If anyone has any good ideas please post them!
My ideas so far are:

1.Drumline Physical fitness training
2.More Drumline Practices

What exactly does this have to do with marching?

My ideas are as follows
-Have marched more than 1 season so as to know what is neccesary
-Be able to lead people

People need to respect you before hand.

That or you need to gain their respect somehow.

I'll bite, even though this has nothing to do with marching in general.
A few of the most important things to being a good drumline captain are:
skill(s), respect, the ability to motivate people, also, good writing skills are very helpful. Here's why
Skill: of course the section leader has to be able to play, however is your skill p enough to be able to teach or coach the younger portion of your section? The title section leader comes with a small teaching job. To be good at it, you have to be a good teacher

Respect: yes! respect is one of the most important aspects in being a good section leader. To be able to coach and lead a drumline, you have to respect certain aspects of your individual players. Even things like some one isn't as devoted to the drumline as you are. The sooner you respect things like that, the sooner you can get around them for the better of the group.

The ability to motivate people: this should be self explanatory. If you can't motivate people, how will they work?

i hope this helps

"It's either eduction or elimination." ~from the movie the fox and the hound, lol. Ask yourself, what you've learned from being a drummer. And what you've noticed about the program you are in. As captain you should be able to comprehend what's going on and should also know a good way to run things for your program.
Getting advice from others is great, but if you're the captain, you're going to need to learn how to figure some things out on your own, too. People will be coming to you with questions as well. I think the more you educate yourself, the better you will be.
With more knowledge you are usually repected more by the drumline members. Usually captains are better/know a little more than the rest of the line (not always the case). If you also know about other sections like guard, brass, pit... they will respect you a bit more as well. When you struggle on something, and find a way to get through it, you may be able to help other members if they get to the same situation, because you have experienced it.
Know your line. Get to know more about not just the sections, but each player. There are small things that you really don't notice on a daily basis.
If someone is better than you... I'm not trying to be mean... but they are usually looked at more for the spot. So, educate yourself, and start climbing further up the ladder.

Similar topics been discussed 'round here quite a few times. If you search the forums, you'll probably turn up a bunch of threads you might find useful.

In short, I think it boils down to one main thing: Lead by example. Don't try to tell people what to do. Show them what to do by doing it yourself. Be early. Stay late. Help others. Show up to rehearsals with your music already learned. Stay focused during rehearsal. Take perfect care of your equipment and uniform. Keep your drum tuned and maintained and show others how to do the same.

As far as implementing ideas you might have (like physical fitness and more rehearsals), discuss them with your instructor or teacher. If they agree that they're good ideas, let a staff member implement them. As a student, you shouldn't be giving orders or assigning things. It can lead to awkward situations, resentment, and rifts within the line when other students disagree with you.

You can think of it sort of like the military. Your line is a squad. You're the squad leader, sergeant. Orders come from above -- what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Your job is to rally the troops and make sure those orders get followed.

Always put the line first and foremost and yourself second.

I fully agree with SkyDog. It is important to know exactly what method of leadership to use and when to use it. Make sure you know everyone on your line VERY well, if you don't you wont be able to get in everyone's heads. It is important to know the quirks of each of your linemen so you can better tailor your teaching and leadership to the requirements of each person. It takes most people a very long time to get good at this, and I think you are making a great effort by asking this question of people who are more experienced than you. It shows that you care about the success of both your teaching and your line. Don't lose that, and you will be fine!

I think this is very important if you want to be captain. If they don't respect you they will not listen to what you say.

Be able to think quickly on your feet. Be able to make people listen to you. Maintain a close relationship with bd and other student leaders.

"Put the drumline first, and yourself second"/

Never heard that one before. That's a good way of looking at it. I think a good foundation in leadership and communication is extremely vital. Sometimes that's not the best leader. You can't share your chops, but sometimes you can let them know when to sit still and watch their heights.

Many people have a messed up view on "drum line captain" at my school.
People think that the position is to tell everyone on the line what to do, when to do it, how to do it, and if they don't?
Push-Ups.
I think its a lot more constructive if you Show what to do, and when, and how, rather than just commanding and putting them out there on their own.
Don't see yourself as "More important" than any other member of the line.
Ask your line how you are doing, positive feedback will always give you a bit more confidence, and you will gain more respect from your line.

I quite agree. The captain doesn't necessarily need to be the best player on the line, he/she just needs to be the best example, the most constructive and the best communicator. A jerk kid with chops is no good. An alright kid with a knock out personality is a go. (There's also a tempo aspect, but who cares when we're being good people?) Haha...

we didn't have a captain last year, and by the winter no one tapped off we had a metronome and our duts. I wanted to be captain, but then realized my fellow tenor player was right, people just want to argue with the captain, look how far we got without one, helping each other. i see he's right although at the same time we need someone who can say, hey guys it's time to do work.

As mentioned earlier, know the quirks of each player in the section but don't get caught in the web of changing rules or what applies to different members just because of friendships and such.

Be consistant and rock solid.

ok here is my idea of leadership: "leadership is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do. because they want to do it:

Since this topic got revived (thank you medic), i'll add something i heard recently. Just an inspirational quote:

"If they're not learning it, you're not teaching it"

To me that just says that you need to meet them halfway. Don't come out, guns blazing with your awesome chops and expect to run gridded book reports with them. You will need to teach. And there is more to teaching than handing out exercises.

Along with what everyone else has said, you need to be able to let your section fool around too. In high school, most players aren't in it to go really hard at marching band, let 'em have some fun, and they'll work harder when they really need to

alright man this past year was my first year of being a bass line section leader and i found out that in order for them to respect you, you must:

respect your own superiors (lead by example)
find a balance between discipline (don't be too hard but also act like you have a pair)
when someone messes up don't scream at them, just give them the death glare it works better.

dont waste your rehearsal and drill time with doing and handing out punishments, leave that for their personal time, and they'll probably learn not to do what they did to earn the punishment to began with..
If you always criticize and correct everything they do and never work and participate with them, then they will most likely never respect or look up to you as a leader. Show them the right way.
Never single someone out during practice or drill, it makes them want revenge and how is it helping them or the rest of the line? think about it.

My drum captain this year and probably next has been and will be the biggest prick on the drumline.

Well, ... <blank>

I suggest you solve it. I had a job at a high school with a small line and all it was was HUGE drama. It will not be fun for you and the line if there is comments and jealousy towards the other drummers. Talk to him when you and him are alone, hanging out or something. It is better to resolve face to face with someone.

If you can not talk to him about ask for some type of drumline meeting. Do not be negative or hateful towards the line or whom ever.

I really do hope you well on the conflict.

The best way would be to find that line if being a good friend to them and also being their leader. Respect, as people have been saying, is key; but also the will to listen to what people tell you and the thinking of a fair diplomat.

Know your music
Be a role model
Be consistant....NOT rude, just consistant
set the bar and keep it
and keep choppin'