When Captain JP Ngbokoli talks about leading Hackley’s football team, he doesn’t start with touchdowns or stats; he focuses on camaraderie and energy. From the first day of preseason, he and his teammate make a point to sit with new players, making sure everyone feels like they belong. For him, inclusion and chemistry come first, because the rest of the season flows from there.
Football captains at Hackley are chosen via a team vote. Members of the team are encouraged to not only pick the biggest and best players on the team, but also those who will bring the team together. The team picked three captains this year: Jack Hiscoe, Graham Klabin, and JP Ngbokoli.
The role or importance of being a captain is not the same for everyone. For example, each football captain has a different idea of the role. Jack Hiscoe believes “being a captain means setting a standard and leading by example”, while Graham Klabin feels he acts as a “connection between the coaches and the players…relaying messages or being a voice of authority”.
Goals are a way JP Ngbokoli sets his expectations for the team; one of those goals is to not only “be better than last year, but … also be the most conditioned team in the league.” He believes if “we can stay energized throughout the entire game, there is nothing that can stop us.”
Energy on and off the field is one of the focal points of the Hackley Football team. Whether it’s yelling during practice, flying around the field, or blasting classic rock in the locker room before games, like their walk-out song Hell Bells by ACDC, the battery for Hackley Football is always at 100%. The icing on the cake in terms of getting the team to peak performance on the field is the pregame chant. After the coin toss, the captains turn around, run at the team, jump into a big mosh pit, and begin yelling a chant that has been a part of Hackley Football for decades.
Celebration is something the team and captains take pride in. With how successful they have been in recent years, the football team makes sure to keep tradition when they win games. One of the most sentimental celebrations is the singing of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” in the locker room after every win at home. These long-standing traditions make the team eager to perform well so they can continue to celebrate in a meaningful way.
The captains are not all business all the time; they also like to have fun with the team. To keep spirits high for the team and add variety during the season, “the team will go to McDonald’s or Chipotle after a Sunday practice or preseason practice.” These McDonald’s runs spark camaraderie and fun among the team. JP explains that one of the inside jokes that came from the team bonding burger sessions is the coveted Jets Meal. If you can take down the two cheeseburgers, two medium fries, and 20 nuggets that come with the meal, you “gain respect from the team as a whole.” So far, only a handful of members have completed the challenge, and countless have tried and failed.
Team captains, like JP Ngbokoli, influence the team by building camaraderie, fostering inclusion, and keeping energy high on and off the field. Through welcoming new players, setting goals, leading traditions like chants, and organizing team bonding opportunities, captains create unity and motivate the team to perform their best.
