Judging Criteria
Understanding the judging criteria process will ensure that athletes are properly prepared to compete in their chosen class.
Each division has specific criteria; knowing specifically what the judges are looking for will help competitors avoid been marked down.
NBFI CLASSIC PHYSIQUE DIVISION
The classic physique division is aimed at male competitors who have a very aesthetic physique. Generally, good symmetry and balance will be scored heavily while looking for an athletic level of muscularity with low body fat levels. However, the targeted look is a little less extreme than in Men’s Open Bodybuilding in terms of both muscular size and conditioning.
COMPETITION ATTIRE:
Competitors are required to wear “classic physique” trunks which must be plain black in colour and be a minimum of four (4) inches wide at the sides and be tight fitting. They MUST cover the whole of the gluteus and must not show the name or logo of any sanctioning body other than the INBA/PNBA or one of its affiliates.
“Normal” bodybuilding posing trunks and loose-fitting shorts must not be worn.
PLEASE NOTE. INSTANT TANS SUCH AS DREAM TAN, PANATTA AND ANY SIMILAR PRODUCTS WHICH ARE OIL BASED AND DO NOT DRY ONTO THE SKIN ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED. ANY TYPE OF TAN WHICH CAN BE SPRAYED/PAINTED ON AND DRIES COMPLETELY IS FINE, AND OIL/GLAZE MAY BE USED OVER THE TOP OF THIS. APPLICATION OF ANY TYPE OF SKIN COLOURING IS NOT ALLOWED IN CONTEST VENUES OTHER THAN BY THE ON-SITE TANNING SERVICE IF ONE IS PRESENT. OIL AND GLAZE MAY BE APPLIED BACKSTAGE. ATHLETES FOUND BREACHING THIS RULE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THEIR EVENT AND THEIR MEMBERSHIP WITHDRAWN.
A SPRAY TANNING SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AT ALL OF OUR EVENTS, ALTHOUGH YOU ARE NOT OBLIGED TO USE IT. DETAILS WILL BE SENT WITH YOUR ENTRY CONFIRMATION AND THE TANNERS WILL NOT ACCEPT A BOOKING FROM YOU UNTIL YOU HAVE ENTERED THE EVENT.
CLASSIC PHYSIQUE POSES:
Quarter turns:
-Front semi relaxed. Feet must be flat to the stage and inside shoulder width apart. Hands not be raised above hip height to ensure that arms are not spread excessively. Athlete must look straight ahead.
-Side semi relaxed (will be performed from both sides). Feet must be flat to the stage and kept together with the hips facing straight ahead. The athlete must look in the same direction that their hips are facing and not look at the judges. The upper body can be slightly twisted towards the judges.
-Rear semi relaxed. Feet must be flat to the stage and inside shoulder width apart. Hands not be raised above hip height to ensure that arms are not spread excessively. Athlete must look straight ahead and not turn their head back towards the judges.
Mandatory Poses:
-Front double biceps pose
-Front lat spread pose
-Side chest pose
-Rear double biceps pose (showing one calf)
-Rear lat spread pose (showing one calf)
-Side triceps pose (both hands behind the back)
-Abdominals and thigh pose (both arms overhead, flexing down on the abdominals and NOT performing a “vacuum”)
-CLASSIC PHYSIQUE POSE of the athlete’s choice. “Crab”, “hands on hips” and “hands clasped” most muscular poses are not permitted.
All competitors will perform a 60 second posing routine following their comparison rounds. NO props or costumes are allowed.
NBFI BODYBUILDING DIVISION (MALE AND FEMALE)
In both Men’s and Women’s Bodybuilding, our judges are looking for large, fully developed muscles in every body part but also assessing the physique for symmetry (side to side), balance (front to back and top to bottom) and shape and proportion of the physique. Ideally, no body part should overpower another and the whole body should be well developed, equally.
It is important for an athlete to have low enough body fat levels so that each muscle group can be viewed individually and the separating lines between each muscle be clearly seen. However, athletes will not be rewarded purely on the basis of extreme conditioning and a superior physique in adequate condition to be viewed clearly will always beat a lesser developed but more extremely conditioned physique.
COMPETITION ATTIRE:
Men must wear bodybuilding posing trunks which are not greater than 50mm (2 inches) wide at the sides and ladies a two-piece posing bikini with a cross over back. The trunks/bikini bottoms must cover at least 1/3 of the buttocks and give complete coverage at the front.
Trunks/suits must be of a plain, single coloured material.
