New Site Applications - Girls on the Run – Of Greater Richmond

 Girls on the Run of Greater Richmond
New Site Information and Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in becoming a new program site of Girls on the Run! Please read
through the following information before submitting a New Program Site Application. The purpose
of this document is to provide an overview of Girls on the Run and the responsibilities of program
sites.
About Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program designed to
develop and enhance girls' social, psychological, and physical competencies to successfully navigate
life experiences. Girls in the 3rd-8th grades combine training for a 5k running event with healthy
living education. Our program instills self-esteem through health education, life skills development,
mentoring relationships, and physical training - all of which are accomplished through an active
collaboration with girls and their parents, schools, volunteers, staff and the community.
The program is currently taught in elementary schools in Henrico and Richmond and meets twice a
week for 10-12 weeks. Each hour and a half session is led by specially trained volunteer coaches and
includes lessons dealing with issues such as body image, negative self-talk, resisting peer pressure,
gratitude, gossip, nutrition, substance abuse, making healthy decisions and contributing to the
community. Running is woven into our program to inspire an appreciation of fitness and to build
habits that lead to a lifetime of health. At the end of each 10 -12-week session, the girls participate in
the celebratory, non-competitive Girls on the Run 5k event.
Each team has between 8-15 girls with a maximum of 20 girls per team. Because much of our
curriculum is related to team building and group dynamics, fewer than 8 girls may make it difficult to
provide the experience we want to offer to the girls so we do not allow for teams smaller than 8 to
operate. Additional girls above the maximum of 20 will either be put on a wait list or a second team
will be started if there are a minimum of 8 participants and if enough coaching staff can be found.
Greater Richmond History
Girls on the Run finished it’s inaugural year in May of 2014. For two seasons the program was
offered in two schools in the Greater Richmond area, Fox Elementary School in Richmond and
Short Pump Elementary in Henrico County. We have expanded to Collegiate, Linwood Holton and
1 Mary Munford Schools in the Fall of 2014 while maintaining our inaugural sites, Fox and Short
Pump Elementary Schools. Fox became an open site in the Spring of 2014 allowing us to offer the
program to girls from other area schools to participate with that team.
Program Seasons
We operate two seasons of Girls on the Run each year:
● Fall Season - begins the second or third week of September and ends in early December
with our chosen 5K. We currently partner with local 5K’s to deliver our final event. To host
a team at your site in the fall, planning should take place March – May before the fall season.
All site applications, coach applications and meeting times must be finalized no later
than June 1st to be able to begin the program in September.
●
Spring Season - begins at the end of February (second or last week) and ends in early to
mid-May with a 5K as the culminating event (determined by the Board prior to the start of
the season). To host a team at your site in the spring, planning should take place September
– November, before the spring season. All site applications, coach applications from
the school and meeting times must be finalized no later than December 1st to be able
to begin the program in February.
Site Involvement
Girls on the Run provides everything needed to run the program. The site has the following
responsibilities:
● Provide a Site Liaison. Ideally this is a school nurse, counselor, PE or other teacher. This
person assists in promoting Girls on the Run at their school, distributing flyers or
communicating information to school news outlets, informing the community of the
program and race information, etc.
● Provide a safe place for running. This does not have to be a track. A field, walking trail or
safe unused parking lot is fine.
● Provide a rainy day location (classroom, gym, etc.).
● Provide a closet or locker where GOTR supplies can be stored and locked.
● Choose two days a week for the program to meet directly after school (90 minutes each
session).
● Recommend at least two volunteer coaches who are willing and available to deliver the
program for 10-12 week. Coaches will be trained by Girls on the Run of Greater Richmond
to deliver the curriculum during a training day prior to the start of the season. Coach
training takes place in Jan or Feb thus the details need to be finalized for each site
2 prior to submitting the application. Empty applications are not considered complete
and will not be given consideration.
Program Fees and Scholarships
● Registration fee is $185 per participant. This fee helps to underwrite the cost of program
which includes: supplies, curriculum, liability insurance, snacks, program shirt, end of season
5K registration and participation shirt, 5k finisher medal, coach training, scholarships and
staff support.
● Scholarships of 25% to 75% of the program fee are available based on individual family
need. Scholarship applications are available and may be accessed via our website. A family
must indicate what they can pay based on need and must provide a legal document
communicating their total family household income for the scholarship application to be
complete and given consideration.
Volunteer Coaches
Volunteer Coaches facilitate the easy-to-follow, researched curriculum at each program site. Coaches
do not have to be runners; they only need to have the desire to serve as a role model for the girls by
showing positive behavior, being interactive with them and listening attentively. Coaches can be
faculty, staff, parents or community members. It is mandatory for there to always be 2 volunteer
coaches on site with Girls on the Run participants, preferably a head coach and an assistant coach.
We highly recommend 3 coaches per site to ensure program delivery is uninterrupted in the event
that one coach is unable to attend practice.
One of the biggest challenges in starting a new program site is recruiting
volunteer coaches. We have found that program sites are most successful when coaches are a
part of the community they serve. Therefore, we require that potential program sites assist in
recruiting coaches. Girls on the Run will provide coach descriptions, recruitment posters, a sample
newsletter article, etc. to support new sites in recruiting coaches. Girls on the Run also
independently recruits coaches, and may be able to assign one coach to your site based on need and
coach availability.
