Coach

Serving as a coach is one of the most rewarding ways to get involved with Girls on the Run. As a volunteer coach, you lead your team through Girls on the Run-developed curriculum, stretching and running activities, and training for the end-of-season 5K. 

You do not need to be a runner or athlete, but you can be! As a successful coach, you serve as a role model for girls by showing up prepared and on time, listening attentively, and demonstrating a positive attitude. We can’t do it without YOU!
 

Amidst the conversation, laughter, hugs and energy awards, you'll witness a transformational change in the girls...
and don’t be surprised if you realize that you are positively changing as well! The program may end in weeks, but for our coaches and girls, the finish line is just the beginning. ​
 

The easy-to-follow curriculum uses running and exercise to set goals. As a coach, you will need to show the girls how to do the exercises, but you need not to do all of the repetitions with them - unless you'd like to, of course!  Having the girls help lead the exercises, too, is a great way to encourage leadership among the girls.

The heart of the program is the discussions.  That's why we are so much more than a running club or exercise program or sports team.

 
​So if you are a personable woman who is willing to listen and connect with the girls, then consider coaching.​​​  

Ready to make a difference and encourage girls to realize their full potential? The first step is signing up in our Coach Inquiry Form.

The experience is rewarding in more ways than you could imagine, but it is also a time commitment. Typically, the program is offered at a school for about 75 minutes, during the after-school hours, between 2 PM and 5 PM. (Some Community-site-based programs are offered a bit later.) The commitment would be for about 3 hours per week, plus about a 1/2 hour prep time for lessons, depending on the days and times determined for the site. Your coaching team will plan how to facilitate the lessons, so you may facilitate a whole lesson, or just a part of that day's lesson, or just help out during another lesson.  Whatever works for the team.

Coaches are expected to be present at

1. Coach Training - Training sets you up for success,  introduces the GOTR model used in the curriculum, and is one of the things that sets GOTR apart from other programs or athletic teams. Training is REQUIRED and consists of a combination of online modules found in the GOTR Learning Academy and in-person trainings. Dates and locations are set by the Council.  

2. The season's 5K Event - a CELEBRATION! Girls and coaches come together for the event with their families to celebrate all the girls have accomplished during the season.  5Ks are either on-site or in the community, whichever works best for girls and families and the site.

3. Materials Pick-ups - The Council organizes materials for many sites and then sets a pick up date, time and location, either in the community or at the office in Boca Raton.  Unless otherwise requested, one coach per site is required to pick-up, and that is left to the site's Coaching Team to work out.

4. Coach meetings - oftentimes these are held virtually

 NOTE: We try to communicate as much as possible via email to save you time, but we do expect that you will read the emails.

During these meetings, the coaches are trained, share ideas, and receive the materials and things they need to run the program. We may ask for updates on all of the great things that are happening at your site and also that you and your GOTR girls' parents share on social media.

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At many locations, Coaches recruit girls into the program and, if their site closes for some reason, find a new location in their area.

We  also ask that you help us promote our program in general and our fundraisers.  As a coach, you see first-hand the life-changing experiences -- you are a wonderful ambassador for sharing the good news of our girls!​​​