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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:

• Two female coaches over the age of 21 must be present at all times.
• Our Head Coach must be female.
• All other 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.  Girls on the Run will offer a class on January 21 from 9-11am at Montgomery County Community College. You can sign up for this class in the coach application. Coaches can also get certified on their own. The First Aid/CPR training course curriculum must be equivalent to The American Red Cross, American Heart Association and National Safety Council that includes an in-person skills test and the receipt of a course completion card.  Please select the course that includes both adult and child First Aid and CPR training.

Yes! Community coaches are individuals not directly affiliated with a school 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. Shirts will be  dropped shipped to the team's site liaison and program supplies will be picked up by one of the coaches at in-person coach training. 

Coach training includes online self-paced training and an in-person training session. We will provide more information about coach training before the season begins and information is also listed in the coach application. Coaches can select their training date in the coach application.  

New Coach Training Dates: Saturday, January 28th (8am-12pm or 1pm-5pm) at Germantown Academy, February 4th (9am-1pm) at Lankenau Medical Center, or Saturday, February 11th (9am-1pm), West Chester University.  

Returning Coach Kick Off Date: Wednesday, February 1st (6-8pm) at Germantown Academy.  This session is only required for coaches who were new coaches in spring 2022. 

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.  

Coaches may indicate where they would like to coach and days/times they are available. If coaches do not have a preference, we will assign them to a location in need of volunteers close to their geographical location.