Junior Coach

Three smiling Girls on the Run junior coaches

Junior Coach

Serving as a Junior Coach is a fun and rewarding way to get involved with Girls on the Run! This volunteer position is for high school girls aged 16-18 years old who want to grow their leadership skills. Paired with a Mentor Coach, Junior Coaches receive support to develop their own skills while serving as role models to program participants.

Lilia, animatrice junior

“Junior coach training taught me how to empower my teammates and inspired me to reflect on my own vulnerabilities.”

Lilia, Junior Coach

<ul> <li>Avoir de 16 &agrave; 18&nbsp;ans (&agrave; l&rsquo;&eacute;cole secondaire)</li> <li>S&rsquo;identifier comme &eacute;tant une fille</li> <li>Retourner les r&eacute;f&eacute;r

Requirements

  • Be 16-18 years of age (in high school) 
  • Identify as female
  • Return completed reference
  • Return signed waiver (signed by parent/guardian if under 18)
  • Complete background check (if 18 years old)
  • Complete Junior Coach application
  • Complete online and in-person training
  • Consistently attend practice (minimum of once per week)
  • Commit 1.5-3 hours of time each week for 10 weeks

Core Duties and Responsibilities

There are three core duties to serve as a Junior Coach, and they each come with responsibilities. 

  1. Junior Coaches must serve as role models. 
    • Understand and believe in the mission and vision of Girls on the Run
    • Represent themself, the Junior Coach program and Girls on the Run in a responsible, respectful manner both during and outside of the program (including on social media)
    • Serve as positive role models on their team in their words and actions
    • Commit to fully engage in sessions with participants and coaches 
  2. Junior Coaches must foster a positive, inclusive environment. 
    • Build relationships with and between teammates
    • Encourage and motivate participants
    • Participate in games and workouts with the team, encouraging everyone to give their best effort
  3. Junior Coaches must develop their leadership skills. 
    • Lead activities and lessons from the Girls on the Run curriculum 
    • Support co-coaches as they lead activities from the curriculum 
    • Collaborate with a mentor coach to receive and act on constructive feedback 

Season Details

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Season Details

application due
February 2025
start date
March 2025
5K date
Varies by location
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Serve as role model and leader for the next generation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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!

The adult coaches with each team must have CPR and First Aid certification on file by the first session of any given season. It is not the expectation that junior coaches are CPR 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. 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. Coach training dates are published in our News pages once they have been scheduled.

Coaches and junior coaches must attend and lead 75 to 90-minute practices twice per 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 celebratory 5K event.  

Most teams meet at a school, but there may also be teams at designated parks, recreation or community centers. The location and times are approved prior to participant registration each season. Practice times are typically immediately after-school (anywhere from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM).  Our Locations page has a listing of current program sites.

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 two to 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.

Merci d’envisager d’accepter le rôle vital d’animatrice junior 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 c

Thanks for considering the vital role of serving as a volunteer junior 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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Find Your Team

Our Junior Coach program is perfect for finding community and instilling leadership while making an impact on the next generation.

Find Your Team

Two Girls on the Run junior coaches sit with their backs to the camera in green shirts talking to each other
A group of Girls on the Run junior coaches stand in circle in green program shirts talking to each other