Cheer Dads Unfiltered

What does tumbling progress actually look like when your athlete is stuck on a back walkover, battling a mental block or grinding through private lessons with no obvious progress?For Episode 40, Tom, Geoff and David sit down with Coach Bryce Kirkley, better known as the Tumble Whisper, to help cheer parents understand what we are actually watching from the other side of the gym.Bryce is a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran with more than two decades of gymnastics and coaching experience. His core message throughout this conversation is simple:Progression over perfectionWe get into why some athletes struggle with back walkovers, when another tumbling path may make more sense, the difference between having a skill and being ready to use it safely, mental blocks, private lessons, how to know when a coach is not helping your athlete progress, going outside your home gym for additional coaching, video feedback, parent boundaries and what it looks like to help athletes fail forward instead of carrying our frustration for them.This is not a technical coaching clinicIt is a parent-first conversation about understanding the tumbling journey, asking better questions and helping athletes keep progressing without turning every skill into a finish line.Huge thank you to Bryce for being willing to challenge the way three cheer dads think about tumbling and athlete development.CONNECT WITH COACH BRYCE/TUMBLE WHISPERWebsite:https://www.tumble-whisper.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tumble.whisper/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@thetumblewhisperSubscribe and follow Cheer Dads Unfiltered for new episodes every ThursdayReal dads. Real cheer conversationsHere for the parentsHere for the athletesHere for every count

What makes a cheer competition memorable after the two-and-a-half minutes on the mat are over?In Episode 39 of Cheer Dads Unfiltered, Tom, Geoff and David sit down with Kevin Jones of Redline Championships for a candid look at how All Star cheer has evolved and where the competition experience could go next.Kevin brings 45 years of experience in cheer, event production, apparel and brand building. Together, we talk about what families never see behind a competition: venue planning, production, judging, scheduling, customer experience and the responsibility event producers carry for athletes, coaches, gym owners and parents.We also get into why choice between event producers matters, whether narrow divisions have weakened real competition, how an obsession with bids and Worlds can distract from an athlete’s daily experience, and when the rising cost of cheer crosses the line into excess.Kevin also shares what Redline is building next:• The new Junior Select and Senior Select Performance Divisions, designed to reward execution, creativity, choreography and overall performance without traditional level restrictions• The International Tournament Of Champions in Dublin, an invitation-only event coming to RDS Simmonscourt on May 29, 2027• Parent-focused event experiences and the idea that the memory should be bigger than the scoreThis is not only a conversation about Redline. It is a bigger conversation about creativity, meaningful competition, athlete-first leadership and building cheer experiences families actually remember.LEARN MORE:Redline Championships:https://redlinechampionships.com/Junior Select and Senior Select Performance Divisions:https://redlinechampionships.com/news/junior-select-and-senior-select-performance-divisionsInternational Tournament Of Champions — Dublin:https://redlinechampionships.com/news/international-tournament-of-champions-dublinSubscribe and follow Cheer Dads Unfiltered for new episodes every Thursday.Real dads. Real cheer conversations.Here for the parents. Here for the athletes. Here for Every Count

What actually comes after All-Star Cheer?For a lot of cheer families, the college landscape can feel confusing. Recruiting, scholarships, combines, STUNT, traditional college cheer, National Team opportunities — there are more paths than many parents realize.So for Episode 38, we went straight to the source.Tom, Geoff, and David sit down with Lauri Harris, Executive Director of USA Cheer, and Amy Haney, Director of College & High School STUNT, to help cheer parents and athletes understand what the next level actually looks like.This week we get into:• USA Cheer's role in the sport• The different paths available after All-Star Cheer• When athletes should begin thinking about college recruiting• What college coaches really look for in athletes• Why talent alone doesn't guarantee the right college opportunity• Social media and its role in recruiting• The truth about college cheer scholarships• What happens at a USA Cheer College Combine• What parents should — and shouldn't — do during recruiting• STUNT explained for parents who still don't quite get it 😂• How STUNT is expanding opportunities for collegiate athletes• The international growth and future of cheerOne of our biggest takeaways from this conversation: there may be a college for everyone but not every college is for everyoneFinding the right opportunity is about more than skills. It's about academics, fit, character, coachability, preparation, and finding a program where an athlete can thrive.Huge thank you to Lauri and Amy for spending time with three curious cheer dads and giving our community an incredible look behind the curtain.And yes... Tom finally understands STUNT 😂Subscribe and follow Cheer Dads Unfiltered for new episodes every ThursdayHere for the parents. Here for the athletes

Britney Gilman, owner and head coach of Supreme Cheer & Tumble in Mesa, Arizona, joins Cheer Dads Unfiltered for Season 2 Episode 4 and this one takes us inside the gym.Recorded in person at Supreme Cheer & Tumble, Britney shares how she found cheer, started coaching at a young age, built Supreme from 21 athletes into a growing program, and what it really takes to create a gym culture where athletes and families feel like they belong.Tom, Geoff and David dig into the owner and coaching side of cheer — choosing the right gym, athlete development, rushing skills, mental blocks, privates, parent involvement, communication, trust, and the balance between being competitive and protecting the athlete experience.It is a fun, honest conversation about building a program, developing athletes, supporting families, and what cheer parents often do not get to see behind the gym doors.Learn more about Supreme Cheer & Tumble and follow their journey on social.🎙️ New episodes every Thursday.Here for the parents. Here for the athletes. Here for every count

Hailey D'Lynn Smith joins Cheer Dads Unfiltered for Season 2 Episode 3 and this one covers a lot of ground.Hailey shares her journey through cheer, what the sport has taught her, how confidence is built over time, and what athletes really experience when expectations, pressure and personal growth all collide.Tom, Geoff and David dig into the athlete and coaching side of the sport, the lessons that carry far beyond the mat, and the role parents can play in supporting athletes without taking over the journey.It is a fun, honest conversation about cheer, growth, identity, confidence, coaching and the people who shape athletes along the way.🎙️ New episodes every ThursdayHere for the parentsHere for the athletesHere for every count