Girls on the Run of Los Angeles
Start your own GOTR Site
Are you Ready for Girls on the Run?
While Girls on the Run provides almost everything needed to run the program, the site has a significant role in making the program a success. These Site Readiness evaluation guidelines will help new sites assess areas of strength, as well as identify areas where additional support may be needed. We are your partners in this process and will work with you to determine how we can, together, build the most successful site possible!
What We’ve Learned
The first time offering the program is a learning experience that we embark upon together. When we launch a new location, we start with just one team. Even if there is enough interest from girls and coaches to have two GOTR teams, or one GOTR and one GOT team, there is a learning curve that we know exists. To honor this dynamic, ensure the highest quality program delivery, and provide best experience for ALL (girls and coaches) our policy is one team in the first season. Besides, a wait list is a wonderful recruiting tool for the next season!
Site Readiness Considerations
Below we list the considerations that greatly impact the ability for a site to be successful:
- Community Supporters: A core group of at least 2 to 3 adults who are committed to making the program a success and are connected to a group of girls who are interested in participating. These can be parents, teachers, administrators, PTA, or other community members. This core support helps recruit a full team of girls, recruit necessary coaching “staff” and generally promote the program to the community.
- Site Liaison: Someone dedicated to communicating with the site and our organization to ensure great program support (see description on next page). Ideally this is someone with a direct affiliation with the program site.
- Space: Both indoor and outdoor space with plenty of room to run are needed throughout the season, along with a small storage space for the teams supplies.
- Volunteer Coaches: We require at least two adults at each per practice per team. The head coach must be available for each practice with assistants who attend once a week.
- Girls: The right team size for great participation and experience is 8-15 girls per team. We ask sites to help promote the program so that there are enough girls to have a full and energetic team.
- Financial Aid: At many sites, some girls cannot afford the full registration fee. In these cases, we partner with the site and the community to raise funds to support full or partial scholarships for the team.
Download these documents to guide your application process:
GOTR Spring 2012 Site Application
Timeline for Fall 2012 Season
- June 30, 2012 – Application deadline
- Mid June – Sites finalized and contacted
- August/September
- Mandatory coaches’ training by GOTR LA
- Site hosts pre-season information meeting for parents and girls
- Complete and return paperwork
- September 10, 2012 - Spring season begins (12 weeks)
- Mid Season – Coaches Appreciation Luncheon!
- Early December – Girls participate in end of season celebration 5k
- December 7, 2012 – End of Season
We are your partners in this application process! Please let us know if you have any questions or how we can help. We look forward to growing with you!
