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!

Learn More
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Girls on the run coach holding sign reading intuitive
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Smiling Girls on the Run coach and participant

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

Check out our Junior Coach program for high school girls!

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

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Complete our Coach Registration Application
  • Complete a background check and provide a cleared TB test
  • Complete in-person and online Coach Training
  • Commit to the season's practice schedule

Responsibilities

  • Have FUN while serving as a role model for program participants
  • Collaborate with your co-coaches and junior coaches for successful lesson delivery
  • Review, prepare, and facilitate weekly lessons (curriculum provided by Girls on the Run)
  • Communicate with parents/guardians of program participants as needed
  • Cheer for your team at the end-of-season 5K

Season Details

  • Submit Coach Applications ASAP 
  • Coach Training sessions will be in February & March
  • Season Starts the week of March 11th (some teams start later)
  • Practice times are after-school, mostly mid to late afternon
  • The season culminates with the Girls on the Run 5K on Saturday, May 11th at Marina Park in San Leandro

Help transform and strengthen the next generation

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A Girls on the Run is smiling at the camera wearing a blue program shirt

"Watching the girls in terms of what they have learned has been really fun this season. I think the best thing they have learned as a group is to have trust in each other and to communicate with each other about how they feel."

Coach Kaylyn

A Girls on the Run coach smiles while holding a program medal at the 5K

"As a coach, I just really realized how important it is to pour into this generation of girls and lift them up."

Coach Shayla

A Girls on the Run program coach smiles at the camera outdoors.

"It’s the girls’ smiles that inspire and motivate me."

Coach Mo

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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. Girls on the Run strives to intentionally recruit diverse volunteers to promote a culture of inclusion across the organization. We welcome volunteers who identify as male, female, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming, regardless of their sex assigned at birth.

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.

Nope! We’ll 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. These will be signed out at Coach Training, or, we will contact coaches to arrange pick-up for their team’s materials.  

Coach training includes online self-paced training and an in-person training session. We will provide more information about coach training during the application and onboarding process. 

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.  

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. 

The more, the merrier! Each Girls on the Run team is led by 2-3 trained Coaches and sometimes an assistant 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.

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

Still not sure? Reach out to us at coaches@gotrbayarea.org with any questions. Thank you for considering volunteering as a Girls on the Run coach!

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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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