coach quote

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!

Absolutely not! Here is our policy:

• All adults are welcome to coach, pending the completion of a background check and coach training. 
• The Head Coach must be 21 years of age or older.
• At least one female coach over the age of 21 must be present at all times.
• All other coaches and assistant coaches must be at least 18 years of age.
• Junior Coaches must be in high school and at least 2 years older than the oldest GOTR or H&S participant. Click here to learn more about Junior Coaches.

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, preferred commute distance and the needs of local sites. 

Absolutely! The more, the merrier! Each Girls on the Run or Heart & Sole team is led by at least 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.

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 are committed to ensuring our volunteer coaches feel comfortable, confident and supported in leading a successful season of Girls on the Run or Heart & Sole. Coach training includes online self-paced training and an in-person training session.

• First time GOTR and Heart & Sole coaches complete a GOTRVT in-person National Coach Training developed by GOTR International and comprehensive self-paced online modules through GOTR's Learning Academy.
• Returning coaches receive select online modules through GOTR's Learning Academy to continue meeting the evolving needs of our participants. They are expected to join GOTRVT for our coach training/orientation session.

We will provide more information about coach training before the season begins. 

Coaches facilitate an easy-to-follow, well-researched, copyrighted curriculum that is used by all GOTR councils throughout the United States and Canada. GOTRVT provides coaches with curriculum materials, training in the facilitation of the curriculum, and supplies – everything needed to coach a safe, successful season! Teams rotate through different curriculum versions each season so returning participants enjoy a new experience each spring!

No, GOTRVT provides all materials needed to deliver the GOTR and H&S curriculum. GOTRVT supplies each team with a shared coach bag prior to the season's start. This contains all of the supplies necessary to deliver every activity outlined in the curriculum. There should be no need for coaches to have out-of-pocket expenses. 

Our council provides each program team with the curriculum and supplies needed to facilitate the season. We will contact coaches to arrange pick-up for their team’s materials.  

We host a spring season in Vermont. Our spring season typically begins in late March. For 2024, the practices start the week of March 18. The program sessions occur twice a week over a 10 week period (20 lessons) with a culminating 5K Celebration in early June. It is extremely important that the participants in our program have consistent, committed role models who can volunteer their time for our entire season. 

Each group meets twice weekly for 10 weeks (20 sessions, plus the culminating 5K Celebration). Practices are 90 minutes and are generally held after school with specific times varying by site. Coaches determine their own team's meeting schedule based on personal availability and facility access. Practice schedules are not based on what day/time practice was held in the previous season.

To provide a consistent experience to participants, your commitment is crucial to facilitate fun, successful lessons. During the program season, coaches should expect to volunteer an average of 4-5 hours per week. This includes: 3 hours of practice, time on-site before and after practice, lesson preparation, as well as communication with your coach team, participants' caregivers, and GOTRVT staff.

Sorry, no. Not only is this a liability issue but, as a GOTR or H&S coach you will need to direct your undivided attention to the participants in order to appropriately deliver the curriculum as intended.

Teams may practice at designated parks, recreation and community centers, and schools. The location and times are approved prior to participant registration each season. Practice times are typically set in the late afternoon to accommodate participants after school. 

We have a variety of volunteer coach roles! You will select one of the following roles on the coach registration form:

• Head Coach - should be available to coach at both weekly sessions. Additional responsibilities may include making the determination to postpone practice due to inclement weather, communicating with participants' caregivers via email, and coordinating with the coach team to determine how to share lesson facilitation. 
• Assistant Coach -  is encouraged to make as many practices as possible, but may commit to coaching at one weekly session if they are sharing the role with another volunteer. It's best to communicate with your coach team prior to the season to determine what will work best for continuity based on your schedule. An Assistant Coach assists in lesson facilitation and supports the Head Coach with administrative tasks as needed. 
• Junior Coach - serve as a role model, mentor and developing leader who support the adult coaches. Attends as many sessions as possible and it's best to communicate with the coach team prior to the season regarding availability.
• Team Helper - may participate in sessions regularly or when available
• Substitute Coach - is contacted as needed to join a local team for a planned or unplanned coach absence. We require that at least 2 coaches be present at each session
• Site Liaison/Champion - provides logistical support to a team and often, does not attend practices/sessions. A Site Champion may help secure a meeting space, identify volunteer coaches, assist local families during program registration, collaborates with the coach team to communicate the site's needs to GOTRVT, etc.

You will be asked to indicate where you would like to coach on your coach registration form. If you do not have a preference, you will be asked to share your preferred communities or commuting distance and we will match you with a local team in need of volunteers.

Teams typically consist of 8-15 participants depending on the community. GOTRVT will continue to implement enrollment limits for each team to ensure a positive, safe experience for all participants and coaches.

We encourage sites to identify at least 3 volunteer coaches. This ensures that 2 coaches can be present, as required, if one volunteer is absent.

• Girls on the Run is typically grades 3-5 and Heart & Sole is grades 6-8. These grade groupings sometimes vary slightly depending on the school (i.e., some GOTR sites are grades 3-6).
• Girls on the Run inspires girls of all abilities to recognize their individual strengths, while building a sense of connection in a team setting. Lessons blend physical activity with life skill development to enable girls to adapt to whatever comes their way. At the end of the season, the team completes a 5K together, which provides a tangible sense of accomplishment and sets a confident mindset into motion.
• Heart & Sole is a middle school program that meets the unique needs of girls of all abilities in 6th-8th grade. The program considers the whole person – body, brain, heart, spirit and social connection. Heart & Sole offers an inclusive place of belonging, where girls feel supported and inspired to explore their emotions, cultivate empathy and strengthen their physical and emotional health. At the end of the season, all program participants complete a 5K.
• We encourage 5th graders to be part of a GOTR team (rather than a Heart & Sole team) as that curriculum is developmentally more age appropriate.

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 who are 2 years older than the oldest participant on a Girls on the Run or Heart & Sole team and who complete an application and training. They are role models and developing leaders who support the adult coaches and mentor the team.