What to Look for When Judging a Bodybuilding Competition

How is a physique contest judged? At first glance, it may seem to be totally subjective; however, it is actually a formal, structured procedure.

 In a contest, a “prejudging” is held earlier in the day. This is a work session in which the judges determine the class winners and placements with only the overall winner decisions being made at the evening show. Competitors are judged within their weight classes in three phases:

 1.   Quarter Turn/Symmetry Round: All competitors are brought out as a group in a general line‑up. Competitors are asked to do quarter turns to the right in a semi‑relaxed fashion so the judges can evaluate overall physique balance (the contour of each body part in relation to other body parts), proportion (based on the skeletal frame for the musculature attachments) and shape (based on the contour of each body part from the point of origin to the point of insertion) from the front, sides and back before they start flexing their muscles. The judges look at balance of the body from top to bottom and right to left.

 2.    individual posing routine: Each of the competitors come back out to perform their individual posing routine without music. This is limited to 60 seconds with a 10 second end warning (90 seconds at the evening show). During this round, each competitor presents a series of poses of his/her choice while the judges focus on how well the competitor is able to “present their physique” in a complimentary manner showing both muscular and symmetrical development. The poses should be suited to the competitor's body type and development and the routine should flow smoothly from one pose to another in a steady, unstrained fashion. Grooming, stage presence and posing ability are also taken into consideration.

 3.    Mandatory posing round: After each competitor has finished their routine, they are brought out as a group in numerical order to do their mandatory poses (seven for women denoted with * and eight for men)  in an effort to assess and compare muscle size, density (the depth and fullness of the muscle bellies), separation (the delineation between the muscle groups) and definition (the absence of fat, making muscles clearly visible through the skin). The judges may select smaller groups and repeat the mandatory poses in order to make specific individual comparisons. The judges compare the competitors in the following poses:

 1.      Front Double Biceps Pose (biceps, abdominals, chest and legs) *

2.      Front Lat Spread (back, arms and legs) *

3.      Side Chest Pose (pectorals, arms, shoulders, calves, legs) *

4.      Side Triceps Extension Pose (triceps, abdominals, calves, leg biceps, serratus) *

5.      Back Double Biceps Pose (back, shoulders, biceps, hamstrings, calves, glutes) *

6.      Back Lat Spread (back, hamstrings, calves, glutes) *

7.      Abdominal and Thigh Pose (abdominals and legs) *

8.      Most Muscular Pose (overall muscular development from a front view)

 When all of the comparisons are completed and the judges are satisfied, the line up is dismissed. The judges then mark their score sheet, consisting of a single placing for each competitor based on all three rounds. The Head Judge will then collect the judges' sheets and the next class is called out. At this point, the judges use a placement system to tally the results, rank the competitors and determine class winners.

 Judging is not an easy task and the judging panel is not a randomly selected group. Judges are highly qualified individuals dedicated to the sport of bodybuilding, tested and certified by the National Physique Committee. They give freely of their time for little or no monetary compensation. Their reward is being able to contribute to a sport in which they love and their importance should not be regarded lightly.