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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!

Yes. Here is our policy:

• At least one coach over the age of 21 must be present at all times.
• All other coaches must be at least 18 years of age.
• Junior Coaches must be at least 16 years of age.

Each team decides on their own practice times. Most teams' practices are after school; however, some teams that start a later in the afternoon.

Teams may practice at designated parks, recreation and community centers, homes and schools. The location and times are approved prior to participant registration each season. 

Our Girls on the Run program serves girls in 3rd – 5th grade and our Heart & Sole program serves girls in 6th – 8th grade. You may sign up to coach either of these programs.

For safety reasons and for effective facilitation, the maximum team size is capped at 15. If a site would like to host more than one team, they will need to establish a separate group of coaches and meeting days/times. 

If you are not a teacher or relative of a girl at an existing site, select “PLEASE MATCH ME WITH A SITE” on your application, and we will work to connect you with a team. We cannot guarantee that you will find a team with open coaching slots that matches your schedule and location needs.

We use a 20-lesson curriculum spread over the course of 12 weeks. With two lessons/week this structure allows for time off on school holidays and teacher work days.

Practices are 90 minutes long. You will also need to structure in some time for preparing for lessons and communicating with your coaching team and families.

We ask that all coaches attend a minimum of one of the two practices every week. If you are unable to reliably make this commitment, coaching may not be a good fit for you.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

No. There will always be a minimum of two trained coaches at every practice.