006 - JJ Jones

On this episode of More Than Counts, I’m joined by JJ—coach, choreographer, and someone who truly understands what it takes to build routines that hit.We get into his journey through cheer, from stepping into the California scene to finding his voice in coaching and choreography. But more than that, this conversation really dives into what sits underneath great routines—team culture, intention, and strategy.We talk about what actually makes choreography work (and what doesn’t), how to approach routine changes without losing your structure, and why musicality and pacing can completely change how a routine is received.We also get into the differences between high school and all-star routines, and the non-negotiables JJ brings into every team he works with.If you’ve ever watched a routine and thought “why did that score the way it did?”—this episode is for you.TakeawaysTeam culture is the foundation for successChoreography process involves blocking out the routine before adding choreography Routine ChangesChoreography StrategyChapters00:00 The Foundation of Team Culture14:42 Coaching Strategy and Non-Negotiables23:15 Routine Changes and Overhaul35:35 High School vs. All-Star Routines