Coaching FAQ Q: What is Girls on the Run? A: Girls on the Run is a physical-activity based positive youth development program that meets after school and uses the power of running to help prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. Through interactive activities such as running and playing games to discuss important issues, participants learn how to celebrate being girls. The girls also train together to walk or run in a 5K event. The Girls on the Run curriculum serves girls in grades 3-5, while the Heart & Sole curriculum serves girls in grades 6-8. Q: Do girls have to be runners? A: No! Girls on the Run is for EVERYONE - even those who don't like to run. The program is noncompetitive and focuses on developing healthy, positive self-images in the participants. Girls are encouraged to walk or run the laps during the workouts, and all girls progress at their own speed. Q: Do coaches have to be runners? A: No! Anyone with a desire to work with girls of this age group, and enjoys physical exercise is welcome to apply to be a volunteer coach. Q: Can you describe a typical lesson? A: Each lesson focuses on a specific issue-related topic, which is incorporated into the activities and games planned for the lesson. The coaches begin the lesson by introducing and explaining the day's topic. The girls then warm up their muscles with a brief interactive running activity or game. Then, the girls stretch and further discuss how the activity related to the topic. Next, the girls perform the workout, which can consist of running laps or an active game, but also integrates the topic of the day. For example, the girls may have to answer questions about the day's topic each time they complete a lap. The lesson ends with stretching, reviewing what the girls learned that day, energy award recognitions, and a group cheer. Q: Do I have to attend training? A: All NEW Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches, as well as veteran coaches who have not attended training within 2 years, are required to complete approximately 1 hour of online modules AND attend a 5-hour inperson training prior to the start of the session. ALL coaches are welcome to participate in the trainings held twice per year. Q: What is the time commitment? A: During the session, coaches should expect to volunteer an average of 2 – 5 hours per week (the time commitment depends on if you attend practice once or twice per week). This includes: each practice is about an hour and a half, time on-site before and after practice, curriculum preparation, as well as communication with other coaches, girls’ families and GOTR staff.
Q: Why the young age? A: Studies show that girls between the ages of eight and fourteen are still receptive to adult influence, while beginning to feel peer pressure. It's an age Psychologists call the latency period of development when girls begin to confront important life and relationship issues. As a prevention program, Girls on the Run initiates healthy decision-making about difficult issues and really talking to their parents/caretakers before it's too late. In addition, learning healthy exercise habits early in life increases the chances that participants will value their own physical fitness as adults. Recent studies show that only those who develop exercise habits in their teen years or earlier are likely to maintain those habits for life. In addition, girls of this age are more open to the positive peer influences, positive adult role models and confidence enhancing which are all parts of the GOTR experience. Q: Do I have to come to every practice? A: While ideally, coaches are able to be present for all lessons, we understand that the twice per week commitment is not always possible. If coaching once per week, we ask that it be the same day each week so the girls and other volunteers know what to count on. Q: How long does it take to prepare for a lesson before practice? A: It depends on the lesson and where we are in the session. Some lessons might have a few more pieces to cut or supplies to ready than others. Also, as the session goes along, you get into the flow of the lessons and can read them and feel prepare more quickly. On average, it is adequate to allow 30 minutes to read and review the lessons & prepare supplies before you coach. You will be given a box with all of the supplies (markers, stickers, labels, etc) you need for the session. Q: How old are the girls? A: The participants in Girls on the Run (3rd-5th grades) will be 8-11 years old. The participants in Heart & Sole (6th-8th grades) will be 11-14 years old. Q: Will I be the only coach there? A: No, at least two volunteers are with the girls at all times. You could choose to sign up to coach with a friend, or we will partner you with another volunteer. Q: How many girls will I be coaching? A: Girls on the Run teams (3rd-5th grades) are 8-15 girls with possibility of expanding to 20 girls with additional coach help. Heart & Sole teams (6th-8th grades) are limited to 8-12 girls. Q: When is the program offered and how long is it? A: We offer the program twice a year: in the fall September – December, with the end-of-session 5k on the first Saturday in December; and in the spring February – May, with the end-of-session 5k on the third Saturday in May. Each session is approximately 11 weeks long to accommodate our 20 lessons and school breaks. The lessons are twice per week in the after school timeframe (2:30 – 5:00 p.m.) Q: Do coaches have to create lessons or is there an established curriculum? A: Coaches do not create lessons. Coaches facilitate an easy-to-follow, well-researched, copyrighted curriculum that is used by all Girls on the Run councils throughout the United States and Canada.
Q: What days and times does the program meet? A: Teams meet twice a week for 90 minutes after school, the days they meet are site specific. Each team generally meets between 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm. For a list of program locations with the days and times they meet visit the website here: http://www.gotrwnc.org/locations/program-sites Q: Where does the program take place? A: The majority of our teams are school-based. Our council serves 14 counties of WNC. View our locations here: http://www.gotrwnc.org/locations/program-sites Q: How do I become a coach? A: To become a coach, please fill out the online coach application found at http://www.gotrwnc.org/getinvolved/coach. You will be given further instruction following receipt of your application, training and current background check will be needed. Q: I just can't make that new coach training date work, but really want to be involved! A: Please still do contact us as we can at times do an alternative training and get you up to speed, or we may have another role for you to participate! Q: What are the requirements and responsibilities for coaches? A: Head coaches must be female, 21+ years of age. Assistant coaches can be male or female, 18+ years of age. All GOTR volunteers must pass a current background check (the council pays for and will provide instructions for this). Learn more about coach responsibilities here: http://www.gotrwnc.org/get-involved/coach Q: What is the difference between a Head Coach and an Assistant Coach? A: We encourage all coaches for the same team to work together by sharing the coaching responsibilities. Specifically how the roles differ is dependent on your coach team, but typically the assistant coach is more of a supporting role for the head coach who leads the lesson. Q: I have some dates that I know I'd already miss during a season! A: Since the coaches already work as a team at the sites, normally covering for a missed day or two (and sometimes more) is normally easy to work out with your co-coaches and with substitute coaches available. Q: If I have further questions about the program, who do I contact? A: Our Program Director, Stephanie Bilotta,
[email protected], (828) 713-3132
