I am on the varsity tennis team and have started since the first game of freshman year. Next year, my senior, I will 100% be chosen as one of the two captains by our coach because only me and one other senior have been starters. However, the boys’ tennis season is in the Spring, which means that by the time I am appointed captain, it will be too late to include it on college applications. The colleges I intend to apply to require a good deal of leadership, and I only have 1 other, so I feel like I definitely need another and a varsity captain would go a long way to help. Should I say I am a captain?
Can you talk to the coach and explain the situation? If the coach can say, “Yes, you will definitely be captain,” then I’d say it’s OK to include it. I would not, otherwise.
So we’re clear on concept - it won’t. Think about it, you’re basically banking on the statement “I’m going to be captain” as showing colleges that you are a leader.
You are making the common mistake of conflating leadership with leadership positions; AOs will not make that mistake. Varsity members can be leaders without being captain, and some captains suck as leaders. The selection process also comes into play; one can be named a captain by default as being the only senior (as in your case) or captains are elected by the team (which may be a popularity contest) or captains may be selected by coaches based on leadership or captains may be selected by coaches based on brown nosing. What’s more important is how your leadership comes across in your essays and recs.
You can certainly do as @MaineLonghorn suggests, but don’t expect this to be the silver bullet.
Good point, @skieurope.