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 junior coaches and coaches participate in their first 5K alongside their team!

A reference should not be an immediate family member. Think about a community member, teacher, mentor, coach or family friend who can accurately and positively share more about the Junior Coach with Girls on the Run.

A minimum of one coach per team must have current CPR and First Aid certification on file by the first practice of the season AND plan be present at every practice of the season. This is a strict polity our council ensures. Please communicate among your team of coaches, or reach out to Program Coordinator, Melissa Colby to determine which memeber of the coaching team is currently, or will become certified. (Cost of certification is reimbursable.)

NOTE: It is NOT the expectation of junior coaches to fill the certification requirement, but rather know that a coach they work alongside is certified.

Yes! Junior 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. And, 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 will contact coaches to arrange pick-up for their team’s materials.  

There are in-person and online training sessions for junior coaches. Our council will contact you with exact dates and information. 

Junior coaches must attend at minimum one of the two 90-minute practices each week. 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 lasts 10 weeks and culminates with a team-led community project and season-ending Celebratory 5K event.  

Teams hold practices at schools, parks, recreation and community centers. The location and times are determined prior to participant registration each season. Teams host practices two times each week for 90 minutes each session. 

Junior coaches may indicate where they would like to coach. If there is not a preference, we will assign them to a location in need close to their geographical location. 

We try to assign only one Junior Coach per team, but that's not always the case! Each Girls on the Run team is led by three trained coaches, and sometimes a Junior Coach. If you would like to coach at an existing site with another applicant (such as a parent/guardian or family friend), please mention this in your application and we will do our best to accommodate you.