From the Coaching Floor

Tips, Strategy &
Championship Thinking

Real talk from 20+ years on the competition floor. Coaching insights, program-building strategy, and everything in between.

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Featured Post · Choreography

How to Build a Routine That Actually Wins — Not Just Looks Good

Coach Jason Tiede ✦ April 2025 ✦ 8 min read
Most coaches design routines that look impressive in the gym. The best coaches design routines that score on the sheet. There's a big difference — and it comes down to understanding exactly what judges are rewarding at each level.
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Program Building
March 20256 min

How to Grow Your Cheer Program Without Hiring a Full-Time Director

You don't need a $60K salary to get elite-level program strategy. Here's how smaller gyms are competing with the big dogs — and winning.
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Coaching Tips
February 20255 min

5 Things Judges Notice in the First 30 Seconds of Your Routine

The first half-minute sets the tone for every score on that sheet. Are you starting with your strongest foot forward — or wasting your best moments?
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Athlete Development
January 20257 min

Building a Team Culture That Actually Performs Under Pressure

Championships aren't won on skill alone. The teams that peak at the right moment share something most coaches overlook — and it starts in practice, not at competition.
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Competition
December 20244 min

The Pre-Competition Checklist Every Coach Needs (But Most Don't Have)

20+ years of competition days taught me one thing: chaos at a meet is almost always preventable. Here's the system I use with every program I work with.
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Choreography
November 20245 min

How to Choose Music That Actually Scores — Not Just Sounds Cool

Music selection is one of the most underrated decisions in building a competition routine. The wrong song can tank your execution score before the first skill.
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Program Building
October 20246 min

Athlete Retention: What Actually Keeps Kids Coming Back Season After Season

Growing from 30 athletes to 180 didn't happen by accident. The biggest driver wasn't skill — it was how athletes felt walking into the gym every day.
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