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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!

• At least one female coach over the age of 21 must be present at all times.
• If a team has a male coach, we will designate a female coach as “head coach.”
• All other coaches and team volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and out of high school.
• Junior Coaches are high school students who are at least 16 years of age and female.

A minimum of one coach per team must have CPR and First Aid certification on file by the first session of any given season and be present at every practice. We cover the cost of one coach per team to receive certification.

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 their availability at sites that need additional coaches.

No! We provide you with training, curriculum and supplies – everything needed to coach a safe, successful season! You should not incur any personal costs to provide the program to your team.

Our council provides each program location with the curriculum and supplies needed to facilitate the season. Coaches receive a bin with all the team supplies including curriculum at coach training or arrange pick-up for their team's materials. 

Training for new coaches includes self-paced online training modules taht take 4-5 hours to complete. After completing online training, new coaches attend a 2-hour in-person training session. We offer three different session dates and locations for the in-person training and coahes choose their preferred session one they begin the online modules.

Prior to the season start, new coaches will complete online training modules and an in-person group meeting with council staff and other coaches. During the season, coaches must commit to attending two, 90-minute practices per week for 8 weeks, plus the 5K on June 9th and one final celebration the week of June 10th. To provide a consistent experience to participants, your commitment is crucial to prepare and collaborate with co-coaches to facilitate fun, successful lessons.  

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

Coaches may indicate where they would like to coach. If coaches do not have a preference, we will assign them to a location in need. 

Absolutely! The more, the merrier! Each Girls on the Run team is led by two to three trained coaches, and sometimes a Junior Coach. 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.