Before the first practice, the team friendships, and the end-of-season 5K, a lot of work goes into preparing for a Girls on the Run season. At the heart of it all are the coaches.
GOTR coaches do more than lead a group of girls through a curriculum. They're mentors, role models, encouragers, and the people who help create a place where every girl feels welcome and supported. Preparing them for that role takes thought, hands-on learning, and a whole community behind them.
WAY More Than a Running Coach
Coaches learn how to build relationships, create inclusive environments, and help girls work through challenges together. That's why coach training is such an important part of the program.
Girls on the Run's national training model combines online learning with in-person training, giving coaches the tools and preparation they need before the season begins. This commitment to coach development is part of a larger national effort, too. Since joining the Million Coaches Challenge in 2021, Girls on the Run has helped train more than 80,000 volunteer coaches.
But knowing the curriculum is only part of the job. Great coaches also learn to pay attention, adapt, and meet girls where they are. Kate Robichaud, a first-time coach in fall 2025, discovered just how important that can be:
“There is always a plan, there is always a list, there is always something that needs to get done. However, the moments come first.”
It's a reminder that while the curriculum provides a roadmap, the girls in front of you always come first.
Training the Trainers
Preparation starts well before local coaches arrive for training. Girls on the Run NH's staff members take part in specialized national training to prepare them to lead our local coach trainings.
This train-the-trainer approach helps bring the national program's best practices to New Hampshire while still prioritizing local experience, ideas, and connection. Our trainers then share that knowledge with the volunteer coaches who will lead teams throughout the state.
Learning by Doing
GOTR coach training isn't just sitting through presentations or reading through a manual. Coaches get hands-on experience with the curriculum, take part in activities, practice tools they'll use with their teams, and share ideas. We even walk through an entire lesson so coaches feel confident leading their teams through the curriculum.
Some of the most important learning happens through conversation, too. Coaches bring different experiences and perspectives, and they have the chance to learn from one another before the season even begins.
It Starts with People Who Show Up
The training, preparation, and support behind every season matter. When we invest in coaches, we're also investing in the girls they reach, the communities they strengthen, and the connections that continue long after the season ends.
It starts with the coaches. And we're so glad they're part of this community.