More Than Counts

More Than Counts is a podcast about what really goes into cheerleading routines... beyond the eight counts! Hosted by cheer Judge Mimi, this show brings choreographers, coaches, athletes, and industry leaders together to break down choreography, creativity, and the stories behind the routines you see on the mat. Each episode explores what makes routines special, what actually hits the scoresheet, and what cheerleading teaches us about teamwork, leadership, and life. This podcast is for cheerleading coaches, choreographers, parents, and athletes who want to see routines differently, appreciate the process behind them, and better understand why cheerleading is truly More Than Counts .

More Than Counts is a education podcast hosted by Judge Mimi, with 29 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Judge Mimi hosts More Than Counts, a education show with 29 episodes published.

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  Episode #29

  029 Alex Gaggioli - Cheer Theory: Making Cheer Easier to Follow

  Sep 6, 202651 min

  What does it take to make cheerleading easier to follow, understand and love as a fan? In Episode 029, I sit down with Alex, the creator of Cheer Theory, to talk about his journey from competitive athlete to building one of the most trusted media platforms in cheerleading. Alex takes us behind the scenes of covering Worlds, tracking scores and results in real time, and turning a very complicated sport into information fans can actually understand. We also discuss how cheerleading is represented outside our industry, why full routines still matter, and what it will take to move the sport forward without constantly trying to prove that it belongs. Then, we revisit two routines that bookend Alex’s journey as an athlete: the 2011 Lady Bullets routine that made him fall in love with cheerleading and his final performance with Cali Coed. We finish by reviewing Kingston Elite Cheerleading Diamond and sharing ways their Level 1 routine could create even more visual impact. This episode is about nostalgia, data, fandom and the work happening behind the scenes to help more people experience cheerleading as the sport we know it to be. Takeaways Cheer Theory's evolution from a basic website to a comprehensive platform for cheerleading data and information The impact of technology on the accessibility and coverage of cheerleading competitions Media portrayal impacts public perception Evolution of cheerleading routines and scoring systems Nostalgia for past routines and trends Chapters 00:00 The Journey into Cheerleading 01:20 Evolution of Cheer Theory 02:47 Full-Time Commitment to Cheer Theory 03:11 The Impact of Technology on Cheerleading 07:06 Coverage of Cheerleading Competitions 26:08 Operational Excellence in Cheerleading Competitions 27:10 Media Portrayal and Public Perception 28:23 Evolution of Cheerleading Routines and Scoring Systems 33:30 Nostalgia for Past Routines and Trends

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  More Than Counts

  028 Maria the Cheer Doctor - Can Judges Tell If Your Team Strength Trains?

  Aug 30, 202645 min

  When a stunt feels shaky, a jump lacks height, or execution begins to fade, coaches often respond with more repetitions. But what if the real problem isn’t cleaning… it’s strength? In this episode, Mimi sits down with physical therapist and former Ohio State cheerleader Maria Wisman, better known as The Cheer Doctor, to explore how strength training directly affects what we see on the competition floor. They discuss why every cheerleader (including flyers!) belongs in the weight room, how coaches can make strength training manageable within an already busy practice schedule, and why simply lifting your flyer at practice doesn’t count as a strength program. Mimi and Maria also revisit Maria’s own Ohio State routine and review a listener-submitted routine to break down how strength, power, and physical preparation show up through jumps, stunts, motions, landings, and execution under fatigue. Because sometimes, your athletes don’t need more reps. They need more strength. Takeaways Strength training can simplify the approach to cheerleading and improve athletic performance. Starting strength training at a young age can be beneficial for athletes in developing physical qualities necessary for success. Structured strength training is essential for efficiency and injury prevention. Balancing rest, recovery, and training is crucial for long-term success in cheerleading. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Strength Training Takeaway 00:53 The Journey to Cheerleading 02:54 The Birth of The Cheer Doctor 04:25 Misconceptions About Cheerleading 05:59 Physical Needs of Cheer Athletes 06:41 Strength Training for Cheerleaders 08:09 Access to Resources for Cheer Teams 09:28 The Impact of Strength Training on Performance 10:53 Starting Strength Training at a Young Age 12:03 Myth of Bulking Up from Strength Training 13:30 Overcoming Intimidation in the Weight Room 16:00 Basic Strength Training Tips 17:26 The Importance of Rotation in Training 19:09 Watching the UCA Nationals Routine 23:27 Strength Training vs. Repetition 24:32 Structured Strength Training 25:22 Sports-Specific Training Misconceptions 26:22 Differentiated Training for Bases and Flyers 27:16 Team Training and Vibe 30:33 Basics of Strength Training 32:14 Importance of Rest and Recovery 33:23 Injury Prevention and Recovery 40:06 Jumps and Power 43:32 Strength Training Considerations 45:04 Overlooked Muscle Groups 45:41 Key Exercise and Conditioning Drill

