There are girls who need YOU to help them unleash their power and potential. If you are considering coaching, ask yourself: What better gift can you give to the next generation than inspiring confidence and a strong sense of self?

• Almost 100% of girls said their Girls on the Run coaches care about them.
• 99% of coaches agreed that the coaching experience was valuable for them.
• 96% of coaches said they felt they formed positive relationships with the girls on their team.
• 94% of Girls on the Run coaches said they felt like they were making a difference in their girls’ lives.

No! Girls on the Run Vermont 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 junior coaches and coaches participate in their first 5K alongside their team!

Yes! Junior coaches are placed according to their geographic location and their availability at sites that need additional coaches. 

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 (such as a caregiver or friend), 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. A CPR/FA certified coach must be present at every practice. It is not the expectation that junior coaches are CPR/FA certified, but know a coach they work alongside will be.

We are committed to ensuring our volunteer junior 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 junior coaches complete GOTRVT's in person National Coach Training developed by GOTR International and comprehensive self-paced online modules through GOTR's Learning Academy.
  
  
• Returning junior 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 return coach orientation.
  
  
• We will provide more information about coach training before the season begins. 

No! We provide you with training, curriculum and supplies – everything needed to coach a safe, successful season! As a Junior Coach, you will receive guidance from the team’s coaches, too. 

Our council provides each program location with the curriculum and supplies needed to facilitate the season. We distribute each team's shared coach bag at our pre-season coach training events.

We host a spring season in Vermont. Our spring season typically begins in late March. For 2024, our 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 availablity 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 prepare and collaborate with co-coaches to facilitate fun, successful lessons. Each practice is 90 minutes and the team meets twice a week. The season lasts 10 weeks and culminates with a celebratory 5K event.  

During the program season, junior coaches should expect to volunteer an average of 1.5-3 hours per week. This includes 1-2 practices a week and some time spent reviewing/preparing for the lessons.

Teams may practice at local schools, parks or recreation and community centers. The location and times are approved prior to participant registration each season. Practice times are typically set after school. Teams do not meet when the host school or site is closed (ex. school break).

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.