Coach Michelle Salmon said her biggest concern selecting the Ball State University soccer team captains wasn't the upcoming season, but preparing her players for when they left the team.
After going through a process similar to a job interview, Salmon announced Wednesday seniors Laura Bandy, Sarah Leibel and Lindsay Martin will be the Cardinals' 2007 team captains.
Salmon said the coaches posted the captain position in February and had anyone interested apply like they would for a job. In addition, the applicants had to provide a resume, cover letter and letters of recommendations during the interview the soccer coaching staff conducted, she said.
"I agree 100 percent our job isn't to just win championships but to put [the players] in a situation to be ready for getting a job after college and what to expect in an interview for a job," Salmon said.
Martin said it was a great learning experience to create a resume and thought her interview went well.
"It wasn't like any of the questions were out of the ordinary," she said. "It was a good conversation and we were asked questions about what you would do in a certain situation."
Along with the interview, the captaincy process included a player and coach vote, Salmon said.
Of the seven players applying, Bandy, Leibel and Martin were the top three vote getters in both votes, Salmon said.
"It was very much a team driven process," Salmon said. "Every single player who applied did an outstanding job and I was blown away by the professionalism of my team."
Salmon said she got the idea of choosing her captains this way from Ball State women's basketball coach Tracy Roller, who has used this process for the last few seasons. Salmon said she will use the same method next season.
Last season Leibel, a defender, scored four goals. She has played in every Cardinal match since 2005. Martin, also a defender, had a team-high five assists in the 2006 season and Bandy, a midfielder, has six career goals.
Martin said she likes having three captains because the team has multiple leaders.
"Everyone brings something different and it's nice not to have just one or two opinions," she said. "We have a very close and fun team."
Salmon said the three captains provide a good balance because Leibel is a vocal leader, Martin is the team's most consistent player and Bandy is a strong player.
In addition, she said the three players are positive role models for the team and the Muncie community.
"This team is a tremendous ambassador to the community," Salmon said. "They have stepped up and put themselves out there to help the community."
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