Shoes and jewellery (other than stud earrings or wedding/engagement/eternity rings) cannot be worn.
PLEASE NOTE. INSTANT TANS SUCH AS DREAM TAN, PANATTA AND ANY SIMILAR PRODUCTS WHICH ARE OIL BASED AND DO NOT DRY ONTO THE SKIN ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED. ANY TYPE OF TAN WHICH CAN BE SPRAYED/PAINTED ON AND DRIES COMPLETELY IS FINE, AND OIL/GLAZE MAY BE USED OVER THE TOP OF THIS. APPLICATION OF ANY TYPE OF SKIN COLOURING IS NOT ALLOWED IN CONTEST VENUES OTHER THAN BY THE ON-SITE TANNING SERVICE. OIL AND GLAZE MAY BE APPLIED BACKSTAGE. ATHLETES FOUND BREACHING THIS RULE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THEIR EVENT AND THEIR MEMBERSHIP WITHDRAWN.
NBFI BODYBUILDING POSES:
Quarter turns:
-Front semi relaxed. Feet must be flat to the stage and inside shoulder width apart. Hands not be raised above hip height to ensure that arms are not spread excessively. Athlete must look straight ahead.
-Side semi relaxed (will be performed from both sides). Feet must be flat to the stage and kept together with the hips facing straight ahead. The athlete must look in the same direction that their hips are facing and not look at the judges. The upper body can be slightly twisted towards the judges.
-Rear semi relaxed. Feet must be flat to the stage and inside shoulder width apart. Hands not be raised above hip height to ensure that arms are not spread excessively. Athlete must look straight ahead and not turn their head back towards the judges.
Mandatory Poses:
-Front double biceps pose
-Front lat spread pose
-Side chest pose
-Rear double biceps ose (showing one calf)
-Rear lat spread pose (showing one calf)
-Side triceps pose (both hands behind the back)
-Abdominals and thigh pose (both arms overhead, flexing down on the abdominals and NOT performing a “vacuum”)
-Most muscular pose (of your choice)
All competitors will perform a 60 second posing routine following their comparison rounds. NO props or costumes are allowed.
NBFI FIGURE DIVISION.
The Women’s Figure division is aimed at female athletes who are larger framed and more heavily muscled than Bikini athletes, and slightly harder and leaner but without excessive muscle detail and striations. Athletes should not be as heavily muscled as a bodybuilding competitor. The “V taper” is more significant in this class and athletes will be rewarded for having wider shoulders and a narrow waist.
COMPETITION ATTIRE:
– A two-piece bikini/posing suit with a cross over back which fastens at the back of the neck. This can be any colour or design of the athlete’s choice but the bottoms of the bikini/suit must cover at least 1/3 of the buttocks and give complete coverage at the front.
– High heeled shoes with a platform/sole depth of no more than 25mm (1 inch) and heel height of no more than 130mm (5 inches).
– The wearing of jewellery is permitted.
PLEASE NOTE. INSTANT TANS SUCH AS DREAM TAN, PANATTA AND ANY SIMILAR PRODUCTS WHICH ARE OIL BASED AND DO NOT DRY ONTO THE SKIN ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED. ANY TYPE OF TAN WHICH CAN BE SPRAYED/PAINTED ON AND DRIES COMPLETELY IS FINE, AND OIL/GLAZE MAY BE USED OVER THE TOP OF THIS. APPLICATION OF ANY TYPE OF SKIN COLOURING IS NOT ALLOWED IN CONTEST VENUES OTHER THAN BY THE ON-SITE TANNING SERVICE IF ONE IS PRESENT. OIL AND GLAZE MAY BE APPLIED BACKSTAGE. ATHLETES FOUND BREACHING THIS RULE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THEIR EVENT AND THEIR MEMBERSHIP WITHDRAWN.
HAIR AND MAKEUP SERVICES ARE NOT PROVIDED AT ANY EVENT. YOUR FACE AND HAIR ARE NOT BEING JUDGED!
FIGURE POSES:
1- Front pose. Facing the judges with heels together and level with each other. Lats should be flared to show full width and taper. Arms not excessively spread from the sides and hands not clenched into a fist with palms facing in towards the body.
2- Quarter turn to the right. Left side facing judges. Heels together and hips and feet facing the side of the stage. Upper body to be turned slightly towards the judges so that the shoulder furthest away can be seen. Athletes are to face the same direction as their hips and feet and should not turn to look at the judges.
