IFPA PRO FIGURE GUIDELINES

IFPA Figure divisions consist of two parts: Group Comparisons and Individual Presentations. Two-piece suits and high-heeled shoes are used for both portions.

Group Comparisons - Physique Evaluations

Each class is brought to front center stage and is guided through quarter turns to display physiques from the front, left, back, and right. Physiques are scored based on feminine symmetry, toned muscularity and relative leanness. Toned muscularity means visible signs of strength training should be present. Relative leanness means a competitor should show good definition. There should be noticeable abdominal separation. There should be some visible lines in the quadriceps.

Posing form required is flexible. Competitors can use stances they feel display their physiques the best. For example, in the front stance, a competitor can keep both feet together and both arms down by her sides, or she could have one foot slightly in front of the other with a slight bend in the knee, slight twist at the waist turning her upper torso some, and/or have one hand on her hip (or both hands on her hips). The same leniency is allowed for the rear and side stances. However, in cases of close decisions where a judge is having a difficult time scoring placements for two or more competitors, specific forms may be requested of all competitors, such as both feet together, and arms down by sides for the front stance, or feet together looking straight ahead with arms down by sides in a side stance.

Colleen Castaneda	Heather Smith	Meera Mathur	Monika Rodgers

Group Comparisons Scoring

Each judge assigns one score in the form of rank during group comparisons, such as 1st through 7th place, for example. A highest and lowest rank for each competitor is dropped as a safeguard against bias (whether conscious or subconscious) either for, or against a particular competitor by a particular judge, and also to safeguard against human error. The remaining judges’ placements are summed, and the lowest sum receives first place in the class for the group comparisons portion of the judging. Second lowest sum receives 2nd place, and so on. In cases of ties, competitors ranked higher by the majority of all (including dropped scores) judges serving on the panel are awarded the higher placements.

Example 1 – tabulation for group comparisons scoring:

Competitor 1 was ranked higher by four of the seven judges so final placements for the tie in this case would be #1 1^st, #2 2^nd.

Individual Presentations

Competitors individually perform presentations to music of their choice. Costumes and/or props are not permitted. The individual presentation portion for Figure competitions is a stage walk. Competitors walk out to music and perform a “T” walk. A T-walk consists of walking out to rear center stage and pausing briefly in a stance of choice. Competitors than walk up to front center stage and perform a series of quarter turns, then walk to stage left and pause briefly, then walk to stage right and pause briefly, then walk to the front center of the stage and pause briefly, and finally walk off stage diagonally to the side from which they entered. The walk resembles a “T”, which is how it got its name.

If entering from the right side of the stage:

Yenny Polanco	Shianne Behan	Nicole Weeks	Naomie Murdock

Individual presentations are factored into scores for the six top-ranked competitors in a class from the group comparison scoring to determine the top six final standings. Placements below 6th are determined solely by the group comparison portion of the competition.

Presentation for the top six is scored based on three components:
 

Graceful walk – up to 10 points

(Smooth steps, good posture, controlled arm swing, not rushing through, not looking down most of the time)

Appearance - up to 10 points

(Even coloring, nice sheen, full and shapely muscles, proper suit fit, hair/make-up done well)

Form of poses used and fluid transitions - up to 10 points

(Poses struck at pivot points of good form to show physique in the most impressive manner, fluid transitions through quarter-turns)

Each of the three components is assigned a whole number score (no decimals) by each judge where 10’s are considered the highest marks. The three scores are summed on each judge’s sheet.

Each of the three components is assigned a whole number score (no decimals) by each judge where 10’s are considered the highest marks. The three scores are summed on each judge’s sheet.

Example 2 - tabulation for individual presentation scoring:

*In the case of ties, tied competitors are assigned the higher ranking. In the example above competitor 3 and 5 tied for the presentation scoring so were both assigned 5^th place while 6^th place was skipped.

The score from group comparisons counts as 75% of the total score for the top six in each class while individual presentation counts as the remaining 25%. Appropriate factors are applied and the competitor with the lowest score is assigned a final standing of 1^st place… second lowest second place, and so on through sixth place.

Final Score Example Using Example 1 and Example 2 scores above:

(Group comparisons placement x 3  + individual presentations placement (3:1 = 75%:25%))

In case of a tie in overall scoring, competitor placed higher from group comparisons is awarded the higher placement.

Additional Information:

• Jewelry is permitted.

• Suits do not have to be plain suits of solid color for either round. Competitors are free to use the suit style they prefer, as long as it’s a two-piece suit and is not a thong.

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