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Questions and Answers regarding Boy Programming
We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experienced-based curriculum which
creatively integrates running and we envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless
potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. Both our mission and our vision intentionally focus
on girls. This document addresses common questions that our organization receives regarding our
singular focus on girls.
What is Girls on the Run?
The Program:
Girls on the Run® is a 501c3 physical activity-based positive youth development (PA-PYD) program
designed to develop and enhance girls’ social, psychological, and physical competencies to successfully
navigate life experiences. The Girls on the Run® program combines training for a 5k with an interactive
curriculum targeting the promotion of competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and
contribution. The program addresses many topics that are specific to girl development. For example,
body image issues are significantly more prevalent among girls than boys. Girls are also less active than
boys across all age-groups, have lower levels of perceived sport competence, and have less social
support for physical activity involvement. As such, Girls on the Run® is structured to meet many of
these girl-specific needs.
Girls on the Run® creates a psychologically safe environment for girls to learn about themselves,
connect with others, and contribute to the community. Focus on competition and ability in physical
activity contexts is often a barrier for participation for girls. Girls report more enjoyment, satisfaction
and positive relationships with others in climates focused on improvement, skill mastery, effort, and
peer support. The girl-focused programming at Girls on the Run® allows coaches to create an
environment which supports perceptions of competence and targets girl-specific topics (i.e. body image
and media portrayal of women).
Demographics:
Girls on the Run® program: Pre-teen girls in 3rd -5th grade and their families
Girls on Track® program: Girls in 6th-8th grade and their families
Program Design:
Three 24-lesson curricula teach life skills through group processing, running games and
workouts. The three-part curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run® volunteer coaches
and include understanding ourselves, valuing teamwork and understanding how we connect
with and shape the world at large.
Girls choose and conduct a community service project
At each season’s conclusion, the girls complete a 5k running event as a group
Why do you only focus on girls?
The Girls on the Run® program and curricula are designed specifically for 3rd-8th grade girls and research
studies have been conducted which show positive results for a girls-only program. Historically, girls
have had limited access to these opportunities, specifically in sports and physical activity-based
contexts. While the number of opportunities has increased over the years, girls continue to receive
lower levels of social support for participation. Additionally, programs often fail to provide a learning
climate which supports the optimal development of girls. As such, extensive efforts have gone into the
design and evaluation of a research-based program that specifically addresses topics and challenges
that girls encounter during late childhood and adolescence in a psychologically safe environment.
What research have we done on the GOTR programming?
Measurable Results:
Results from several evaluation studies suggest that girls who participate in the program show
significant improvements in body size satisfaction, eating attitudes, participation in physical activity,
commitment to physical activity and self-esteem. Study details are provided below.
Pilot Study (Debate, 2002). A pilot study of Girls on the Run® was conducted in 2002 using a
pre/posttest design. Study participants included 322 Girls on the Run® participants from 28
program sites. Findings suggested significant improvements in self-esteem, t(320) =-10.628,
p<.05, body size satisfaction t(316)= 4.359, p<.05 and eating attitudes and behaviors p<.05,
t(321)= 4.806, p<.05 from the beginning to the end of the program.
Preliminary Study (Debate, Gabriel, Dewald, Huberty, & Zhang, 2009). Building upon the pilot
study, a study using a non-experimental, single-group pre/posttest design was conducted in
2005. Girls on the Run participants (n=1034) from 20 councils completed a self-report survey
measuring self-esteem, body image, vigorous physical activity frequency and commitment to
physical activity. Findings suggested statistically significant improvements (p<.01) in selfesteem, body size satisfaction, and vigorous physical activity frequency.
Quasi-Experimental Study (Gabriel, Debate, High, & Raccine, 2011). A quasi-experimental
study was conducted in 2009. Study participants included 877 girls categorized into one of
three groups (never, newly, and previously exposed to Girls on the Run®). Previous program
participants had significantly higher physical activity commitment (p<.01) and physical activity
levels (p<.05) at pretest than never exposed. From pre- to post-intervention body image
improved in never and newly exposed participants, which persisted through follow-up in the
comparison group. Physical activity increased from pre-intervention to follow-up among never
and newly exposed participants (all p<.05).
Upcoming Studies. Drs. Maureen Weiss and Rita DeBate are in the process of developing a
rigorous longitudinal study designed to determine the effectiveness of Girls on the Run® on
positive youth development outcomes.
Girls on the Run International did attempt to pilot a “Boys on the Run” program several years ago,
however, due to the curricula being specific to girls, the boys program was not successful. Although
there are no plans to start a Boys on the Run program, we encourage individuals or organizations who
have the resources to dedicate to a similar boys’ program to do so.