3- Rear pose. Facing away from the judges with heels together and level with each other. Lats should be flared to show full width and taper. Arms not excessively spread from the sides and hands not clenched into a fist with palms facing in towards the body.
4- Quarter turn to the right. Right side facing judges. Heels together and hips and feet facing the side of the stage. Upper body to be turned slightly towards the judges so that the shoulder furthest away can be seen. Athletes are to face the same direction as their hips and feet and should not turn to look at the judges.
ALL COMPETITORS WILL PERFORM A STAGE WALK AFTER THEIR COMPARISONS:
EACH POSE SHOULD BE EXECUTED (START TO FINISH) FOR NO MORE THAN 3 SECONDS AND THE COMPLETE STAGE WALK SHOULD LAST NO LONGER THAN 30 SECONDS FROM STAGE ENTRY TO EXIT. Athletes deviating from the mandatory poses, deviating from the correct stage walk pattern or taking excessive time onstage will be penalised.
You will execute the mandatory poses at the locations specified below (also please see supplied diagram):
1 – Rear Centre stage. Front pose.
2 – Front Centre stage. All 4 mandatory poses in order, finishing with another front pose before leaving the stage.
POSES SHOULD BE HELD FOR NO LONGER THAN 3 SECONDS AND THE ENTIRE WALK COMPLETED IN 30 SECONDS OR LESS FROM ENTERING TO LEAVING THE STAGE.
NBFI MENS PHYSIQUE DIVISION
Men’s Physique is a division aimed at male competitors who are less heavily muscled and detailed than those in the bodybuilding divisions.
The focus in the criteria of this division is the aesthetic appeal of the physique and relatively wide shoulders and a narrow waist with prominent abdominal development. Generally, good symmetry and balance will be scored heavily while looking for an athletic level of muscularity with low body fat levels without the level of muscle detail displayed in bodybuilding. Athletes who exhibit the levels of muscular development and conditioning which would be rewarded in a Men’s bodybuilding division are likely to be scored lower than athletes who have the correct level of development and conditioning for Men’s Physique.
COMPETITION ATTIRE:
All competitors must wear knee length shorts which are loose fitting around the thighs. The shorts can be of a colour of the athletes’ choice and may have a pattern as long as that pattern or design is not inappropriate for public display.
Shoes, jewellery and props are not permitted.
PLEASE NOTE. INSTANT TANS SUCH AS DREAM TAN, PANATTA AND ANY SIMILAR PRODUCTS WHICH ARE OIL BASED AND DO NOT DRY ONTO THE SKIN ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED. ANY TYPE OF TAN WHICH CAN BE SPRAYED/PAINTED ON AND DRIES COMPLETELY IS FINE, AND OIL/GLAZE MAY BE USED OVER THE TOP OF THIS. APPLICATION OF ANY TYPE OF SKIN COLOURING IS NOT ALLOWED IN CONTEST VENUES OTHER THAN BY THE ON-SITE TANNING SERVICE IF ONE IS PRESENT. OIL AND GLAZE MAY BE APPLIED BACKSTAGE. ATHLETES FOUND BREACHING THIS RULE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THEIR EVENT AND THEIR MEMBERSHIP WITHDRAWN.
A SPRAY TANNING SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AT ALL OF OUR EVENTS, ALTHOUGH YOU ARE NOT OBLIGED TO USE IT. DETAILS WILL BE SENT WITH YOUR ENTRY CONFIRMATION AND THE TANNERS WILL NOT ACCEPT A BOOKING FROM YOU UNTIL YOU HAVE ENTERED THE EVENT.
MENS PHYSIQUE POSES:
1 – Front semi relaxed. Athletes will face the judges. One hand on their hip and the other at their side with the hand no higher than waist height. One leg can be extended out and slightly forwards.
2 – Front double bicep pose.
3 – Quarter turn to the right. Left side will be closest to the judges with the left hand on the hip and the right arm extended down across the line of the body with the hand open. The right leg (furthest away from the judges) will be extended backwards. Athletes may turn their head to look towards the judges.
4 – Rear semi relaxed. Athletes will face away from the judges with one hand on their hip and the other at their side with the hand no higher than waist height. One leg can be extended out and slightly backwards.
5 – Rear double bicep pose.
6 – Quarter turn to the right. Right side will be closest to the judges with the right hand on the hip and the left arm extended down across the line of the body with the hand open. The left leg (furthest away from the judges) will be extended backwards.
7 – Abdominal pose. Both hands behind head. Both feet level and no more than shoulder width apart.
