Does smiling really matter?

[gimchick]

My dd coach will make them do one routine with no expression strictly concentrating on skills and dance, then the second routine she asks them in this order with their lips say ooooh, ahhhhh, and smile, smile, smile, then relax face tumble, then finish tumbling with a smile and ALL OVER AGAIN .....
1. ooooh
2. ahhhhh
3. smile
4. smile
5. smile

This has helped our girls tremendosly in the personality department. Most of our music is so bland that any SMILING AND PERSONALITY helps. Sometimes personality can help HIDE mistakes and blunders, YES, SMILE!!!!!

[kristilyn73]

Smiling does matter! Without a doubt!

My DD's coach, does games where he has the girls make eye contact and smile during their routines. The one who does the most smiles or eye contact gets a piece of candy!

[lannamavity]

Smiling is great, but simply cracking one strategically placed smile in a routine can make the rest of the routine look even worse. It's more about being expressive and playing to the music.

There is also some music where smiling is completely inappropriate. There are many ways to be expressive without smiling.

Examples:

Nastia Liukin does not smile during her floor routine...and she is expressive.

So it's not as simple as smiling or not smiling when it comes to Artistry. The worst is when a bouncy, happy piece of music is playing, and the gymnast looks miserable.

[flippymonkeysmom]

Unfortunately the usag compulsory music is hard to smile too - I think even the girls are sick of hearing it, lol. I think as long as they 'perform' the routine with expression they are ok. A lot of girls go through the motions, but the routines feel flat because there is no emotion whatsoever. We have some really high scoring girls at our gym who don't necessarily smile, but sure do know how to perform.

[Kayleigh]

I can tell you that every time I smile, or perform and look like I'm having fun, the score goes up. Plus, it makes me feel more relaxed. If you go out there and just have fun with it, you're less likely to mess up!

So I think that smiling definately makes a difference. Even if not to the judges, then to you.

[KBT]

I judge high school gymnastics, and there is a composition category worth 0.8. If a kid is out there presenting the routine and doing great choreography, I'll often give 0.1 higher for outstanding artistry than I typically would based on the level of difficulty and skill selection. The presentation has to match the music - a smile is appropriate for peppy, upbeat music, but wouldn't fit as well for more classical music. The biggest thing is to show the judge you care about your routine and are giving it 100%.

[I-Heart-Beam]

Yeah, I've always noticed that!!

It's not always smiling though, it's performing, like actually dancing instead of waving your arms around with a face that'd turn milk on you.

[Masters_Gymnast93]

The judges can't deduct for not smiling, but there is 6 tenths for presentation.
you can get them, kinda like bonus, and it's pretty much for extension throughout the finger tips and toes, and SMILES! so while ou can't get anything taken off, you can get the bonus.
=D