I attest that I have reviewed the Girls on the Run of Greater Sacramento coach policies and procedures listed below and agree to abide by all rules and conditions described:

Attendance for Girls

Due to the importance of group dynamics and the experiential learning process of the Girls on the Run curriculum, girls who are absent for more than four (4) practices during one season are in violation of the Girls on the Run attendance policy. Guardians should be informed prior to registration that girls are not allowed to attend only one session a week and should not sign up for the program if there is a known conflict. Coming just once a week disrupts the group dynamics and also takes a spot away from another girl who could attend every lesson. Girls on the Run reserves the right to remove a girl from the program if she is absent more than 4 times during the season. However, sometimes absences are unforseen, such as illness, so this doesn't mean that she will be automatically kicked out of the program. Attendance must be taken at each lesson using an Attendance Log Sheet provided by the GOTR office. If a child is frequently absent from practice, coaches may express their concerns with the child and also her parents. If a participant is absent 4 or more times, she may be asked to leave the program. Coaches should contact their site coordinator or Girls on the Run staff if they need assistance. Positive Participation Policy This policy addresses the need for girls to come willingly to Girls on the Run and put forth their best effort and work with the team. Both girls and parents need to be respectful of the coaches and other girls on the team or they may be asked to leave the program. It also means that parents should not be signing up a child that doesn’t want to participate in the program.

Late Guardian Policy

Coaches must wait until all the girls have been picked up after the session before leaving. Parents/guardians are expected to pick up their child from Girls on the Run lessons within 15minutes of the close of the session; ongoing tardiness will not be tolerated. If a parent is tardy in picking up his/her daughter, late (more than 15 minutes), coaches should talk with the parent or report concerns to the school liaison. The parent should be given a verbal reminder of the policy. If a parent is tardy for a second time, a verbal reminder and written acknowledgement of the policy should be made. Upon the third instance, coaches should contact a Girls on the Run staff member who will notify the parent that his/her child will no longer be able to attend Girls on the Run. If more than 15 minutes have passed and a girl has not been picked up, coaches should contact the parents and/or emergency contacts listed on the registration info. form provided to them at the beginning of the season.

Program Fees and Refunds

Program fees are non-refundable after a guardian has registered their participant. NOTE: Parents or guardians will need to agree to the attendance, positive participation, late guardian and refund policies as part of the online registration process.

VERY IMPORTANT: Transportation Policy

Girls on the Run volunteers may NOT transport any child, outside of immediate family, in a vehicle when operating in the capacity of a Girls on the Run volunteer (coach, etc.). In the instance that transportation of a participant is necessary, Girls on the Run International requires that a signed letter from the guardians of the participant(s) is submitted to the Girls on the Run staff at least 24 hours in advance. The letter should include acknowledgement that the volunteer is no longer acting on behalf of Girls on the Run, and all liability of the council is waived. A sample letter is available in your coach resource binder. If a child is to leave without a parent or by any means other than those identified on the child’s release form, a note is required. Substitute Coaches In the instance that a coach is unable to attend a Girls on the Run session, leaving less than two adults present at the site who are approved Girls on the Run volunteers, a coach is responsible for securing another approved adult volunteer to attend the practice in her/his place. The site coordinator should be the first point of contact to fill the substitute role. In instances where the site coordinator is unavailable, the substitute must either be a fully trained coach, or another approved volunteer – meaning that a volunteer application and a valid background check are on file at Girls on the Run. Substitute coaches must have had a valid background check through Girls on the Run within the past 24 months and have attended a Coaches Training. Coaches should never provide your own substitute coach without prior discussion with council staff.

Logo Usage Guidelines

The Girls on the Run logo and their parts (including “Adelaide” and typeface) are property of Girls on the Run International and are registered as such by the United States Government and the State of North Carolina. This logo should never be altered or reprinted without the consent of Girls on the Run International. If you have questions regarding logo usage, please contact the GOTR Office.

