Help With Smiles!

[Taylercheer]

Smiles of all things! I coach a tiny level 1 team and their routine is amazing! But I can't seem to get them to smile! I've tried the whole "go home and do you routine in the mirror and look and make cheer faces" but it is not seeming to work! 4, 5, and 6 year olds should be able to smile and look like they are having fun but my girls faces are so serious and concentrated! I need tips to get them to smile and "sell" their routine.

 

[5-6-7-8]

If you can get them to do it in practice enough, it should come more naturally during a performance.

Try games during practice that encourage smiles (best pod smiles, the surprise smile award sticker chart, stuff like that.)

Practice a "smile sign" at practice so that during a competition they will see the sign and remember.

 

[embersglow]

If they can't do it naturally, choreograph it! Add it into your teaching the way you'd tell the kids to point their toes, hollow out, tighten their motions etc. Their jumps might be great but if they're not smiling, it ain't a perfect toe touch! Same for all the flyers' stretches, motions, transitions, dance... It'll eventually come naturally and you'll won't have to remind them anymore!

 

[vannahlexis]

I'm not sure if this will work for a younger age group but my first year cheering as a freshman, the seniors on my team told us you got 2 points for doing a big open mouth facial and I totally fell for it hahaha

 

[mamabear]

I grin at my team with the biggest joker-ish scary smile while they are performing/practicing. It usually reminds them.

I have choreographed it in with a couple of parts, especially with one flyer who concentrates so intently that she fishfaces when going up in a stunt. Breaking her of that habit has been a challenge.

Good luck!