TRP norms – 2023: how to get a gold badge and what does it give?

“Ready for Labor and Defense” is a slogan coined back in the USSR. It was not just a beautiful phrase, but an embodiment of the lifestyle of Soviet pioneers and their aspirations. The very real credo, and the abbreviation GTO lives up to now. These are sports norms, which can pass anyone from I or II health groups and get a badge for it. Today we will tell you what you need to do to pass GTO.

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“The TRP program was born after the Great October Revolution. The country was getting stronger, gaining political power. The basis of discipline, order and good physical fitness was unconditionally recognized mass sport. The TRP program appeared on March 11, 1931 thanks to the initiative of the Komsomol. It was he who initiated the creation of the All-Union physical culture complex “Ready for Labor and Defense”.

How did the GTO program appear?

It was then, in 1931, it was proposed to create common criteria for assessing the physical fitness of young people, awarding everyone an honorary badge of passing the GTO norms (bronze, silver and gold). Initially, men not younger than 18 years old and women not younger than 17 years old were allowed to take the tests for the badge “Ready for Labor and Defense”. A special condition was a satisfactory state of health. It was determined by a doctor, who established that the fulfillment of norms for a given complex will not harm a person’s health.

The organization of sports in the USSR deserves respect, no matter from which side you look. Athletes took high places in international competitions. Hockey, soccer and basketball teams were very strong. In individual sports, Soviet athletes were also successful.

People from the world of sports represented their country, created its image, it was very important from a political point of view. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the Soviet Union there was a system that motivated young guys to lead a sporting lifestyle.

How to get a gold badge?

To successfully pass the GTO, you need to fulfill the norms of sports tests, there are 13 of them in total. However, to get a gold badge, it is not necessary to pass all of them. Four compulsory standards and five more to choose from are enough.

The compulsory ones are:

• 30-meter run (or 60-meter run, or 100-meter run);
• 3000-meter run;
• pull-ups from hanging on a high bar (or 16 kg kettlebell snatch, or push-ups);
• forward bend from a standing position on a gymnastic bench.

Additional:

• shuttle run;
• long jump from a run-up (or long jump from a place with a two-legged push);
• torso lift from lying on the back (number of times for 1 min);
• throwing a sports projectile weighing 700 g;
• cross-country skiing for 5 km or cross-country skiing for 5 km (cross-country running);
• swimming for 50 m;
• shooting from a sitting or standing position with elbows resting on a table or stand, 10 m distance (points): from an air rifle with an open sight (or from an air rifle with a diopter sight, or from an “electronic weapon”);
• self-defense without weapons (points).

Age levels for the TRP:

• 1st stage – from 6 to 7 years old;
• 2nd stage – from 8 to 9 years old;
• 3rd stage – from 10 to 11 years old;
• 4th stage – from 12 to 13 years old;
• 5th stage – from 14 to 15 years;
• 6th stage – 16 to 17 years old;
• 7th stage – from 18 to 19 years old;
• 8th stage – from 20 to 24 years of age;
• 9th stage – 25 to 29 years of age;
• 10th stage – 30 to 34 years of age;
• 11th step – 35 to 39 years old;
• 12th step – 40 to 44 years old;
• 13th step – 45 to 49 years of age;
• 14th step – 50 to 54 years of age;
• 15th step – 55 to 59 years of age;
• 16th step – from 60 to 64 years of age;
• 17th step – from 65 to 69 years of age;
• 18th step – 70 and older.

The indicators that are needed to get medals can be seen at the link.

Soviet GTO norms

It is difficult to make an overall picture of the norms, because, as you know, in 10-year-old and 30-year-old athletes they will be completely different. But we can emphasize that in the Soviet Union there were some differences from the modern sports system.

For example, one of the tests was cycling. People from 18 to 39 years old rode 10 or 20 kilometers for a result. There was also a gymnastic all-round competition and a 3-6 km marching race. The list included, in addition, rope climbing and barbell pushing from the chest, skating and even hiking. It should be said that in the USSR the program was much more varied, everyone could find something of interest. Compared to the Soviet TRP, the modern Russian one is more simplified.

In general, despite the fact that the TRP has been in existence for almost 100 years, over the years the complex has changed significantly, although the essence remains the same: to educate generations of people who love sports and lead an active lifestyle.

A little more about the norms

Running is carried out on the tracks of the stadium or on any flat area with a hard surface. Mixed movement consists of running, transitioning to walking in any sequence. On the stadium treadmill or any flat terrain.

Cross-country skiing is free style on courses laid out mainly on terrain with slightly to moderately rugged terrain in places closed from the wind.

Pull-up on the bar is performed from the starting position: hanging with a grip from above, hands – at shoulder width, arms and legs straight, legs do not touch the floor, feet together. From hanging on straight arms with a grip from above, pull yourself up so that your chin is above the bar, descend into the hang until your arms are fully straightened, fix yourself in this position for 1 second.

An alternative to pull-ups is the kettlebell snatch. You only need to lift it once, but think hard before you make a choice in favor of this test. Because you’ll need to lift the kettlebell up from the floor so that your working arm is straight. The test is performed on a platform or any flat area of 2×2 meters. A 16 kg kettlebell is used to perform the test.

Forward bend from a standing position with straight legs on a gymnastics bench is performed from the starting position: standing on a gymnastics bench, legs straightened at the knees, feet parallel at a width of 10-15 cm.

Why take the GTO?

All the tests are quite realistic, there is nothing extremely difficult about them. And even if you don’t manage to pass everything the first time, you can try again. So you should not get upset before the time. But, of course, you will have to prepare for some norms.

The gold TRP badge is not just about “proving yourself” and confidence. It is also worth working hard for it from the point of view of individual benefit. For schoolchildren, the badge will add points to their admission, which may not be enough to get into the university of their dreams. For students, this award will help with passing physical education credits. And some sports institutes may even increase scholarships for fulfilling GTO standards.