Curriculum Copyright

The Girls on the Run Curricula and all components thereof are the exclusive property of Girls on the Run International and Mary W. Barker (Molly Barker). Any use or modification of these curricula, or any component thereof, without the express written consent of Girls on the Run International, outside of the scope of the official Girls on the Run program, or for any purpose not specifically designated by Girls on the Run International, is strictly prohibited. Any such violation shall be deemed a breach of copyright, trade dress, and/or any other applicable intellectual property rights held by Girls on the Run International, and Girls on the Run International reserves any and all rights to pursue all available damages at law and in equity against any such violating party under any applicable cause of action.

Spokesperson & Media Protocol

We love when media is interested in telling the GOTR story. As a reminder, please work with the GOTR office if you receive any inquiries from the media. ALL media requests need to be run through the Girls on the Run of Greater Sacramento office to ensure accuracy of information and for any media that extends beyond our local area, we will submit requests to Girls on the Run International. Please do keep your ears and eyes open for any great stories … we love to collect stories to share with our GOTR community that show the impact of Girls on the Run.

Solicitation

Girls on the Run Volunteers are not permitted to use Girls on the Run distribution lists in order to solicit items, interest, or donations for any use outside of the Girls on the Run program. The information gathered by Girls on the Run, including, but not limited to participant and guardian contact information, SoleMates participation lists and 5k registration information, is proprietary information and should be managed as such. The soliciting of any of these people, by use of information obtained through Girls on the Run is not permitted.

Privacy Policy

Girls on the Run takes precautions to safeguard your personal information against loss, theft and misuse as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction. Appropriate physical, electronic and managerial procedures are in place to safeguard and secure any information collected. Girls on the Run retains the right to contact any participant or volunteer at any level to inform them of special engagements, programming or events of a similar nature. At times Girls on the Run may be required by law or litigation to disclosure your personal information. We may also disclose information about you if we determine that for national security, law enforcement, or other issues of public importance, disclosure is necessary.

Political Affiliations Policy

All 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Violations of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes. Girls on the Run does not engage in any issue advocacy that functions as political campaign intervention.

Sexual Abuse Reporting Policy

Girls on the Run prohibits and does not tolerate sexual abuse in the workplace or in any related organizational activity including program delivery. Girls on the Run provides procedures for employees, volunteers, family members, board members, victims of sexual abuse or others to report sexual abuse. No employee, volunteer, or third party, no matter the title or position has the authority to commit or allow such sexual abuse. Girls on the Run has a Zero-Tolerance policy for any sexual abuse committed by an employee, volunteer, board member or third party. Upon completion of the investigation, disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or volunteerism and criminal prosecution may ensue. Child sexual abuse involves any sexual activity with a child where consent is not or cannot be given. This includes sexual contact that is accomplished by force or threat of force, regardless of the age of the participants and all sexual contact between an adult and a child, regardless of whether there is deception or the child understands the sexual nature of the activity. Sexual contact between an older and a younger child also can be abusive if there is a significant disparity in age, development, or size, rendering the younger child incapable of giving informed consent. The sexually abusive acts may include sexual penetration, sexual touching, or non-contact sexual acts such as exposure or voyeurism. Sexual abuse includes sexual molestation, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, or sexual injury, but does not include sexual harassment. Any incidents of sexual abuse reasonably believed to have occurred will be reportable to appropriate law enforcement agencies and regulatory agencies. Reporting Procedures: If you are aware or suspect sexual abuse taking place or if evidence of the sexual abuse of a child exists or an allegation has been made, a formal report must immediately by made to the appropriate authorities. It is not the role of the volunteer, Council Director, Board of Directors or organization as a whole to evaluate or investigate an allegation or suspicion. Child protective services, law enforcement, and child advocacy centers are responsible for the investigation of the allegations and suspicions. Any investigation by a Girls on the Run representative can harm the youth and/or the legal investigative process. Allegations and suspicions should be reported to very few people inside the organization before authorities are contacted to expedite the process and minimize the number of times a youth has to repeat allegations. If you do not know your state child abuse agency or respective state reporting laws, you can call the Child Help’s National Child Abuse Hotline, 800.422.4452 or visit the National Child Welfare site at www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies.