ALL COMPETITORS WILL PERFORM A STAGE WALK AFTER THEIR COMPARISONS:
EACH POSE SHOULD BE EXECUTED (START TO FINISH) FOR NO MORE THAN 3 SECONDS AND THE COMPLETE STAGE WALK SHOULD LAST NO LONGER THAN 40 SECONDS FROM STAGE ENTRY TO EXIT. Athletes deviating from the mandatory poses, deviating from the correct stage walk pattern or taking excessive time onstage will be penalised.
You will execute the mandatory poses at the locations specified below (also please see supplied diagram):
1 – Rear Centre stage. Front semi relaxed pose.
2 – Front Centre stage. All 7 mandatory poses in order, finishing with the abdominal pose before leaving the stage.
NBFI WOMENS PHYSIQUE DIVISION.
The Womens Physique division is aimed at female competitors who exhibit a similar or slightly greater level of muscular development than Figure competitors but with harder condition and more detail, similar to that which is deemed ideal in Womens Bodybuilding. This division is best suited to those with a more “trained” look but without the muscular size needed to excel in Womens Bodybuilding.
COMPETITION ATTIRE:
– A two-piece bikini/posing suit with a cross over back which fastens at the back of the neck. This can be any colour or design of the athlete’s choice but the bottoms of the bikini/suit must cover at least 1/3 of the buttocks and give complete coverage at the front.
– High heeled shoes with a platform/sole depth of no more than 25mm (1 inch) and heel height of no more than 130mm (5 inches) to be worn for group comparisons but removed for the free posing routine.
– The wearing of jewellery is permitted.
PLEASE NOTE. INSTANT TANS SUCH AS DREAM TAN, PANATTA AND ANY SIMILAR PRODUCTS WHICH ARE OIL BASED AND DO NOT DRY ONTO THE SKIN ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED. ANY TYPE OF TAN WHICH CAN BE SPRAYED/PAINTED ON AND DRIES COMPLETELY IS FINE, AND OIL/GLAZE MAY BE USED OVER THE TOP OF THIS. APPLICATION OF ANY TYPE OF SKIN COLOURING IS NOT ALLOWED IN CONTEST VENUES OTHER THAN BY THE ON-SITE TANNING SERVICE IF ONE IS PRESENT. OIL AND GLAZE MAY BE APPLIED BACKSTAGE. ATHLETES FOUND BREACHING THIS RULE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THEIR EVENT AND THEIR UKDFBA MEMBERSHIP WITHDRAWN.
HAIR AND MAKEUP SERVICES ARE NOT PROVIDED AT ANY EVENT. YOUR FACE AND HAIR ARE NOT BEING JUDGED.
UKDFBA WOMENS PHYSIQUE POSES:
Quarter turns:
– Front semi-relaxed. Heels must be in contact with the stage and inside shoulder width apart. Hands not to be raised above hip height to ensure that arms are not spread excessively. Athlete must look straight ahead.
– Side semi-relaxed (will be performed from both sides). Heels must be in contact with the stage and kept together with the hips facing straight ahead. The athlete must look in the same direction that their hips are facing and not look at the judges. The upper body can be slightly twisted towards the judges.
– Rear semi-relaxed. Heels must be in contact with the stage and inside shoulder width apart. Hands not to be raised above hip height to ensure that arms are not spread excessively. Athlete must look straight ahead and not turn their head back towards the judges.
Mandatory Poses:
– Front double biceps pose with hands open
– Side chest pose with hands open
– Rear double biceps pose with hands open (showing one calf)
– Side triceps pose (both hands behind the back)
– Abdominals and thigh pose (both arms overhead, flexing down on the abdominals and NOT performing a “vacuum”)
All competitors will perform a 60 second posing routine following their comparison rounds. NO props or costumes are allowed.
Posing music MUST NOT contain any profanity, sexually explicit or violent lyrics or racially offensive terminology. Such tracks will not be played.
MENS PHYSIQUE POSES:
1 – Front semi relaxed. Athletes will face the judges. One hand on their hip and the other at their side with the hand no higher than waist height. One leg can be extended out and slightly forwards.
2 – Front double bicep pose.
3 – Quarter turn to the right. Left side will be closest to the judges with the left hand on the hip and the right arm extended down across the line of the body with the hand open. The right leg (furthest away from the judges) will be extended backwards. Athletes may turn their head to look towards the judges.
4 – Rear semi relaxed. Athletes will face away from the judges with one hand on their hip and the other at their side with the hand no higher than waist height. One leg can be extended out and slightly backwards.
