Empowering Girls Through Running
"The Girls Movement," a NEW initiative under the Marathon Kids banner, is dedicated to championing girls' physical and emotional well-being as they navigate the crucial transition to middle school.
If you're already familiar with and passionate about The Marathon Kids program, rest assured that this beloved program remains unchanged.
We are expanding our offerings by introducing an additional FREE program for girls. Our vision is establishing running clubs tailored exclusively for 4th through 8th-grade girls.
The Girls Movement Program addresses the significant disparity in youth sports participation, where girls drop out at twice the rate of boys by age 14. Your commitment to empowering young minds through running is crucial in addressing this imbalance.
We actively recruit enthusiastic individuals to lead and mentor an exclusively female running club.
Thanks to the Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation and the Brooks Running Empower Her Collection, we are excited to provide a grant-funded Coach Empowerment Kit to awarded schools that include a Coach stipend.
Please review the requirements below and apply!
What does the Coach Empowerment Kit include?
Coach Empowerment Kit |
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Who qualifies? | Schools that have a Free Reduced Lunch Status of 65% or higher. |
Qualifications and Commitments for the Grant
School | The school must have a Free Reduced Lunch Status of 65% or higher. |
What | Hold a female running club with 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and/or 8th-grade girls that meets either: before school, after school, and/or during the school day (ie, an all-girl PE class, recess club) |
Time | Meet 30-60 minutes at least one time a week |
How many can participate? | Each program can determine the number of participants allowed to participate. The Coach Empowerment Kit comes with 100 incentives. |
Season Length | Flexible season length and start/end dates with the requirement of a minimum 8-week season. |
Curriculum | Utilize The Girls Movement Curriculum |
Data Reporting | Record laps completed and/or minutes of heart-pumping activities using the Marathon Kids digital platform/account.
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Program Feedback | Participants will complete The Girls Movement's quick pre-season and post-season surveys. |
Impact Statement | Complete an End of Season Coach Survey to give us feedback and suggestions and report on the impact you noticed during your season.
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The Goals of The Program
Building on our proven six evidence-based pillars, the Girls Movement program is a dynamic initiative aimed at achieving three key goals.
Confidence Building:
A positive coaching approach fosters an environment that empowers participants to set and achieve personal running goals, promoting a sense of accomplishment and building lasting confidence in their abilities.
Character Development:
Instill strong character values in every participant by emphasizing resilience, determination, and teamwork through the targeted running curriculum and positive reinforcement within the program.
Cultivate Connection:
Facilitate meaningful connections among participants, coaches, and the broader community, creating a supportive network that encourages shared experiences, friendships, and a sense of belonging within the Girls Movement program.