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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. But here is our policy:

• Head Coach must be 21 years of age. 
• All other coaches and assistant coaches must be at least 18 years of age.
• Junior Coaches must be at least 16 years of age and female.

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 materials and supplies needed to facilitate the season. We distribute supplies at Coach Training sessions or contact coaches to arrange pick-up at our office in Westbrook. In some cases, we might have a volunteer who can deliver the supplies. Supplies will be shipped to teams mocated more than two hours from our office. 

Coach training includes online self-paced training (approximately four hours) and an in-person training session (three hours).

Spring 2025 Season Coach Training sessions will be held in Augusta, Bangor, and the Portland area during the month of March--dates and times are TBD. 

Coaches must attend and lead 90-minute practices twice per week for 8 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 ages 16 or 17 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, 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). 

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. 

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.