INTERVIEWS. COVERAGE.
ANALYSIS.

Dance Team Union has released its updated rules and regulations for the 2026–2027 competition season, and while this is not a complete overhaul, there are several changes that coaches should understand before registering routines, building rosters and planning for Nationals. The updated rules apply to school-age programs, including Varsity, Junior Varsity, Middle School and Elementary teams - as well as All-Star and Studio programs. DTU has also made it easy to identify the u

Two powerhouse cheer and dance companies. One word at the center of the fight: “Worlds.” In this episode of No Counts Given, we break down the legal battle between USASF and Open Championship Series over branding, ownership, legacy, and control in the All Star cheer and dance industry. USASF says it is protecting the prestige and consumer recognition of The Cheerleading Worlds and The Dance Worlds. Open says USASF is trying to claim a word that has been used across the compet

UDA has released its updated School Dance divisions and rules for the 2026–2027 season and there is a lot to unpack. The changes that will have the greatest impact involve new Varsity division sizes, Game Day rosters, enrollment verification, athlete trade-outs, Intermediate restrictions, and Nationals eligibility. Here is the simplified version of what every school dance coach needs to know before building rosters and registering for competition. Photo Source: "Results: UDA

In this full interview, Lindsey Goldaper, head coach of the University of Tampa dance team, joins No Counts Given to talk about building a standout collegiate dance program from the inside out. Lindsey shares how Tampa continues to grow its presence in the college dance space, the challenges of developing strong team culture, and what it takes to push creative boundaries at Nationals. From leadership development and choreography strategy to community engagement and future goa

Kyle Rush is back with a full breakdown of IDL Sydney, diving into the scores, judging trends, team strategies, and standout performances shaping the season so far. From GRV and Royal Family to Jam Republic and Brotherhood, this episode takes a closer look at how teams are building their competitive identities, where the scoring is getting tighter, and why judges may be raising the standard as the season progresses. Kyle also looks ahead to the next stops on the IDL circuit,

Emma Cox, the leader of one of Texas’ most competitive college dance teams, joins No Counts Given to break down what it really takes to build a high-standard, high-performing program with discipline, unity, and legacy at the center. In this interview, Emma shares how her team approaches choreography, music selection, routine structure, competition preparation, recruitment, and team culture while preparing for nationals and maintaining excellence year after year.

In this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle Rush sits down with Travis Lake, a trailblazing choreographer known for his work with programs like BYU, University of Minnesota, and Dance Mania All Stars, for an honest conversation about creativity, competition, and challenging the rules of the dance team industry. We couldn't do this without our sponsors, thank you! Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com The College Classic | www.thecollegeclassic.com Travis opens up about the r

Thank you for supporting No Counts Given this past year. I appreciate every single one of you that tune in weekly. I hope you enjoy this 2 hour ONE YEAR B-DAY episode. We couldn’t do this without our sponsors, thank you. Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com Rebel Athletic | www.rebelathleticdance.com Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com Dance Team Supply | www.danceteamsupply.com Today on the show, I’m breaking down IDL Sydney and sharing my overall pre

SFA Dance Team secures the Runner-Up spot in Division I Pom at the 2026 NDA National Championships For most college dance teams, the road to nationals has one destination. One peak. One championship weekend circled on the calendar. But for Stephen F. Austin State University Dance Team, the 2026-2027 season is shaping up differently. Head Coach T.J. Maple has shared with No Counts Given that SFA is transitioning from the usual college dance team standard of competing at one na

Learn how to analyze college dance competitions through performance quality, scoring trends, choreography, technique and standout routines from NAIA, junior college and Division III programs. Grand Valley State University competing at The College Classic College dance is not just about who hits the hardest trick, who has the biggest team, or who brings the loudest music cut. At its best, college dance is a full competitive product. It is performance, athleticism, musicality,

Trinity Valley Community College has built a reputation for showing up when the pressure is high, the room is loud, and the expectations are even louder. In this short interview, head coach Emma Cox gives us a closer look at the strategy, preparation, and coaching mindset behind one of the most respected programs in the competitive dance team space. That is where Trinity Valley’s coaching strategy becomes clear. Great routines are not just made by choosing the biggest skills

The College Classic 2026, it's a wrap! Here are some of my final thoughts... See you next year! We couldn’t do this without our sponsors, thank you. Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com Rebel Athletic | www.rebelathleticdance.com Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com Dance Team Supply | www.danceteamsupply.com Follow No Counts Given on all social media platforms @nocountsgiven and follow our host, Kyle Rush, on all platforms @itskylerush

The Pom division just got flipped upside down. In this episode of No Counts Given, we break down the Top Pom teams competing at The College Classic based on actual data, historical results, and what the scoresheet really rewards. From returning champion Ohio University to rising threats like Central Michigan, Oregon, and Baylor, we’re diving into what each team did in 2025, where they hit, where they missed, and what they need to fix if they want to win this season. Dance Tea

Rochester isn’t just winning titles… They're building a legacy. In this episode, we sit down with Coach Lisa Niskar to unpack the evolution of one of the most dominant programs in the game. From a COVID-era rebuild to becoming a national powerhouse, this conversation dives into the culture, discipline, and intentionality that fuel Rochester’s success. We talk about injuries, pressure, leadership, and what it really takes to be an elite athlete. Plus, a candid look at coaching

Rebel vs. Varsity and the Industry Power Plays No One Can Ignore. In this episode, we break down the growing tension between Varsity and Rebel, the business moves shaping today’s cheerleading and dance landscape, and the bigger conversations the industry keeps dancing around. From event access and branding power to the real purpose of novice, intermediate, and advanced divisions, this is an honest look at how competition structure, company politics, and outdated systems can i

Four DTU Nationals coaches pull back the curtain on what really goes down behind the scenes at one of the biggest events in the dance team world. From emotional highs and crushing lows to tough conversations about scoring transparency, judging consistency, and division structure, this roundtable gets real about the competition experience. The coaches break down everything from registration chaos and venue logistics to the pressure teams face on and off the floor, while also t

On this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle Rush breaks down several conversations currently circulating across the dance team industry. We examine the 75/25 Day 1 vs Day 2 scoring split, the expanding OneBeat and Varsity partnership, and UDA’s proposal to restructure the Open division at College Nationals. We also look at the DTU Hip Hop scoring conversation that emerged after Nationals and what it reveals about judging panels, score consistency, and how placements shift betwee

The Battle at DTU Nationals is on full display. In this episode of No Counts Given, we’re putting some of the weekend’s top routines head-to-head and letting you decide who takes the win. No score breakdowns. No judging analysis. Just the routines. Kyle Rush showcases the standout performances from this division and turns it into a challenge for the audience: Who actually won The Battle? Watch the routines, compare the performances, and lock in your prediction before the resu

In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the Jazz and Lyrical divisions at Dance Team Union Nationals - the scores, the strategy, and the stories behind the performances. From technical precision and extension control in jazz to emotional execution and musical nuance in lyrical, we’re unpacking what separated the champions from the finalists. We’re talking composition, transitions, difficulty choices, caption strengths, and where certain routines either soared… or left points

Kyle Rush breaks down the 2026 Dance Team Union Nationals Hip Hop and Spirit Showdown divisions with zero fluff and full receipts. From score sheet strategy to the teams that actually understood musicality, spacing, and texture... this is the real conversation behind the numbers. 🔥 MAJOR THANK YOU to our sponsors! Show some love to Dance Team Union & Sharpen Up Dance Team Training and let them know No Counts Given sent you! No Counts Given is excited to partner with Rebel At