answer 4

Leadership, work ethic.. desire to win!

Good Cs are many things and many Cs are different. Some lead by example, some lead by being vocal. Some just have a presence or aura around them that make them well respected and therefore listened to and followed. Each team and circumstance is different, and in many cases, there are a few possible choices for the C of the team.

Answer 5

A captain generally reps the players to the coaches, and as a result leads by example.