Entrepreneur: Dash Sports

Business: Dash Sports
Phone: (905) 849-8837
www.dashsports.ca
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“Hello, Dash Sports.” An easy enough greeting to utter back when Dash was new, soon to be five years ago, now, however, with an intuitive nine month old daughter who has decided to screech like a howler monkey every time her mother is on the phone it is proving more difficult. Maybe a kick to my husband’s shin will equal some much needed aid, being that watching his wife dance around with a baby who is at the moment pulling her hair, while trying to answer questions regarding outdoor soccer seems to warrant no response.

All right, no worries, multi-tasking has always been my strong point and not my husband’s. Though he has his own unique gifts such as his natural rapport with children. I guess this stems from starting his career as the beloved Polkaroo, that’s right the kangaroo, Polka-dotted green giraffe thingy, which delighted and bewildered many generations. Of course this was before we met, I was busy at Wilfrid Laurier University finishing up a degree in child psychology and social development. I moved to Oakville some years later to try my hand at journalism, taking a one-year post grad course at Sheridan and from there finding my way into Leafs T.V. and Raptors TV working as a web-site writer. The problem there was I was an underpaid intern and needed some further income. That’s when I answered the ad that would change the course of my life permanently.

It was a part time job with children, coaching. It was where I first met Adam. He was to be my trainer. Teach me the in and outs of the industry. Call it fate, destiny or whatever you will, we met and the connection was instantaneous. (And they say work relationships are a big ‘no no’).

DASH (which is actually Adam’s initials-Derek Adam Sloan Hazel) was the next step in his career. He had been working in the children’s industry for 15 years thus far and it was time he ventured out on his own. He simply needed a little business know how, which I so graciously offered. It was exciting, the thought of something all our own, just the two of us, putting everything on the line. And it was nerve-racking, the thought of something all our own, just the two of us! Putting everything on the line!

It was a big first step not only in our careers, but our relationship as well. We took the leap most are too terrified to take. It wasn’t easy, there were gyms to be found, advertising to be made which including posters to design, centers to beg to hang up our posters, and websites to create. And lets not forget classes to run...all with two employees, Adam and myself. Luckily for us Adam’s skill with children had not gone unnoticed. His name had become know in the world of children and parents alike. It wasn’t long before loyal fans came out of the past. “Is this sports with Adam? THE Adam?”

In March DASH will celebrate its fifth birthday. Every season we seem to grow. We have ten coaches working for us and running classes in Burlington, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Oakville, Georgetown, Milton and Mississauga. We started off with our multi-sport programs...teaching kids sports such as soccer, hockey, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis, golf and baseball. We start at 2 years old doing parent and tot and also run drop-off programs for ages 3 to 8. It’s a fun environment where kids learn basic skills through play and repetition in a non-competitive environment. With our expansion however, we have added sport-specific programs such as JUMP basketball and KIK soccer (one of our most popular options). Our soccer league runs spring thru summer, children get their own jersey and play with a real team. Soon to come will be SPIKE (beach volleyball). Oh and don’t forget camps, March Break and summer, we theme the weeks, play sports, and do arts and crafts.

In March 2005 Adam and I were married. This March it will be our third anniversary. On March 14th 2007 our baby girl was born. Isabelle “Izzie” Joyce Hazel, weighing in at 9 pounds 1 ounce (that’s right I said 9!). This March she will be turning a year old. True nothing has been the same since her birth. It is difficult to work in the office when she is throwing my envelopes around like confetti or eating postage stamps or crumpling up my posters as they shoot out from the printer. Yet, when she looks at me with those huge blue eyes and gives her squinty face smile I feel life is pretty good.

It is a busy life and I can’t say it is always easy balancing work and family…sorry I lost my train of thought Izzie is pulling herself up on my chair and waving one of our employee’s pay cheque at me. “How did you get that? Ta ta.” Oh…as I was saying, it’s not always easy, but nothing easy is worth doing.