Youth Protection Policy

Staff and volunteers will not initiate contact with or accept supervisory responsibility for youth outside of Girls on the Run programs and activities (i.e.: babysitting). Staff and volunteers will not communicate with youth outside of Girls on the Run programs via written, electronic or other means without express approval. Staff and volunteers will appear and behave in a manner consistent with the mission, vision and core values of Girls on the Run at all times while acting as a representative of Girls on the Run, including electronic, written and verbal communications.

Curriculum Delivery

Coaches are expected to deliver lessons as outlined on the Girls on the Run calendar. Lessons should not be altered unless a reasonable modification is needed due to weather or other special circumstances.

Coaches’ Corner

There is a special section on the Girls on the Run website that is just for coaches. This section is called the Coaches’ Corner and is password protected so that the contents can be available to coaches only. The page can be found by clicking on the “Get Involved” tab at the top of the website and then going to “Coaches Corner”. The password protected area of the website is located at the bottom of the page.

Meet your Coaches

Site Coordinators should meet their coaches. It is important to have a relationship with these individuals. Other important individuals for you to know well include the administrators, secretary and custodian. The physical education teacher at the program location can be helpful also. He/she may be able to provide coaches with necessary space, equipment, and information.

Off-Grounds

Parents and the Girls on the Run staff must be notified, in advance, of any practice location changes. It is imperative that we are able to locate a team at all times.

Weather

Please use your best discretion when going outside. Please do not practice outside if it is raining heavily, if you can hear thunder, see lightning, or extreme wind. If after school programs are cancelled by any school district for any reason, then Girls on the Run practices in that district are cancelled as well

Shoes

Certain sites should consider storing the girls’ shoes in a secure location on campus. The site coordinator can work with coaches to determine an appropriate location, if necessary. Storing shoes onsite will reduce the likelihood that participants forget their running shoes and won’t be able to practice.

Curriculum Binder & Coach Bin

Each fully trained coach will be given a Girls on the Run curriculum binder prior to the start of the season. We reuse the binders season after season and they should NOT be written in. The binder and related coaching materials must be returned to Girls on the Run of Greater Sacramento before the end of the season or coaches will be required to pay a replacement fee of $20 for the GOTR curriculum binder and/or a $50 fee for a coach bin that is not returned.

Criminal Background Checks

All potential coaches, assistant coaches, site coordinators and other volunteers who may have regular access to a program participant are required to undergo a criminal background check. Any applicant who fails to pass a criminal background check will not be permitted to volunteer with Girls on the Run.

Training

All site coordinators are required to complete an online training. All coaches must attend a full training session with the Girls on the Run Council Director or other designated representative before coaching a Girls on the Run team.

Practice Sessions

Two fully trained coaches/site coordinators (at least one must be First Aid/CPR certified) must always be present at practice sessions. When one of the fully trained coaches is unable to make the normal meeting time for a Girls on the Run site, coaches must ensure an official assistant or an approved Girls on the Run substitute will attend to assist in the coach’s absence. Two Girls on the Run-approved volunteers/personnel (completed application and criminal background check on file) MUST be present at each and every Girls on the Run practice. If it is necessary to cancel a practice session for reasons other than weather, the decision must be made at a minimum of 4 hours prior to the start of practice; coaches must inform the site coordinator and a Girls on the Run staff member.

Supervision of Girls

It is essential that coaches are always on time and arrive 15 minutes early for all lessons. It is imperative that all coaches arrive in a timely manner as not to compromise the safety of the girls. While participating in Girls on the Run, girls must be under the supervision of an approved Girls on the Run coach or Girls on the Run-approved volunteer/personnel at all times while the program is in session.

Non-Enrolled Children

Children not enrolled in Girls on the Run should not participate in Girls on the Run games, activities or practices. Participation is limited to 3rd-8th grade girls who are officially registered for the program. Coaches and Assistants agree not to bring children to the programming site unless registered as a participant.

Cell-Phones

At least one coach must have a working cell phone available at every practice. All coach cell phone numbers must be provided during coach registration and must be available to both GOTRGS and your site coordinator.

