TOPs Program

TOPS (Talent Opportunity Program), is a talent search and educational program for female gymnasts ages 8-10 and their coaches. From September to November of each year, gymnasts age 8-10 are evaluated virtually by zoom on physical abilities. These dates are set by USA Gymnastics and are posted below.

From there, athletes may participate in skills testing that will take place at invitational competitions, Elite national Qualifiers, and selected Nastia Liukin Cup qualifiers across the country. Each state will have the opportunity to host a TOPS qualifier at an invitational competition in their state.

Based on those results, gymnasts are then invited to participate in the National TOPS Testing in June or July each year, followed by TOPS Training Camp which takes place in July or August of each year. Additional information can be found in the links in the left menu.

Questions? Please contact Shelby Salmon, Elite Development Program Director, at ssalmon@usagym.org.

• TOPs Program Updates
• History
• 2023 Event Calendar

• State, Regional Chairs and TOPS State Managers
• TOPS Coaches
• TOPS Judges
• TOPS Meet Directors

TOPs National Testing will be June 16-18, 2023 in Katy, Texas at Stars Gymnastics. More information to follow.

• PDFs and videos of the 2023 routines are linked below.
• Videos are supplemental to the text.

8 Year Olds

• Vault: PDF | Video
• Uneven Bars: PDF | Video
• Balance Beam: PDF | Video
• Floor Exercise: PDF | Video

9-10 Year Olds

• Vault: PDF | Video #1 | Video #2
• Uneven Bars: PDF | Video
• Balance Beam: PDF | Video
• Floor Exercise: PDF | Video

TOPs National Testing will be June 16-18 in Katy, Texas at Stars Gymnastics. More information to follow.

The goal for the TOPS physical abilities is to focus on form. The below physical abilities tests will be judged based on the body shapes and form your athlete/athletes show during testing.

Dates for 2023 Virtual Physical Abilities Testing

• September 16
• September 30
• October 14
• October 21
• November 11

Handstand Hold

• 8-year-old: 30 seconds
• 9- and 10-year-olds: 1 minute
• If fall within the first 5 seconds of first attempt get another chance
• May be performed on the beam or floor
• Score will be on a scale with execution deductions

Leg Lifts

• 8-year-old: 5x half leg lifts immediately followed by 5 full leg lifts / touching a stick or similar
• 9- and 10-year-olds: 10x half leg lifts immediately followed by 10 full leg lifts
• Back of the head, shoulders and upper back remain against the stall rack
• Leg lifts will not be timed
• Deductions will be per leg lift

Casts

• 8-year-old: 5 casts to 45 degrees Legs together
• 9- and 10-year-olds: 5 casts to handstand Legs together
• Each cast will be worth 2 points
• For 9- and 10-year-olds 1 point will be awarded for casts above 45 degrees with good form and 2 points will be awarded for a cast all the way to handstand with good form

Flex

• Performed on beam may use low beam, same for all ages
• Right Leg Split (square hips arms out to side at horizontal 2 sec.)
• Left Leg Split (square hips arms out to side at horizontal 2 sec.)
• Middle split (knees to the ceiling, heels on the beam and hips pressing forward.) may use hand support 2 sec.
• Bridge – press shoulders over wrists legs can be bent or straight 2 sec.
• Each flex testing will be worth 2 points.

Presses

• 8-year-old: 5 press to HS
• 9- and 10-year-olds: 5 press to HS
• If the athlete tips the first attempt over or backward, she may start again
• Each press is worth 2 points

Rope

• 8-year-old: 12 foot rope climb with legs in pike position
• 9- and 10-year-olds: 12 foot rope climb with legs in pike position
• Timed / points awarded by scale