Both the Lead and Assistant Coach will be given one guaranteed space each for a daughter
to participate in the program. Registration is still required and program fees still apply.
3 Volunteer coach requirements and responsibilities.
Lead Coach
Qualifications
● A strong commitment to girls’ positive development
● Experience working with youth
● The ability to recognize conflict and have the skills to help resolve it
● The capacity to work in a partnership with a co-coach and/or assistant coaches
Responsibilities
● Understand and support the mission of Girls on the Run
● Attend the Girls on the Run program 2 days a week
● Lead your coaching team in decisions regarding curriculum facilitation, calling participants’
families, storing and bringing coach box supplies and healthy snacks
● Arrive at the program site at least ten minutes before the lesson begins and wait to leave
until all girls have been picked up
● Be the main contact of your team for the GOTR Program Manager and families
● Communicate regularly with the Program Manager
● Attend the end of season 5k event and supervise program participants
● Practice positive behavior management
● Serve as a role model for the girls by being on time, dressing appropriately, having a positive
attitude, and leading a healthy lifestyle
Requirements
● 21 years or older
● Submit a Coach Application to Girls on the Run of Greater Richmond (online)
● Attend one 6 hour coach training session
● Current CPR and first aid certification
● Consent to a background check (must pass check)
● 5 hours a week is the estimated time commitment for this position
4 Assistant Coach
Qualifications
● A strong commitment to girls’ positive development
● Experience working with youth a plus, but not requirement
● The capacity to work in a partnership with a Lead Coach
Responsibilities
● Understand and support the mission of Girls on the Run
● Attend the GIRLS ON THE RUN program 2 days a week*
● Support the Lead Coach by handing out supplies, snacks, setting up for activities, filling
water bottles, etc.
● Provide one-on-one attention to girls as needed
● Run or walk with girls and encourage them to put their best effort into the activities
● Communicate regularly with the Volunteer Manager
● Attend the end of season 5k event
● Be willing to lead the lesson in the absence of the lead coach or alternating w/lead coach
● Serve as a role model for the girls
* Should a team have assistant interest, but that volunteer can only commit to one day a week, he/she will be given
consideration as long as the site can provide an additional volunteer to coach on the other day the program is offered, if
not both days. Assistant coaches must be consistent with their commitment to be a role model for the girls and in order
for the program to run, two coaches must be present every practice! In the event that 2 coaches are not available for
practice, the practice must be cancelled. Thus it is a good idea for the site to vet interest for extra “substitute” coaches
and submit coach names only for individuals who are certain of the commitment. More information can be found on
our website for anyone interested in being involved in a coaching capacity.
Requirements
● 18 years or older
● Submit a Coach Application to Girls on the Run of Greater Richmond (online)
● Attend one coach training session (required for first time coaches; optional for returning
coaches)
● Consent to a background check
● Current CPR and first aid certification
● 4 hours a week is the estimated time commitment for this position
5 New Site Application Timeline
June 1st : New Site Application Deadline for Fall Season
Once approved, Site liaison is to begin marketing the program within school community so the
program is anticipated in advance of the summer.
Coach Training Dates ● June 2015 (TBD)
Online Registration –
● August 1st- Opens
● September 1st– Closes if full.
● Season Starts – second or third week of September
● Winter 5K – second week of December, Toys for Tots
December 1st : New Site Application Deadline for Spring Season
Once approved, Site liaison is to begin marketing the program within school community so the
program is anticipated in advance of the Winter Break.
Coach Training Date ● Late January/Early February- TBD
Online Registration –
● January- Opens
● February (two weeks prior to the start)– Closes if full
● Season Starts – Second week of February
● Spring 5K – May TBD
(Anticipate We Heart Harley & Friends 5K, first or second week in May)
Registration is done in advanced of school opening in the Fall.
Ideally registration will close at least 1.5 – 2 weeks prior to the start of each team’s season to allow
for preparation. In the event that the 8 girl minimum requirement is not fulfilled, 1 week prior to the
start of the season, that season will be cancelled.
6 Submitting an Application
Once a site has all the required elements in place and has received approval from the site’s principal
and/or director or programming, then the site liaison may begin the process of starting a new site
by filling out the new site application online:
https://www.raceplanner.com/register/index/girls_on_the_run_greater_richmond_site_application
Incomplete applications will not be given consideration. Anticipate and estimated 5 business
days for your application to be reviewed and to receive a response.
There are no comparable programs to Girls on the Run. It is a unique curriculum in the genre of
youth programs. It incorporates physical activity to teach very specific and well-defined social and
personal skills. Research validates that the development of these skills prevents the future display of
at-risk behaviors including early onset of sexual activity, disordered eating, depression and anxiety,
substance and alcohol abuse and confrontations with the juvenile justice system.
Contact Girls on the Run of Greater Richmond with any questions or to set up a meeting with your
school, please contact our Director, Ruthie Burke via email:
Ruthie.burke@girlsontherun.org
Thank you again for your interest in starting a
Girls on the Run of Greater Richmond site!
We look forward to working with you to have a successful program!
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