Dress Code

Coaches must dress in a neat, casual, appropriate manner – in clothing appropriate for physical activity. Non-restrictive or athletic clothing should be worn for ease of movement. Clothing that advertises alcohol or cigarettes is not permitted. They violate our fundamental philosophies.

Dismissal Procedure

Coaches must wait at the site until all girls have been picked up before leaving the program site. Following each Girls on the Run session and the Girls on the Run 5k, coaches release participants only to their parents/guardians and individuals designated on the participant registration form. For the protection of each child, we must have written permission from the parent/guardian before we can allow her to be released to anyone else. If plans change and a family needs to have someone else authorized to pick up their child, the family must make a written note and present it in advance to the coaches at the designated practice site. Our #1 priority is to keep every child safe. If someone arrives to pick up a girl who is not listed as an authorized pick up, coaches MUST NOT release the girl to that individual. Coaches should explain the GOTR dismissal policy to the individual and make a phone call to one of the girl’s parents or guardians using the contact information provided by GOTR.

Snacks

A snack stipend will be provided for each session. Snacks should be given out at the beginning of every practice. Snacks are not to be used as prizes. Every girl receives a snack. If a coach or parent gives out additional snacks, they must be given to all girls practicing at that site.

End Of Season Party

Coaches should talk with the other coaches and site coordinator at their site/school about the end-of-season party. This is a reimbursable expense in the amount of $40. Coaches should come to a mutual agreement regarding parties, although celebrations may be held separately for each team. Please agree on the type of celebration you will have and if you are giving gifts, keep the cost low. Some creative ideas include: picture frames, collages, posters, etc. Celebrations are to be held at the practice site. Coaches should not hold team parties or sleepovers at their home.

Health History Forms

Guardians are required to complete a health history form during registration. Healthy history forms will be provided to all coaches when registration closes. Health history forms are kept with the coaches, or are accessible to the coaches, at the participating site at all times in case of an emergency. Medical information about the participants is confidential and should only be communicated to authorized persons if necessary. The coaches’ copies of these forms should be shredded at the end of the Girls on the Run season.

Participant Concerns

Coaches and Site Coordinators are role models and mentors, but should not play the role of therapist/counselor. If there is a specific problem with a girl or her family, coaches should contact Girls on the Run staff and fill out a behavior incident report. An intervention or referral to a qualified professional will then be made.

Removal from the Program

A girl who is consistently not cooperating may be asked to leave the program at the director’s sole discretion. If a girl is having attendance or behavior problems, coaches must contact Girls on the Run staff immediately.

Accident/Incident Reports

Fill out an Accident/Incident Report for any injury to a student, coach or volunteer which requires medical treatment. Return these forms to Girls on the Run immediately.

Termination for Coaches

Violation of the Girls on the Run Coach Agreement, and arrest for drug-related activities or drinking and driving are grounds for immediate removal from Girls on the Run.

Non-Compete Clause

All coaches, site coordinators or affiliates with Girls on the Run, Inc. are under a non-compete clause. This says that it is unlawful to fabricate or perform Girls on the Run lesson plans (or those similar to the original) without permission from Girls on the Run, Inc.. As a coach or site coordinator for Girls on the Run you must agree to the following: I will not deliver the Girls on the Run Program or any similar program unless I am working as an employee or volunteer of Girls on the Run of Greater Sacramento; I may not create or help develop a program that has similar goals and structure to that of Girls on the Run International Program within a two year period of my involvement with Girls on the Run; I understand that all printed materials given to me are under copyright and may not be reproduced in any way unless written permission is received. This does not include materials that must be copied for the delivery of specific activities for the lesson plans during my volunteering with a Girls on the Run Program; I understand the curriculum/book and “coach’s kit” given to me for the purpose of coaching a Girls on the Run International Program do not belong to me. It is the property of Girls on the Run of Greater Sacramento and I understand that when I am done coaching the program I will return all curricula and supplies to Girls on the Run of Greater Sacramento.

Girls on the Run Greater Sacramento RETURNING Coach App Spring 2025