Sometimes, it takes just one coach to change a child’s life. Through the Million Coaches Challenge, a national initiative funded by the Susan Crown Exchange, Girls on the Run has strengthened its National Coach Training and equipped more than 80,000 volunteer coaches to create spaces where girls build confidence, resilience, belonging, and joy. Alongside leading youth sport organizations such as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Little League International, U.S. Soccer Foundation, and the National Recreation and Park Association, Girls on the Run is a proud member of this nationwide initiative. In this post, you’ll learn why coach training matters and how GOTR is contributing to a national movement to ensure every child has a supportive coach by their side.
The Million Coaches Challenge (MCC) reached a landmark milestone this fall: one million coaches completed training in youth development practices. Such an achievement means millions of kids have coaches who listen, encourage, and create belonging. Since joining the effort in 2021, Girls on the Run has trained more than 80,000 volunteer coaches, bringing this accomplishment to life in communities nationwide.
“One million trained coaches is more than a milestone. It’s proof of what’s possible when we invest in the adults who shape kids’ lives through sport,” said Susan Crown, founder of the Susan Crown Exchange. “Girls on the Run has shown the power of this investment by equipping coaches to create spaces where girls feel confident, connected, and supported. Together, we’re not just changing how coaches show up. We’re changing what’s possible for young people everywhere.”
As we celebrate National Coaches Day and National Youth Sports Week, we’re excited to highlight insights from the Million Coaches Challenge that reinforce what we’ve long known:
Coach training makes a difference for coaches and the girls they serve.
In this Q&A, Jessy Newman, lead researcher from the American Institutes for Research, and Allie Riley, chief program officer of Girls on the Run, discuss why coach training matters and how Girls on the Run is contributing to the Million Coaches Challenge.
A Researcher’s Perspective: Jessy Newman on Why Training Matters
What have you learned about the landscape of coach training in the U.S.?
Partner organizations in the Million Coaches Challenge (MCC) highlight the lack of a unified standard to guide coach training, especially in practices that support positive youth development. Without a unified standard, organizations prepare coaches in different ways — from in-person workshops to online courses.
Despite differences in delivery methods, a strong alignment is emerging around core practices of good coaching: building relationships, creating safe environments, and supporting participant well-being. Coaches themselves recognize the importance of training in positive youth development. According to the MCC coach perception survey, 88% report that training made them a better coach, and over 90% believe all coaches should receive training in these areas.
Why does coach training matter for young people?
Research shows that sport participation alone doesn’t guarantee positive outcomes for youth; it’s the context that matters, and coaches play a central role. Yet many receive little to no training in youth development practices. When training does occur, it often focuses on health, safety, or sport-specific skills, leaving gaps in areas like relationship-building, emotional support, and inclusion. Thanks in part to the Million Coaches Challenge, this is beginning to change.
The initiative is helping shift the focus of training toward practices that support youth development, expand access, and address systemic issues that shape the sport experience. Early data from the MCC coach perception survey shows coaches reporting stronger peer relationships among participants and more joy in sport — critical outcomes at a time when young people face a national mental health crisis and an epidemic of loneliness.
How is Girls on the Run advancing the movement toward a world where every child has a coach who supports their growth and well-being?
I applaud Girls on the Run and its commitment to developing training materials and coaching curricula that prioritize youth development. More than just developing these resources, however, the organization is attracting volunteers who are actually using these resources to become better coaches and help more young people feel supported, empowered, and capable.
The GOTR Approach: Allie Riley on Coaches at the Heart of Our Program
What does being part of the Million Coaches Challenge mean for Girls on the Run?
At Girls on the Run, we’ve always believed that coaches are at the heart of our program. More than 43,000 volunteers step into this role each year and discover the powerful impact they can have on a girl’s life. Being selected as part of the Million Coaches Challenge was both an honor and a natural fit, since coach training is central to our impact. Through this partnership, we strengthened our National Coach Training while contributing to a larger national movement to ensure every child can access a trained, supportive coach.
How does GOTR coach training shape the Girls on the Run experience?
Every Girls on the Run season starts with coaches who are equipped to build strong relationships, create spaces of belonging, and guide girls through our intentional curriculum. Training boosts coach confidence and gives them the tools to step into the role feeling prepared. In fact, more than 90% of Girls on the Run coaches say training increased their confidence in building relationships and creating environments where all participants feel safe to be themselves.
That preparation makes the experience stronger for everyone. Girls leave each season with greater confidence, meaningful connections, and life skills they carry into school, home, and beyond. Coaches often say they grow too, gaining skills they use with their families, in classrooms, and in the community.
When coaches are well-prepared, practices become joyful, empowering spaces where both girls and volunteers thrive.
Why is now the perfect time to coach?
Girls today are navigating more challenges than ever, which means the need for caring, supportive coaches has never been greater. With the Million Coaches Challenge milestone reached, we have momentum and resources that give volunteers confidence and build on the strengths they already bring to the role. That makes now the perfect time to step in as a coach and make a lasting difference in a girl’s life.
Join Us
This National Coaches Day and beyond, we celebrate our volunteer coaches who bring our mission to life each season, and we invite you to be part of what’s next. When we invest in coaches, we invest in kids, communities, and the future of sport.
Become a Girls on the Run volunteer coach and make a difference for girls right where you live.
