Time-Saving Resources for Dance Coaches: Stay Organized, Inspired, and Supported

Coaching a dance team is one of the most rewarding jobs out there, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Between practices, performances, recruitment, and administrative tasks, it’s easy to feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. If you’re looking for ways to save time, stay organized, and keep yourself motivated throughout the season, here are a few resources that can help! 

(None of these are sponsored or endorsed, they come from my personal experience!)

Stay Organized with the Band App

Communication is key when managing a college dance team, and the Band App is a game-changer for keeping everyone on the same page. With features like group messaging, calendar scheduling, file sharing, and polls, it eliminates the need for multiple apps and endless email chains. You can use it to:

✅ Share practice videos and feedback
✅ Post announcements and reminders
✅ Keep track of important deadlines
✅ Organize travel details and itineraries

Many teams, from high school to collegiate levels, have started using Band to streamline their communication, giving coaches one less thing to stress about.

Get Inspired with the Passion for Dance Podcast

If you’re feeling burnt out or need fresh ideas for coaching, the Passion for Dance Podcast is a great resource. Hosted by Dr. Chelsea Pierotti, this podcast focuses on mindset, motivation, and coaching strategies specifically for dance educators. Some of her episodes cover topics like:

🎯 Preventing dancer burnout
🎯 Building confidence in your team
🎯 How to coach with a growth mindset

It’s an easy way to get some professional development in while you’re commuting, doing admin work, or just taking a break.

Connect with Other Coaches through the National Dance Coaches Association

Being a college dance coach can sometimes feel isolating, but organizations like the National Dance Coaches Association (NDCA) provide a strong network of support. The NDCA offers:

📌 Coaching education and certification programs
📌 Conferences and networking opportunities
📌 Access to valuable resources and mentorship

If you’re looking to grow as a coach, connect with peers, and stay up-to-date on industry trends, joining a professional organization like NDCA is well worth it.

Strengthen Your Team’s Mindset with Above the Line

If you're looking for a great leadership and team culture book, Above the Line by Urban Meyer is a must-read. It introduces the 10-80-10 Principle, which categorizes team members into:

🔝 Top 10% – Leaders and high performers who set the standard.
😐 Middle 80% – The majority, who have potential but may need guidance.
🔻 Bottom 10% – Those who resist the culture and create negativity.

With my previous team, I led a 10-80-10 reflection exercise, where I asked each dancer:
📌 Where do you think you land in the 10-80-10 breakdown?
📌 Who on the team do you believe exemplifies the Top 10%?
📌 What can we do as a team to bring more of the 80% into the Top 10%?

This exercise sparked great conversations about accountability, leadership, and the small daily choices that separate good from great. If you want to shift your team culture and challenge your athletes to raise their standards, this book (and this exercise) is a great place to start!

Save Money with Coaching Discounts

Coaching can come with perks—did you know that some brands offer discounts for dance coaches? If you need new gear for practices or competitions, here are a few places to check out:

Lululemon – Coaches can apply for the Sweat Collective program to get discounts on athletic wear.

Nike – The Nike Trainer Network provides discounts for fitness professionals, including dance coaches.

Athleta Fit Pro Discount -Fitness pros receive a 30% discount to keep them outfitted for everything they love to do. Just bring your ID and certification to your local store and apply in store

It’s always worth asking brands if they have a coach discount—you might be surprised at how much you can save!

Find New Music with My Spotify Technique Playlist

If you’re in a rut with your music selections for across-the-floor drills, turns, or conditioning, check out my Spotify Technique Playlist. It’s full of different genres, speeds, and high energy music to keep practices engaging and help dancers stay motivated.

Join Facebook Groups for Coaching Support & Networking

There are several Facebook groups where coaches can ask questions, share resources, and support each other. Some great ones include:

Dance Team Coaches – A community for high school and college dance coaches to discuss strategy and team management.

Dance Coaches and Teachers Unite - Provides a space to connect with others in the dance community, help members share ideas and motivate each other and discuss dance related topics.
College Dance Team Coaches Network – Specifically for college dance coaches looking to connect, share best practices, and discuss recruitment.
NDCA Private Group – If you're a member of the National Dance Coaches Association, their private Facebook group is a great place to ask questions and network.

Create Custom Formations with Choreographic

Choreographic is a free digital formation and staging tool designed to help coaches and choreographers map out routines with ease. Instead of sketching formations on paper, you can:

🎭 Design formations digitally and adjust transitions smoothly
📱 Share formations with your team in real-time for better communication
🎥 Use animation features to preview choreography before stepping into the studio

This is a great way to save time, improve clarity, and make adjustments efficiently when setting formations for routines!

Utilize Studio 2 Stadium – A Free Resource for Coaches

Coaching a college dance team comes with a long list of responsibilities—recruitment, planning, communication, and staying on top of industry trends. That’s where Studio 2 Stadium comes in!

Studio 2 Stadium is a free resource designed to support college coaches by:

📝 Streamlining recruitment – Easily discover and connect with dancers who are actively looking for collegiate programs.
📆 Keeping you organized – Our platform consolidates key dates, events, and deadlines in one place.
📣 Providing exposure – Promote your program and attract more potential recruits by highlighting what makes your team unique.

We know that every college dance team operates differently, and recruitment processes aren’t always straightforward. Studio 2 Stadium helps eliminate confusion, making it easier for both coaches and dancers to find the right fit. If you’re a college coach looking for ways to simplify your workload and connect with the next generation of dancers, sign up today and start utilizing our free resource!