Off the Mat with RaulD33

Welcome back to Off the Mat!

In this episode, we sit down with Kevin from Redline Championships to talk about what's happening in the world of event production and how Redline is changing the game for gyms, athletes, and families across the industry.

With 45 years in the cheer and dance world, Kevin brings a unique perspective on where the industry has been and where it's headed. From launching the Tournament of Champions to introducing the brand new Junior and Senior Select Performance divisions, Redline is creating opportunities that go beyond the traditional score sheet and bring back the creativity, energy, and wow moments that made us all fall in love with this sport.

We dive deep into what makes Redline different, how they're listening to gym owners and coaches, and why creating an unforgettable experience matters just as much as what happens on the mat. Whether you're a gym owner looking for the right events, a coach trying to keep your athletes engaged, or a parent wanting to understand what goes into a great competition experience, this episode is packed with insight.

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00:00 Introduction: Who is Kevin and What Does He Do?
02:15 What Makes Redline Championships Different
05:30 Listening to Gym Owners and Making Changes
08:45 Tournament of Champions Explained
12:20 March Madness Style Bracketing by Level
15:10 International Tournament of Champions
18:00 The New Select Performance Divisions
22:30 Bringing Back Creativity and Performance
26:45 Who These Divisions Are For
30:20 The Red Alert Award: Recognizing Wow Moments
35:00 Creating Experiences That Last Beyond the Score
38:50 Meet Rex and Ruby: Redline's Mascots
41:30 Super Nationals and Destination Events
46:15 Making Competition Affordable for All Programs
50:40 All Star Premieres: Turnkey Showcases
56:20 Why Redline: We See You, We Hear You, We Are You

After 25 years at Woodlands Elite, Kevin opens up about one of the biggest transitions of his life. From coaching nine teams in the gym's first season to leading Generals to nine national championships, Kevin's journey has been nothing short of legendary. But change is inevitable, and sometimes the hardest decisions lead to the most meaningful new chapters.

In this raw and honest conversation, we dive deep into what it's like to coach at the highest level, the evolution of all star cheer over three decades, and why Kevin ultimately decided to leave the program he helped build. We talk about the pressure of coaching iconic teams, the challenge of picking world class rosters, and how social media has changed the game for athletes, parents, and coaches alike.

Kevin shares what drew him to Prodigy, what excites him about this new chapter, and what he wants his legacy to be when the lights go out and the music stops. This one's for anyone who's ever had to make a hard choice, reinvent themselves, or walk away from something they built in order to stay true to who they are.

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00:00 Introduction: Leaving After 25 Years
02:15 How It All Started: From Trampoline to Worlds
08:30 Becoming All Star Director
11:45 What It's Like Coaching Generals
15:20 The Pressure of Social Media and Expectations
18:40 Practice Schedules and Team Placement
23:10 Making Cuts on a Championship Team
27:30 Coaching Junior Six Colonels
31:00 How the Industry Has Changed Over 30 Years
36:45 Parent Involvement and Accountability
40:20 Commitment Levels Then vs. Now
44:15 High School Cheer and the Tug of War
48:50 Favorite Age Groups and Coaching Tiny One
52:30 Why Kevin Left Woodlands Elite
58:10 Standing Behind What You Believe In
01:03:20 Why Prodigy
01:07:40 The Energy and Culture at Prodigy
01:12:15 What's Next: Consulting and International Work
01:15:30 What Kevin Wants to Be Remembered For

Welcome back to Off the Mat!

Ever wonder what it takes to run a successful cheer program? In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the systems, protocols, and daily operations that keep Mustang running smoothly. Joined by Taylor, one of our directors, we break down everything from staff uniforms to carpool rotations to class evaluations.

Whether you're a gym owner, coach, or parent, this episode is packed with practical insights on building systems that work, creating a culture of excellence, and showing up every day like you're still trying to earn the job.

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00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:15 The Importance of Staff Uniforms
03:42 Positions and Safety Protocols
06:28 First Impressions and the Parent Experience
09:20 Class Structure and Rotation Systems
13:45 The Mustang Star Leadership Award
16:30 Carpool System Explained
20:10 Coach Requests and What Makes a Great Coach
24:55 Fab Fours and Private Classes
28:40 Communication Between Coaches and Administration
31:25 Evaluation Systems and Tracking Progress
35:18 Attendance Policies and Taking Your Job Seriously
38:50 Staff Development and Monday Meetings
42:35 Yearly Staff Training
46:20 Adaptability and Continuous Improvement
50:15 Final Thoughts on Elevating the Experience

Welcome back to Off the Mat!

