Off the Mat with RaulD33

In this episode of Off the Mat, Adrianna and I talk about how the Dallas winter freeze impacted High School Nationals. We also get into the bigger conversations happening in cheer right now, including the Pro Tour League, MAJORS, and the difference between a good attitude and a bad as an athlete. 

00:00 - High School Nationals in a Snow Storm??

3:41 - Prestonwood’s BIG WIN

6:38 - the majors recap

10:21 - pro cheer league debut

15:35 - ACA and NO practice?!?

17:11 - just because you don’t have a bad attitude, doesn’t mean you have a good attitude. 

In this episode, John Davenport opens up about what it really takes to win at the highest level. We talk about success, expectations, pressure, and why stepping away can sometimes be the hardest decision a coach makes.FollowInstagram: CoachRaulD33Snap:RaulD33TikTok: RaulD33Subscribe00:00 - Meet John3:29 - Athlete to Coach 6:29 - Climbing the Coaching Ladder7:37 - Coaching Mentorship16:16 - Becoming the Youngest Director18:30 - Creating Culture22:16 - The Pressure of Coaching Panthers26:45 - WHO Makes Panthers?!30:39 - Work/Life Balance32:32 - Leaving Coaching35:30 - a Gift for Choreography37:02 - Will He Return?41:26 - What are you Most Proud of?43:15 - How do You Want to be Remembered?

The break brings quiet gyms, heavy questions, and honest conversations. Adrianna and I sit down for a coach-to-coach Q&A on burnout, gym culture, and why some coaches choose to leave and what keeps others locked in for the long run

Instagram: @CoachRaulD33YouTube /

TikTok: @RaulD33

00:00 - Intro and Being on the Break

03:01 - What Can Athletes Work on Over the Break?

04:23 - Most Impressive Teams this Season

07:00 - Mac’s Scoring 100

10:20 - TGLC’s Avengers Theme

12:47 - Most Common Skill People Struggle With

14:17 - Are Non-Tumblers Less Useful

15:23 - Should Flyers Tumble?

17:13 - Going from Flyer to Base

18:28 - Prioritizing In-Program Athletes

20:17 - Is it Easier to Get a Bid?

23:02 - Why do Coaches Leave?

28:18 - Mustang Houston

30:02 - Coach Training at Mustang Cheer

33:31 - Advice for Switching Gyms

34:52 - Struggling with a Mental Block

36:41 - Putting Athletes Back in After Injury

38:22 - Outro

In this episode of Off The Mat, we sit down with the owners of Champion Cheer to talk about building a program that lasts—culture, leadership, and what success really looks like beyond the trophies.

The week of competition doesn’t build your team, it reveals it. In this solo episode of Off The Mat, we dive into the pressure, discipline, and mindset required during the most intense week of the season. From mental preparation and cutting last-minute panic, to the non-negotiable standard of commitment and showing up when it’s hard,  this is the truth about competition week that every coach, athlete, and parent needs to hear. When the routines are locked and the hours are limited, leadership matters more than ever.

00:00 - Intro 

00:30 - Mental preparation 

01:45 - NO Missing Practice 

03:13 - End On a High Note

04:12 - Setting the Expectations 

In this episode, Levi and I break down mental blocks, where they come from, why athletes shut down, and what coaches and parents can actually do to help. We talk fear, overspotting, motivation vs pressure, what to say at home, how long breakthroughs really take, and the steps that keep athletes unblocked for good.If you coach, parent, or care about an athlete, this conversation will change how you see mental blocks forever.

Follow me:📸 Instagram: @CoachRaulD33🎥 TikTok: @RaulD33▶️ YouTube: RaulD33

In this Q&A,  we’re answering real questions from parents, athletes, and coaches, everything from parent conferences and attendance to coaching tough teams, building stunt groups, and what really determines your spot on a team.

We also dive into the truth about judging, the reality of toxic gyms, and whether sideline cheerleaders are “real.” It’s an honest look at the highs, lows, and lessons that come with being in the world of cheer.

In this episode of Off The Mat, Brandon Smith opens up about the moment he almost walked away from cheerleading — and what truly separates being a mean coach from being a strict coach.He shares his journey from not growing up in sports, to becoming the coach he needed as a kid, to learning how leadership, empathy, and accountability can coexist in the same gym.This one’s about growth, purpose, and the power of self-awareness — for any coach, athlete, or person trying to find balance between toughness and compassion.📸 Instagram: @CoachRaulD33▶️ YouTube: @RaulD33🎵 TikTok: @RaulD3300:00 - Intro00:45 - Who is Brandon Outside of Cheer?1:24 - Life Before Cheerleading3:11 - How did You Get into Cheerleading?7:06 - Cheering at California All-Stars9:26 - What Led You to Coaching?11:24 - When Coaching became Serious14:50 - Brandon’s Support System16:21 - Financial Struggles of a Coach19:21 - The Emotional Toll21:05 - Was Coaching the Right Choice?23:05 - What People Don’t Understand about Cheer25:52 - What are You Most proud of?27:26 - Separating the Good and Bad Coaches30:13 - Advice for Your Younger Self32:07 - What do you Want to be Remembered for?Subscribe

The things you need to know to win before you hit the mat!

00:00 - Intro

00:27 - The Cost of Winning

1:02 - Win Before You Hit the Floor

1:45 - Give Yourself Grace

3:02 - Good Coaching

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