5 – Rear double bicep pose.
6 – Quarter turn to the right. Right side will be closest to the judges with the right hand on the hip and the left arm extended down across the line of the body with the hand open. The left leg (furthest away from the judges) will be extended backwards.
7 – Abdominal pose. Both hands behind head. Both feet level and no more than shoulder width apart.
NBFI BIKINI DIVISION
The Women’s Bikini division is aimed at female competitors who appear trained and athletic, but without muscular detail, separation and vascularity and whose level of muscle size is lower than those which would be rewarded in our other competition disciplines. Athletes displaying levels of muscularity (both muscle size and conditioning) that are more appropriate for Figure, Physique or Bodybuilding divisions are likely to be marked lower than athletes who display the correct levels of muscularity for Bikini.
COMPETIITION ATTIRE:
– A two piece bikini/posing suit with a top that fastens at the back, as opposed to the crossover type fastening. The bikini may be of the colour and design of the athlete’s choice but the bottoms MUST cover at least 1/3 of the buttocks and give complete coverage at the front.
– High heeled shoes with a platform/sole depth of no more than 25mm (1 inch) and heel height of no more than 130mm (5 inches).
– The wearing of jewellery is permitted.
PLEASE NOTE. INSTANT TANS SUCH AS DREAM TAN, PANATTA AND ANY SIMILAR PRODUCTS WHICH ARE OIL BASED AND DO NOT DRY ONTO THE SKIN ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED. ANY TYPE OF TAN WHICH CAN BE SPRAYED/PAINTED ON AND DRIES COMPLETELY IS FINE, AND OIL/GLAZE MAY BE USED OVER THE TOP OF THIS. APPLICATION OF ANY TYPE OF SKIN COLOURING IS NOT ALLOWED IN CONTEST VENUES OTHER THAN BY THE ON-SITE TANNING SERVICE IF ONE IS PRESENT. OIL AND GLAZE MAY BE APPLIED BACKSTAGE. ATHLETES FOUND BREACHING THIS RULE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THEIR EVENT AND THEIR MEMBERSHIP WITHDRAWN.
HAIR AND MAKEUP SERVICES ARE NOT PROVIDED AT ANY EVENT. YOUR FACE AND HAIR ARE NOT BEING JUDGED!
BIKINI POSES:
1 – Front pose. Athletes will face the judges. One hand on their hip and the other at their side with the hand no higher than waist height. One leg can be extended out and slightly forwards. Long hair must be brushed aside so that it does not cover the physique.
2 – Quarter turn to the right. Left side will be closest to the judges with the right hand on the hip and the left hand at the side and no higher than waist height. The left leg (closest to judges) slightly bent with the heel raised and the right leg straight with the heel in contact with the stage. Athletes may turn to look at the judges. Long hair must be brushed aside so that it does not cover the physique.
3 – Rear pose. Athletes will face away from the judges. One hand on their hip and the other at their side with the hand no higher than waist height. One leg can be extended out and slightly backwards. Long hair must be brushed aside so that it does not cover the physique. NO BENDING FORWARDS AT THE WAIST IS PERMITTED.
4 – Quarter turn to the right. Right side will be closest to the judges with the left hand on the hip and the right hand at the side and no higher than waist height. The right leg (closest to judges) slightly bent with the heel raised and the left leg straight with the heel in contact with the stage. Athletes may turn to look at the judges. Long hair must be brushed aside so that it does not cover the physique.
ALL COMPETITORS WILL PERFORM A STAGE WALK AFTER THEIR COMPARISONS:
EACH POSE SHOULD BE EXECUTED (START TO FINISH) FOR NO MORE THAN 3 SECONDS AND THE COMPLETE STAGE WALK SHOULD LAST NO LONGER THAN 30 SECONDS FROM STAGE ENTRY TO EXIT. Athletes deviating from the mandatory poses, deviating from the correct stage walk pattern or taking excessive time onstage will be penalised.
You will execute the mandatory poses at the locations specified below (also please see supplied diagram):
1 – Rear Centre stage. Front pose.
2 – Front Centre stage. All 4 mandatory poses in order, finishing with the front pose before leaving the stage.
Competitors will then exit stage.
POSES SHOULD BE HELD FOR NO LONGER THAN 3 SECONDS AND THE ENTIRE WALK COMPLETED IN 30 SECONDS OR LESS FROM ENTERING TO LEAVING THE STAGE.