IFPA Pro Bodybuilding Guidelines

 

 

Physique judging takes four elements into account: Muscularity (size), Definition (leanness), Symmetry, and Presentation (ability to display development during posing in the group comparisons)

 

Group Comparisons Judging

Competitors will first be asked to stand with heels together and to make quarter turns (turning right) so the judges can assess them for symmetry and proportion from the front, left, right, and back views. During the side views, competitors should keep both feet flat on the floor and face the same direction that their feet are pointing. The upper body should not be twisted more than a 15-degree angle.

 

After the quarter turn poses, competitors will be directed through a series of poses that can consist of the following:

Front Double Biceps
Front Lat Spread
Left Side Chest
Left Side Triceps
Rear Double Biceps (either heel spiked to show calf)
Rear Lat Spread (either heel spiked to show calf)
Right Side Chest
Right Side Triceps
Hands over Head Abs (hands behind head, one leg ext.)
Hands on Hips Most Muscular (males only)
Crab Most Muscular (males only)
Hamstrings Curl
Double Calf Raise
Side Serratus
Single Quadriceps
Ballerina Stance (female only)
 
The judges may ask to see certain competitors together, change the order of the line up at any time during group comparisons, and may request to see certain poses again for closer comparison of select individuals. Callouts may be executed for larger sized classes for judges to compare a few select individuals at a time. The group comparisons round concludes once all judges are finished scoring competitors.

 

 

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 a posing routine to music of their choice. Costumes and/or props are permitted, but are not required. Any props or costumes used should not interfere with presenting the physique to the audience and judges. Routines are limited to 90 seconds.

 

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:

 

Presentation of physique – up to 10 points

(Was the physique shown well during the routine, was movement not too fast to show physique, were stances used positions that displayed the physique well and were transitions fluid?)

 

Appearance - up to 10 points

(Was coloring even, was competitor well groomed, did competitor possess a good sheen, were muscles full and vascular, and did suit fit properly?)

 

Form of poses used - up to 10 points

(Did poses incorporated in routine use form that showed the physique in the most impressive manner possible?)

 

 

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 5th place while 6th 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 1st 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.