Parents TOPS 8 yr old testing

[samadams]

I'm wondering if there are any other's with Dd's that are testing as 8 yr old's this year and what level they are in ? Thanks!

 

[Clover]

Just finished old Level 5; Getting ready to start old Level 6 (new 5). How about yours?

 

[samadams]

The same. I wonder if that is about the norm ?

 

[Clover]

I have no idea. It is our first year going to testing. At my gym a 7 - 8 yo level 6/new 5 is considered young. However, here on the chalkbucket there seem to be a whole lot of 7 - 8 year old Optionals!

 

[GymBeeMom]

When my dd tested last year, she was 8 and just finished level 5. She made TOPs A camp but the competition was really tough. This year she is testing as 9 y.o. and just finished level 7. I think 8 y.o. just finishing level 5 is normal. As long as there has been plenty of up training past level 5 and TONS of conditioning, your dd should be competitive.

 

[flippingtogether]

I hear of a lot of variation in the levels for TOPs girls. And not all TOPs girls are optionals, that is for sure! At our gym a bunch of 8 yr olds just finished old level 4 and right away scored out of 5, all the while uptraining quite a bit (not to mention TONS of strength and conditioning as mentioned above) and getting ready to compete new level 5 this fall.
I think the uptraining/strength/conditioning is key, and not necessarily as important is the level they are competing....several girls on our team got late starts to their careers (didn't join the team until age 7 or so) but are very rapidly progressing! TOPs gives them the opportunity to do so and advance their careers, which is great.

 

[Fliptwisttumble]

We don't do TOPS, but our levels are pretty much the same as yours. Last year our 7 year olds did L3, and 2 did L5. The 8 yr olds did L4, and 2 did L5.

This year our 7 yr olds did L3 and 1 did L5. Our 8 yr olds did L4, 1 did L6, and 1 did L7. So doing L7 is the exception, not the standard.