At Short Pump Middle School, two Heart & Sole coaches with very different backgrounds discovered the same powerful truth: You don't have to be an expert to make a difference. You just have to be willing to show up.

Coaching Might Not Be What You Expect

When Andrea first became involved with Girls on the Run, she thought she knew what to expect.

"I thought it was running and coaching," she recalls, "and had no idea that the curriculum is so expansive and the experiences are life-changing for them and for me."

Andrea is a banker, not an educator or a parent. But in her fifth season as head coach, that hasn't stopped her from becoming a meaningful part of the Heart & Sole community at Short Pump Middle School.

What keeps her returning isn't the running. It's the relationships.

"The girls come back for me, and I come back for them," she shares.

Through coaching, Andrea has discovered the joy of helping girls build confidence, find their voices, and recognize their strengths. And along the way, the girls have brought laughter, perspective, and connection into her own life.

Ask her to describe coaching in one word, and her answer is simple: "Rewarding."

Sometimes the Best Things Begin with a Little Hesitation

For Rachel, a teacher at Short Pump Middle School and a first-season Heart & Sole coach, saying yes wasn't necessarily easy.

As a runner, Rachel knew how powerful a supportive community could be. Running had given her a positive outlet and a sense of belonging, and she wanted girls to experience that same encouragement.

But she also wondered whether she was ready to take on something new.

When the opportunity to coach came along, she didn't want to be the reason the program couldn't happen.

So she said yes.

What Rachel discovered was more than another volunteer opportunity. Coaching gave her the chance to connect with students beyond the classroom and become part of a community where girls encourage one another, build friendships, and grow together.

And something unexpected happened: the commitment she had initially worried about became something she looked forward to.

Her advice to anyone considering coaching?

"Just do it! It will become something you need and not just something you do."

For Rachel, coaching has become a source of connection, joy, and purpose. It’s a reminder that sometimes the things we're hesitant to try become the experiences we're most grateful we didn't miss.

You Bring the Passion. We Provide the Support.

One of the biggest misconceptions about Girls on the Run is that you need to be a runner, or an experienced coach, to make a difference.

Andrea and Rachel prove there's no single path to becoming a great coach.

One is a banker. The other is a teacher. One is a returning coach. The other is experiencing her first season.

Both bring something valuable to their team, and neither has to do it alone.

Girls on the Run provides volunteer coaches with training, a thoughtfully developed curriculum, and ongoing support so they feel prepared and confident. Lessons are approachable and engaging, and coaches work together to create an encouraging environment where girls can thrive.

You don't have to write lesson plans or have all the answers.

What matters most is your willingness to listen, encourage, and believe in every girl's potential.

Because sometimes, the most meaningful moments aren't the big celebrations or finish-line victories.

Sometimes it's a girl who feels comfortable enough to share something difficult. A teammate who finds the courage to speak up. Or a young person who realizes there's another caring adult in her corner.

Those moments happen because someone chose to show up.

Could Coaching Be Your Next “Yes”?

As another Girls on the Run season comes to a close, we're reminded that the impact of coaching extends far beyond the final practice or finish line. The confidence girls gain, the connections they build, and the lessons coaches carry with them continue long after the season ends.

And as we celebrate the coaches who made this season possible, we're already looking ahead to the next opportunity to make a difference.

Maybe you've never pictured yourself as a coach. Maybe you've wondered whether you have the experience, the time, or the right skills. But as Andrea and Rachel's stories remind us, you don't have to have all the answers to make a meaningful impact.

As you look ahead to the new year, could coaching be your next “yes”?

We'd love for you to explore what it means to be part of our coaching community. You bring the passion. We provide the support.

Learn more about becoming a Girls on the Run coach.