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  Episode #27

  027 Brandon Mackey - How to Build a Routine That Works on Any Score Sheet

  Aug 24, 202636 min

  Can one routine succeed on two different score sheets? In this episode, international choreographer Brandon Mackey joins Judge Mimi to talk about building routines around the world and adapting choreography for different athletes, cultures and scoring systems. Brandon shares his journey from Newfoundland to winning Worlds and becoming a full-time choreographer. Together, he and Mimi break down routines from Australia and Canada, explore the differences between comparative and rubric-based scoring, and discuss how teams can strategically adjust a routine when competing in both Canada and the United States... without rebuilding everything from scratch. They also talk about creating fast-paced routines without sacrificing execution, using the entire floor, building choreography around a team’s natural strengths and developing the trust between coaches and choreographers that allows the best ideas to come to life. Plus, Mimi reviews Ocala Athletics Code Red and Brandon shares his advice for anyone hoping to follow in his footsteps: defeat your own impossible and find the style that is uniquely yours. Takeaways Competitiveness drives success Transitioning between locations presents challenges Routine composition and creativity are key to success Reverse engineering choreography Strategic adjustments for different competition score systems Chapters 00:00 Journey into Cheerleading 01:59 Transitioning to Ontario 03:39 Coaching and Choreography 05:19 Global Nature of Work 09:58 Routine Composition and Creativity 19:04 Creating Visionary Choreography 22:14 Navigating Competition Score Systems 26:59 Nurturing Relationships and Philosophy 31:40 Strategic Routine Adjustments 36:58 Defeating the Impossible 38:14 Looking Ahead to the Season

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  Episode #26

  026 Becky Acra - Raise The Athlete, Not The Pressure

  Aug 17, 202640 min

  Raise the Athlete, Not the Pressure How do we raise athletes who can handle pressure, disappointment and big expectations... without making their results feel like everything? This week, I sit down with Coach Becky, author of Raise the Athlete, Not the Pressure , to talk about the role coaches and parents play in shaping an athlete’s experience in sport. Becky has experienced cheerleading from almost every angle: athlete, coach, gym owner, program director and cheer mom. We talk about the pressure we sometimes create without realizing it, why the car ride home matters, how coaches and parents can better work together, and what athletes actually need from us when things don’t go according to plan. We also look at a season where Becky’s team was predicted to win at Summit, only to have a rough 10 seconds that ended their run. It opens up a bigger conversation about social media, expectations, athletic identity and remembering that one performance does not define an athlete... or their season. And, of course, we watch some cheerleading together and review a listener-submitted routine. Link to Becky's book: https://link.amazon/B0iz5aplY Takeaways: Recognizing pressure in athletes Creating better coach-parent relationships Navigating the car ride home Helping athletes handle failure and disappointment Separating athletic identity from results Building confidence from real evidence, not social media expectations Chapters 00:00 The Journey to Cheerleading 01:05 From Cheerleader to Coach 02:22 The Gym Owner and Competitive Cheerleading 03:43 The Impact of COVID and Moving Forward 05:30 Coaching Daughters and Parental Influence 08:54 The Inspiration Behind the Book 13:55 Supporting Parents and Athletes 19:18 Bridging the Gap Between Parents and Coaches 21:55 Effective Communication Between Parents and Coaches 32:33 The Impact of Social Media on Athletes 34:19 The Unpredictability of Sports Competitions 36:36 Enjoying the Journey in Cheerleading

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  Episode #25

  025 David Sims - Inside Travel Cheer & Dance + YCADA

  Aug 9, 202641 min

  What if there were more than one pathway to competitive cheerleading? David Sims joins More Than Counts to take us inside YCADA and the evolution of Travel Cheer & Dance, an alternative competitive pathway built for programs that don’t necessarily fit into the traditional All Star model. We talk about where youth and recreation cheer fits into the history of our sport, why Travel Cheer was created, and what makes its approach different. Then, of course, we get into scoring. David breaks down a system where difficulty isn’t capped, every skill has value, execution comes with real risk, and coaches have more freedom to build a strategy around the athletes they actually have. We also review a listener-submitted routine from Carlton All Stars and talk choreography, floor use, creativity, movement, and why full-team tumbling might deserve a comeback. Because sometimes growing the sport isn’t about getting everyone onto the same path—it’s about creating more paths for people to stay in it. Chapters 00:00 The Evolution of Cheerleading 02:59 Youth and Recreation Cheerleading 23:55 Precision-like Scoring in Cheerleading 25:47 Strategic Decision-Making in Cheerleading 28:19 Barriers to Entry in Cheerleading 29:14 Competitive Pathways in Cheerleading 30:02 Scoring Systems and Comparative Aspects 39:23 Routine Review and Feedback 42:25 The Essence of Cheerleading

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