Off the Mat

Raul Diaz

A deep dive into the experiences off the mat of cheerleading!

Episodes

  1. How He Became a Director in the Most Competitive Cheer Region

    MAR 25

    How He Became a Director in the Most Competitive Cheer Region

    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 start 07:08 - Full Time Coaching 09:00 - how to grow to be a D1 director 11:07 - Coaching in Australia 15:34 - the return to Dallas and managing a staff 21:53 - Advice for Young Coaches 24:52 - Working at Champion Cheer - Justin 28:36 - what separates good from great athletes? 30:43 - Justin location path to success 34:25 - Impacting Athletes when they Graduate 35:33 - Athletes Switching Gyms 38:26 - what keeps you coaching? 40:01 - Q&A - Flex Division Removal 41:51 - 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 Owner 46:44 - What are you most proud of? 48:05 - what do you want to be remembered for?

    50 min
  2. 4 Hard Truths Every Cheer Parent Should Know

    MAR 14

    4 Hard Truths Every Cheer Parent Should Know

    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 Hear 00:35 - #1: Don’t Ruin the Sport 01:51 - The car ride home 02:47 - #2: Your athlete isn’t being held back, they are are being protected. 04:27 - Proper Athlete Development 05:36 - #3: Body Positions are the MOST Important key to flying on a team 06:40 - #4: Athletes aren’t complete on Skills Alone 09:41 - How to Have a Happy Athlete

    11 min
  3. NCA is Almost Here. Live on Instagram Answering Your Questions!

    FEB 22

    NCA is Almost Here. Live on Instagram Answering Your Questions!

    00:00 - NCA Just Around The Corner 00:58 - Cheersport Recap 01:46 - Coaching More than the Skills 03:34 - Camera Equipment 04:06 - Is Game Day cheer still “Real?” 04:55 - How to Prepare for your FIRST NCA Ever!! 06:27 - Back Handspring Tips 08:06 - Where will Raul be next weekend? 08:29 - Becoming a Summit Champ 09:59 - Tips for Fulls 10:52 - How to Help an athlete Be More Confident 13:31 - Favorite Division to Watch? 14:41 - Any Secret to Stunting? 16:17 - Our Dance is Struggling, what Do we do?? 18:13 - Pro Cheer League 19:05 - NCA being in Houston 21:05 - How to Bring Cheer to a Country where it isn’t. 22:20 - Flyer Performance and Confidence 24:20 - Switching from Flyer to Base

    26 min
  4. ACA Nationals Recap: Who Showed Up, Who’s Peaking, and What Actually Matters

    FEB 4

    ACA Nationals Recap: Who Showed Up, Who’s Peaking, and What Actually Matters

    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

    24 min
  5. Dallas Froze. High School Cheer Didn’t!

    JAN 26

    Dallas Froze. High School Cheer Didn’t!

    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.

    24 min
  6. Winning at the Highest Level Comes at a Price!

    JAN 9

    Winning at the Highest Level Comes at a Price!

    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. Follow Instagram: CoachRaulD33 Snap:RaulD33 TikTok: RaulD33 Subscribe 00:00 - Meet John 3:29 - Athlete to Coach 6:29 - Climbing the Coaching Ladder 7:37 - Coaching Mentorship 16:16 - Becoming the Youngest Director 18:30 - Creating Culture 22:16 - The Pressure of Coaching Panthers 26:45 - WHO Makes Panthers?! 30:39 - Work/Life Balance 32:32 - Leaving Coaching 35:30 - a Gift for Choreography 37:02 - Will He Return? 41:26 - What are you Most Proud of? 43:15 - How do You Want to be Remembered?

    48 min
  7. The Biggest Mistakes Coaches Make on Competition Week

    12/03/2025

    The Biggest Mistakes Coaches Make on Competition Week

    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

    7 min
  8. Mental Blocks Are NOT What You Think. A Deep Dive With the “Tumble Whisperer”!

    11/16/2025

    Mental Blocks Are NOT What You Think. A Deep Dive With the “Tumble Whisperer”!

    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

    1h 4m
  9. What Parents, Coaches, and Athletes Really Need to Hear!

    11/01/2025

    What Parents, Coaches, and Athletes Really Need to Hear!

    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. ⏱️ Timestamps included so you can jump right to your favorite topic! 00:00 - Parent Conferences 4:15 - Making a Career Coaching 6:54 - The Importance of Attendance 8:57 - Coaching Through the Bad Practices 11:43 - Cheer Friends 13:28 - Younger Teams Being Coached Hard 15:36 - Hardest Part of Building Stunt Groups 16:52 - What Determines the Spot You Get 1846 - What’s Your Favorite Part of Coaching 20:19 - Is Judging Fair? 21:23 - Toxic Cheer Gyms 23:47 - Stresses of a Flyer Mom 25:20 - Are Sideline Cheerleaders Real 26:47 - What is a “RAW” Score

    28 min
  10. The Moment He Almost Quit Cheerleading and What Brought Him Back.

    10/25/2025

    The Moment He Almost Quit Cheerleading and What Brought Him Back.

    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. Follow Me 📸 Instagram: @CoachRaulD33 ▶️ YouTube: RaulD33 🎵 TikTok: @RaulD33 00:00 - intro 00:45 - Who is Brandon Outside of Cheer? 1:24 - Life Before Cheerleading 3:11 - How did You Get into Cheerleading? 7:06 - Cheering at California All-Stars 9:26 - What Led You to Coaching? 11:24 - When Coaching became Serious 14:50 - Brandon’s Suppor tSystem 16:21 - Financial Struggles of a Coach 19:21 - The Emotional Toll 21:05 - Was coaching the right choice? 23:05 - What People Don’t Understand about Cheer 25:52 - What are You Most proud of? 27:26 - Separating the Good and Bad Coaches 30:13 - Advice for Your Younger Self 32:07 - What do you Want to be Remembered for?

    33 min
  11. Don't Lose Before You Compete!

    10/19/2025

    Don't Lose Before You Compete!

    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 Subscribe!

    4 min
  • 11 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

A deep dive into the experiences off the mat of cheerleading!

Information

  • Creator
    Raul Diaz
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11

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