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No! Girls on the Run provides the training, curriculum and supplies needed to safely lead a team for a season! You simply need to be a motivating role model for your team. Many of our coaches participate in their first 5K alongside their team!

No. But here is our policy:

• At least one female coach over the age of 21 must be present at all times.
• One Coach per team must be female, and present during each session.
• All other coaches must be at least 18 years of age and have graduated high school or hold an equivalency.

A minimum of one coach per team must have CPR certification on file by the first session of any given season and be present at every practice. We prefer that each coach is certified, so that a lesson would not need to be cancelled if the certified coach is absent.

Yes! Community coaches are individuals not directly affiliated with a school or community location who support the Girls on the Run mission. Community coaches are placed according to their geographic location and the availability at sites which need additional coaches. All community coaches will need to have a background screening done.  Coaches at schools must have a school district screening.

No! We provide you with training, curriculum and supplies – everything needed to coach a safe, successful season! You'll not create or include anything that's not already in the curriculum. 

Our council provides each program location with the curriculum and supplies needed to facilitate the season. All supplies will be given at the Coach meeting at the beginning of the season.

NEW GOTR coaches complete National Coach Training (NCT). NCT includes online self-paced training and an in-person training session. The in-person training date will be emailed to you once the coach application is completed and date/location/time are confirmed before the season begins. 

While all coaches and teams are different, here are some guidelines that can help you estimate your time commitment. Coaches must attend and lead 75 to 90-minute practices twice per week for approximately 10 weeks. To provide a consistent experience to participants, your additional time commitment is crucial to prepare in advance for each session and collaborate with co-coaches to facilitate fun, successful lessons. Most new coaches say preparation takes about 20 minutes prior to each lesson. Each season culminates with a team-led community project, which is planned and orchestrated by the team, and celebratory 5K event. The girls look forward to coaches cheering them on toward the completion of these accomplishments. 

Practice times vary by site and are typically set in the mid-afternoon/early evening hours to accommodate participants after school. 

Teams practice at designated host sites, which are schools, recreation and community centers, and other community locations, such as places of worship.

The location, days of the week, and times are approved prior to participant registration each season. 

Coaches may indicate where they would like to coach, but we may assign them to a location in need. 

Each Girls on the Run team is led by two to three trained coaches. If you would like to coach at an existing site with another applicant, please mention this in your application and we will do our best to accommodate you.

In addition to the two to three coaches who are 18 years of age or older, some teams may also be assigned a Junior Coach. Junior Coaches are high school volunteers between the ages 16-18 who once participated in a GOTR program and who complete an application and training. They are role models and developing leaders who support the adult coaches and mentor the team.