Coach

Girls on the Run coaches are trained volunteers who lead a team of participants through a season of powerful and fun lessons. You do not need to be a runner; you simply need to have a desire to support and encourage the next generation. Coaches receive all the tools and support they need and find that they get as much out of coaching as they give.

Are you between 16-18 years old and interested in coaching?

Check out our Junior Coach program for high school girls for the Spring 2024 season!

Learn More
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Three coaches smiling.
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Girls on the run coach holding sign reading intuitive
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Left to right: Participant, Coach, Participant, Participant all smiling together after finishing the celebratory 5K.

Are you between 16-18 years old and interested in coaching?

Check out our Junior Coach program for high school girls for the Spring 2024 season!

Learn More

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“Being a coach has impacted me in a positive way. I feel more empowered and confident. All the lessons are lessons that even we as adults can learn from. I love the program.”

<ul> <li>Vous devez avoir au moins 18&nbsp;ans.</li> <li>Remplissez notre candidature d&rsquo;animateur.</li> <li>Consentez &agrave; une v&eacute;rification des ant&eacute;c&eacute;dents et fourni

Requirements

  • You must be at least 18 years of age. (Head Coach 21+)
  • CPR and First Aid certified (Head coaches only - we can help!)
  • Complete our Coach Application
  • Consent to and complete a background check.
  • Complete mandatory 2 hour in-person New Coach Training + Online Modules
  • Commit to the season’s practice schedule, which is two times per week after school for 90 minutes (practices start around 2:00-4:00pm, depending on school release times)
  • Have fun!

Responsibilities

  • Get to know and understand your co-coaches to better serve your team.
  • Have fun while serving as a role model for program participants.
  • Review, prepare and supervise weekly lessons (curriculum provided by Girls on the Run).
  • Collaborate with other coaches for successful lesson delivery.
  • Commit for the entire season (practices and end-of-season 5K event).
  • Facilitate communication with parents/guardians of program participants. 
  • Participate in the Girls on the Run 5K

Season Details

  • Spring 2024
  • Season start week of April 1
  • 5k weekend June 1 - 2 (exact dates TBD)
  • 90 minutes, 2 days/week afterschool (starting at 2:00 - 4:00pm, depending on school release times)
  • Girl registration opens February 1!

Help transform and strengthen the next generation

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A GOTR coach holds a photo frame "Look who just finished a 5K!" around a participant's face

"This was the best coaching team I've ever been on, it felt like everyone carried an equal load and brought different strengths and skills to the team, we had a mix of experienced and new coaches, teachers and non teachers and enough of us to manage the energy of a full team."

Coach Cindy, Burnsville Coach

A Girls on the Run coach raises his hands in the air along with his team

"A highlight of the coaching is seeing the girls grow in their thinking!"

Coach Jake, St. Louis Park Coach

A Girls on the Run program coach smiles with a participant at the 5K

"I was honored to be the co-head coach and get to run with one of the girls and her dad. Her dad was overwhelmed (in a good way) by the sheer excitement, support, and love for his daughter and decided last minute to join us on the run."

Coach Lorena, Robbinsdale Coach

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Frequently Asked Questions

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 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 problem - all training and materials are provided and we would love to have you involved! NEW coaches (who have never coached for our GOTR council before) should apply here. 

No, we welcome coaches of all gender identities! 

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.

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

Hooray and welcome back! If you have coached with GOTR Minnesota and previously completed new coach training in Minnesota, RETURNING coaches can submit this application (currently closed).

Coaches must attend and lead 75 to 90-minute practices twice per week for 10 weeks. To provide a consistent experience to participants, your commitment is crucial to prepare and collaborate with co-coaches to facilitate fun, successful lessons. Each season culminates with a team-led community project and celebratory 5K event. Every NEW GOTR coach is required to attend a 2-hour in-person coach training to be present at GOTR practices. If you are unable to commit to the required training, please plan to apply for a future season.

We provide various training dates and locations through the metro area, Duluth and Rochester. Training options can be found within the coach application. 

Every NEW GOTR coach is required to attend a 4-hour in-person coach training to be present at GOTR practices. If you are unable to commit to the required training, please plan to apply for a future season.

Training is a blended model, with on demand (completely online on your own time!) and an interactive in-person component. There will be several coach training sessions to choose from for both new and returning coaches. You'll select the session you will be attending within your coach application form. *Available until full; space is limited, register early.

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. 

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. Practice times are typically set in the late afternoon/early evening hours (to accommodate participants after school). 

Absolutely! Coaches can indicate a preference for a site at which they'd like to coach when they register. Coaching teams are limited to six coaches. If you are flexible with your assignment, you can select that in the site drop-down and note your time/location restrictions. If the preferred site has reached coach capacity (no longer available when registering), we'd be happy to find another site within the area that would work. If coaches do not have a site preference, we will assign them to a site in need of volunteers. We are actively working to place mentors with girls who share their lived experiences. If you are Black, Indigeneous or a person of color (BIPOC) and would prefer to be placed with a team that is predominately BIPOC, you can indicate that in your application as well. 

You're right! Many of our sites are waiting to hear more about school plans and other commitments before they finalize practice days/times. If you have specific availability notes we should be aware of when assigning coaching, please indicate them in your coach application and we'll do our best to accommodate your preferences. Thank you!

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.

You! GOTR is dedicated to training volunteers to understand social context, create positive inclusive environments, and build genuine relationships. We strive for our volunteers to represent the diverse and vibrant communities we work with. We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages and abilities, including Black, African, Asian, Indigenous, Latinx, folks with various speech, physical and learning abilities, and LGBTQ-identified folks. We welcome coaches of all gender identities, including non-binary, gender fluid and gender-expansive volunteers.

Each team will receive all necessary materials to cover the full season as well as funds to purchase healthy snacks for the team; you can be a successful coach without spending a dime! 

Nope! Every team has 3-6 GOTR-trained coaches that work together to lead their team of girls through the season.  

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to contact our program team at program@gotrmn.org with coaching questions. 

Merci d’envisager d’accepter le rôle vital d’animateur bénévole pour Girls on the Run. Si vous avez toujours des questions sur la façon de débloquer le pouvoir et le potentiel des filles de votre communauté, veuillez communiqu

Thanks for considering the vital role of serving as a volunteer coach for Girls on the Run. If you still have questions about how you can unlock the power and potential girls in your community, please contact us!

Email Us

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Smiling Girls on the Run participant in wheelchair writing as kneeling coach helps

Unlock Potential

Love what you learned about our program and coaches? Sign your girl up today!

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Unlock Potential

Smiling Girls on the Run participant in wheelchair writing as kneeling coach helps

Love what you learned about our program and coaches? Sign your girl up today!

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