An Open Letter to Our New Coaches

Dear Coach,

Sometimes at trainings, the leader stands up and delivers a heartfelt, polished speech. Everything goes according to plan. The slides are perfect. The words are just right.

That is not how we operate.

At Girls on the Run, we are not perfect or polished. We make mistakes. We adapt. We learn as we go. Sometimes it rains. Sometimes the technology fails. Sometimes the plan changes moments before we begin. And we keep going.

That is the culture you are stepping into.

Here is the truth I want you to hear clearly: you do not have to be an expert to be an excellent Girls on the Run coach.

You do not need perfect words.
You do not need to be a runner.
You do not need to have it all figured out.

What you need is a willingness to learn alongside the girls.

That has always been the model here. It has certainly been mine.

When I first found Girls on the Run, I did not arrive confident or polished. I arrived curious. I arrived willing. I arrived learning as I went, sometimes awkwardly and often imperfectly. That has not changed. Leading this organization still stretches me. It still humbles me. On some days, I still think, I can’t believe they let me be in charge.

And that is why this program works.

Girls do not need adults who have mastered life. They need adults who show them how growth actually happens.

When adults model imperfection, girls learn something important. They learn that mistakes are not emergencies. They learn that trying matters more than getting it right the first time. They learn that confidence comes from resilience, not flawlessness.

We practice this with the girls every season. We help them notice what they are feeling, understand that emotions can feel comfortable or uncomfortable, and recognize that all of them matter. Feelings are information.

When you show up imperfectly, when you name nervousness, frustration, or uncertainty and keep going anyway, you reinforce that lesson in real time. I saw this modeled clearly during training when activities did not unfold exactly as planned. Katie acknowledged it, adjusted without panic, and kept the room grounded and moving forward. The moment itself became the lesson.

What feels exciting and comfortable to one person may feel stressful or overwhelming to another. That does not mean anyone is wrong. It simply means we are human. Learning to honor that difference is part of what makes this work meaningful.

You will see this most clearly when a girl hesitates. When she hangs back or seems unsure, you pause rather than push. You name what you notice. You offer choice. You let her move at her own pace. In those moments, she learns that her experience matters.

Girls are watching how you handle uncertainty. They are watching how you respond when things do not go as planned.

Every season, coaches tell us the same things. They tell us they learned as much as the girls did. They tell us they did not expect to be changed by the experience. They tell us they came to give and ended up receiving.

That does not surprise us.

Girls on the Run is not about delivering perfect lessons. It is about creating a space where learning is allowed to be human.

You will have moments that feel unsure. You will have practices that do not go as planned. And still, connection will happen. Confidence will grow. Something meaningful will take root.

So if you are stepping into this season feeling nervous, hear this clearly: you belong here. Your willingness matters more than your expertise. Your presence matters more than your performance.

And if you are reading this and thinking that maybe someday you could do this, we would love to walk that path with you. Coaching does not require a certain personality or comfort level. This work makes room for different strengths and different ways of showing up.

We are actively welcoming new coaches for Camp GOTR (spring/summer) and Fall seasons, and we would love for you to join us. If something in this work is tugging at you, don’t wait until you feel ready. Often the best yes comes when you are simply willing to grow.

With deep gratitude,

Kathy
Executive Director