I didn't realize Sekizan was captain until the second episode, but as soon as practice began, I understood how he got this position. He knows just how to teach his underclassmen and keep them in line. Like many anime sport captains, he shoulders the responsibility of both coach and captain, and he does it well.

Tezuka was the first anime captain I met, and I've always admired the way he leads by example. He's quiet, strong, and demands respect. He really is Seigaku's pillar of support. He takes this responsibility seriously, even though he's a middle school student, as he sometimes struggles to balance what's best for himself and what's best for the team. 

Oh, Hiruma. He's the craziest captain on this list—and the least believable, with the way he wields his machine guns, unrestrained by the law. But no one can deny his love for American football and the zeal with which he builds his team pretty much from scratch. He probably wouldn't fit in well with other sports anime captains, and I wouldn't necessarily invite him to join them on a retreat. Still, he's memorable and admirable in his own way.

Hyuuga faces big challenges as a basketball player. Like many in his generation, he struggled with discouragement when playing against the Generation of Miracles. How can anyone have a chance against these prodigies? But with some help, he overcame that discouragement, helped found Seirin's basketball club as a freshman, and became the inspiring, hardworking captain we know and love today. The best part? He's still growing. It's a delight to watch.

Sawmura deals with a lot from the second- and first-years, and he's good at it. Sure, he's kind and understanding, but he's not afraid to get tough if necessary. He refuses to put up with Kageyama and Hinata's relationship drama. He keeps the dynamic second-years Nishinoya and Tanaka in line, which often means dragging them and their goo-goo eyes away from a team manager. And he keeps the team encouraged on the court with enthusaism and his own reliable performance. But despite his responsible nature, he's still just another one of the boys, and it's particularly obvious when manager Kiyoko does something particularly supportive or the team's excited for an upcoming set of practice matches. It's hard not to love this guy.

Like many captains, Tetsuya isn't as flashy as his underclassmen. He's Seido's most reliable batter, though, and that reliability, combined with his hard work and composure, keeps the team together. Tetsuya does his part to continue Seido's legacy. He's defined more by honor and his honed skills than by raw talent, and I'm sorry to realize how little I remember about him less than a year after Daiya no Ace ended. He deserves better.

We rarely get to follow team captains' transformations from rank member to leader as closely as we do Miyuki's. As catcher, he's led the pitchers for a while now, and his batting abilities only add to his inspirational power. But he shoulders new responsibility as captain of this enormous team, and while he's not perfect, he's growing.

Sugawara is the first vice captain to make this list, and for good reason. He's the epitome of a servant leader. He gives up his role as the main setter to a freshman without a hint of resentment—but when he is on the court, he gives his teammates just the tosses they want, and he's a huge asset to the team. He's an encourager on and off the court, always seeking to help his teammates be the best they can be. I can think of few characters as gently epic as he is.

I'm ashamed to admit I forgot about Hanai. Thankfully, a coblogger, R86, reminded me about him. Here's part of R86's argument for why Hanai belongs on this list: "You asked for proof, and I give you the end of the 11th episode of the first season of Oofuri. Hanai's impassioned encouragement of Mihashi in the driving rain is immediately followed by the most thrilling sports anime sequence I have ever seen. The problem is that Hanai is very forgettable in appearance. He is basically Standard Issue Bald Baseboy #6. He cannot compare to the gorgeous pretty basketboys. Let alone Sekizan and that fabulous hair."

I hope to rewatch a few ep of Oofuri soon, so I can remember Hanai's leadership for myself.