TOPs Gymnastics: What is TOPs, What You Need To Know & More

The TOPS or (Talent Opportunity Program) is for gymnasts that are between 8 and 10. This program is for both gymnasts and the coaches. The dates are set by USA Gymnastics and the gymnasts who participate can do skills testing.

At gyms, many of the gymnasts that do TOPs are usually the ones that are also fast tracked.

There is extra conditioning involved. Keep in mind there will also be travel and additional cost, however if your gymnast is on the Elite path it might be worth the time. That said it is not a requirement if your gymnast wants to become elite.

The strength requirements for TOPs help with injury prevention and achieving higher level skills.

Strength is only one part of TOPs training to consider. The strength leads to the skills required at such a young age are pretty challenging! I feel like kids really have to be way ahead of the curve to even have a chance of completing the skill routines.

Here are some examples of the strength that girls in the TOPs program are working towards

I have a friend who has a 3 year old working on a press handstand. She can already do 1 – 2 of them.

Another friend has an 8 year old doing back handsprings on the bream as well as giants on bars

Consider the extra training hours in the gym for TOPs

The training hours depend on the gym but some gyms do 1 time a week and some gyms work up to 2 or 3 times a week. It is mostly conditioning vs skills. Many kids love this until they don’t and this is a sport that is a marathon and not a sprint. Healthy kids mentally & physically will surpass the strong young gymnasts, and they paced their training and listened to their bodies and desires.

The burnout in the TOPs program is common.