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00:00 Welcome Back and Four Things You Need to Know
00:52 Your Attitude Going Into Practice Matters
04:13 Coaches Have Favorites and Why That's Okay
06:33 Attendance Matters More Than You Think
08:40 The Disrespect of Last-Minute Absences
11:46 Your Choreography Spot is Not Your Final Spot
12:34 How Routines Change Throughout the Season
14:37 Stay Ready and Keep Working on Your Skills
16:08 Body Positions and Flexibility: Start Now
20:31 Bases and Backspots Are Just as Important
23:33 The Transition from Flyer to Base
28:15 Final Thoughts: Relax and Enjoy the Season

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Woodlands Elite has officially arrived in San Antonio. In this episode, we sit down with the team behind the new location to talk about how it all came together, the vision behind the gym, and what the future looks like as they build the next chapter of Woodlands Elite. 

00:00 - Introductions and how it started

03:44 - Why Woodlands Elite?

04:26 - Why San Antonio?

05:50 - Challenges of Opening a gym

08:17 - Do you feel the pressure?

11:02 - How many Teams?

13:10 - Ownership Pressure

15:03 - The coaches’ stories

26:26 - What Does Success Look like for the Year?

30:18 - What Makes You Stand Out as a Coach?

34:44 - What Experience Do We Want For Everyone?

36:54 - Why Should An Athlete Choose WESA?

42:05 - What are You Most Proud of?

49:48 - What Do You Want to be Remembered For?

In this episode of Off the Mat, I sit down with Ryan Chance to talk about his journey from coach to director and what it really takes to make it in the DFW cheer scene. We dive into how competitive this market is, the pressure that comes with it, and what separates great coaches from the rest.

Follow me:

Instagram: @coachrauld33

TikTok: @rauld33

Snapchat: @rauld33

00:00 - Where he got his start07:08 - Full Time Coaching09:00 - how to grow to be a D1 director11:07 - Coaching in Australia 15:34 - the return to Dallas and managing a staff 21:53 - Advice for Young Coaches24:52 - Working at Champion Cheer - Justin28:36 - what separates good from great athletes?30:43 - Justin location path to success 34:25 - Impacting Athletes when they Graduate 35:33 - Athletes Switching Gyms38:26 - what keeps you coaching?40:01 - Q&A - Flex Division Removal41:51 - Q&A - Does Tumbling Matter for team placement?42:56 - Q&A - How to Navigate Unapproachable Coaches 44:32 - Q&A - Advice for New Gym Owner46:44 - What are you most proud of?48:05 - what do you want to be remembered for?

In this episode of Off The Mat, I share four hard truths every cheer parent should understand if they want to truly support their athlete.

We talk about why kids aren’t always being held back — sometimes they’re being protected, why body positions still matter more than tumbling, why discipline and family support matter when athletes move up levels, and how parent expectations can shape a child’s experience in the sport.

This isn’t criticism — it’s an honest perspective from the coaching side about how parents can help their kids succeed, grow, and enjoy the journey.

00:00 - 4 Things Parents need to Hear00:35 - #1: Don’t Ruin the Sport01:51 - The car ride home02:47 - #2: Your athlete isn’t being held back, they are are being protected.04:27 - Proper Athlete Development05:36 - #3: Body Positions are the MOST Important key to flying on a team06:40 - #4: Athletes aren’t complete on Skills Alone09:41 - How to Have a Happy Athlete

00:00 - NCA Just Around The Corner 00:58 - Cheersport Recap01:46 - Coaching More than the Skills03:34 - Camera Equipment04:06 - Is Game Day cheer still “Real?”04:55 - How to Prepare for your FIRST NCA Ever!!06:27 - Back Handspring Tips08:06 - Where will Raul be next weekend?08:29 - Becoming a Summit Champ09:59 - Tips for Fulls10:52 - How to Help an athlete Be More Confident13:31 - Favorite Division to Watch?14:41 - Any Secret to Stunting?16:17 - Our Dance is Struggling, what Do we do??18:13 - Pro Cheer League19:05 - NCA being in Houston21:05 - How to Bring Cheer to a Country where it isn’t.22:20 - Flyer Performance and Confidence24:20 - Switching from Flyer to Base

ACA Nationals wasn’t just about placements — it showed us momentum, execution, and who’s starting to peak. In this episode of Off The Mat, we break down pyramid difficulty, paid bids, standout teams, Golden Girls winning Grand Champion, Renegades’ big weekend and Best Tumbling, and what we’re watching as Houston competes next.

00:00 - Mustang weekend  recap

02:23 - Notable teams:

02:43 - All Star Revolution courage 

05:41 - Rock City Shockwave

08:39 - All Star Revolution Victory 

11:25 - Cheer Athletics Cheetahs

15:16 - Edmond Memorial High School

19:20 - Scoring Discrepancies