Why Dash???

Idaho Dash has a staff of 4 Full Time Coaches with experience in all disciplines of Track and Field.  As a member of AAU and USATF it is a requirement for all Coaches to pass a Background check and Safesport Class.  Not all clubs do this with their coaches.  All of our coaches are USATF Level 1 Coaching certified currently or are working toward certification.  It is important to us, that as the athletes strive to get better, we as coaches must also get better.

Part of our philosophy is to continue to educate ourselves.  Coaches are encouraged to attend classes and clinics as often as possible. 

We also have several of our collegiate athletes come back in the Winter and Summer to help coach our athletes.  During the summer we have as many as 12 coaches helping out our athletes.   We have come full circle with our athletes now coming back to help coach the next generation of athletes.  We will be sending our coaches to the Level 2 Coaching seminars when USATF announces the live teaching clinics again. 

As coaches, we have a network of other coaches throughout the country to talk philosophy and share ideas with.  We are never going to know it all, but we can continue to learn and do what is best for the athletes.

We have worked incredibly hard over the last 7-8 years to give kids an opportunity to compete against the very best competition.  We have traveled to National events in Virginia Beach, Va, Satellite Beach, Fl, Greensboro, NC, Houston, Tx, Sacramento, Ca, Lawrence, Ks, and have plans to continue to do so!  We will compete locally and Regionally as well so our program fits everyone's needs.  

The Summer of 2022 we were selected by AAU Track and Field as the Zone D Club of the Year.   

While we make no promises of scholarships, our coaches and past athletes will do whatever you need to help you find the right place for you to compete at the next level.  We currently have over 60 Dash Alumni competing at the college level.  This gives us a great network of contacts to help athletes reach out to not just coaches, but Dash athletes to help them along the way.

Myth - Idaho Dash Is Too Expensive

Fact - While Idaho Dash may cost a little more than other local clubs, we offer things that the others don't.

• Our Seasons start well before other clubs in the area.
• WE ARE A COMPETITIVE CLUB, not a rec program
• We Practice 5 to 6 days a week while other clubs practice only 2 to 4 days a week
• We incorporate a full weight training program with our running program
• While Coach Honell has an extensive background in Weight Training, he consults with a CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) regularly to make sure the athletes are getting the best programing available for Track and Field athletes.
• The workouts aren't just thrown together on the way to practice.  There is a "process" to our training and we evaluate practices on a daily, weekly, seasonal basis and make small tweaks to allow the athletes the best chance to compete at their optimal level.
• We also like to travel outside of the area so the athletes will see better competition to better prepare them for the National meets.
• Remember....you get what you pay for.

Myth - Idaho Dash doesn't coach Combined Events (Pentathlon/Heptathlon/Decathlon)

Fact - Idaho Dash has had 3 All- Americans  and a Top 15 finishes the last 3 years at the USATF National Junior Olympics in the Heptathlon and Decathlon.  This season we closed with an 11th and 13th place finish in the Women's Heptathlon Since starting the Dash, we have had 9 Region 11 Champions and 4 Runner ups in the Combined Events.

Myth #2 - Idaho Dash Doesn't have a Hurdle Coach

Fact - Coach Honell is certified as a Level 2 Coach in Sprints/Hurdles/Relays through the USATF Education Program.  We believe that if you are slow between the hurdles, it doesn't matter how good your form is, you still will be slow.  We incorporate speed training into our hurdle work, which is a lot different than most hurdlers that come to us are used to.  Andre Jones, a long time Dash member now competes in college and  represented the Idaho Dash in the USATF Junior (U20) Outdoor National Championships last summer and finished 10th in the 400 Hurdles.  We have had multiple Idaho State Champion at the HS level and Multiple City Champs at the Middle School level compete and work with Dash in the Hurdles.  In the summer of 2019,  Sabunay Machu earn All-American Honors in the 200 Hurdles while running the 7th fastest time in the country.  Coach Honell also guided his Meridian HS athlete to a 2nd place finish at State in 2021

As a coach, there is nothing more satisfying to see the growth of an athlete because of their hard work.  We want to work with athletes of all ability levels....not just the superstars.  We have said this from the beginning....We would rather work with someone that has a great attitude, is a great teammate, and works hard to get better than to work with an already great athlete that isn't a good teammate and doesn't work hard.  We treat all of our athletes with the same respect and love, no matter what their ability level.

When we travel....we travel as a team.  This creates a family environment that I don't think any of us would trade away.  

We welcome athletes of all abilities and ages.  We do not migrate to the "stars" and ignore everyone else.  We want everyone to have a positive experience and learn to love track and field while pushing themselves to be the best version of themselves every day!!