COMING DECEMBER 2026
One day you're a teammate. The next, you're expected to lead.
Nobody prepares you for what comes after the armband.
This book changes that - one story at a time.
About the book
Every captain's missing manual.
"AMAZING, thank you! … And now what?"
Getting named captain is one of the greatest honors in sports.
It's also one of the least explained.
One day you're a teammate. The next, you're expected to lead. Suddenly, teammates look to you for answers. Coaches expect more from you. Team culture feels partly in your hands. And somehow you're supposed to navigate conflict, build trust, handle pressure, hold teammates accountable, and unite a group of competitors around a common goal.
The problem? Nobody teaches you how.
Too often, captains are chosen for their talent, work ethic, or charisma, and then left to figure out leadership on their own. Even the most respected athletes can find themselves struggling with difficult conversations, fractured team dynamics, mounting expectations, and the quiet isolation that often comes with wearing the armband.
After the Armband is the "missing manual" many captains wish they had from day one.
Built from collective wisdom, lived experience, and personal stories across every level of sport - this book will be written by those who have lived it.
Coaches will gain a blueprint for developing leaders intentionally rather than simply appointing them.
You may have been born to play.
But are you built to lead?
Expected Release: December 2026
Leave Your Mark
Share your leadership story.
Every captain has a story.
Maybe it was a mistake that changed your leadership. Maybe it was a conversation you'll never forget. Maybe it was a coach who shaped you - or one who didn't. Maybe it was the moment you realized wearing the armband and leading a team were two different things.
I am collecting those stories to build the resource every future captain deserves.
- Contribute to a book that shapes the next generation of captains on and off the field
- 30–45 minute conversation, scheduled on your time
- Additional communication channels available to share your story
Or reach out directly: riley@afterthearmband.com
What you'll bring
Your story. Your experience. Your moments. I handle the rest.
About Riley
Captaincy is a skill, not a talent.
I'm Riley Riordan - former Division I and III goalkeeper, Division II and III coach, ICF-certified coach, and lifelong student of leadership, psychology, and team dynamics.
For most of my career, I was the captain. Club teams. High school. College. Even the programs I transferred into. From the outside, leadership looked natural. Internally, it often felt overwhelming. The armband felt like an honor. The role felt like a guess.
Like many captains, I was expected to manage pressure, navigate conflict, connect personalities, and lead culture without ever being taught how. One experience especially shaped me: during my senior year, our leadership group struggled to connect with the freshmen on the team. We thought they didn't care; they felt unseen. We led with frustration instead of curiosity, and the divide only grew wider.
That experience changed the way I understand leadership. Because the problem was never character. It was preparation.
Today, I combine my background in psychology, an ICF coaching certification, a professional leadership certificate from UC Davis, and years spent coaching and mentoring college-aged athletes to help teams close one of the most overlooked gaps in sports: the gap between what coaches expect captains to know and what captains are actually prepared to handle.
My work focuses on helping coaches develop leaders intentionally and helping athletes lead with clarity, confidence, emotional intelligence, and trust, not just authority.
After the Armband is the book I wish existed when I needed it most.
Ready to share your leadership story?
Pick a time. Tell your story. Help shape the next generation of captains.
Schedule Your Virtual Interview Now