| Contest Judging " Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. " Matthew 24:42 |
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Midwest Christian Bodybuilding is a Christian and natural organization. The goals of MCBB are to bring Christianity and bodybuilding together as God would have intended - all natural. We want to present the physique achieved through hard work, diet and present it with the grace and beauty of posing. MCBB stresses the word natural and any competitor who fails a drug test will be asked to remove themselves from the competitive aspects of MCBB permanatly. JUDGING THE NATURAL PHYSIQUE This page shows the critera that the judges of MCBB - Midwest Christian Bodybuilding and INBF - sanctioned events are using and can also be used by the competitors as a reference guide to aid in the understanding of what the judges are looking for and what the judges base their scores upon. The Role of the Judge The judging panels will contain of an odd number of people, from five to seven, with a prefernce for seven whenever possible. Since the MCBB is just beginning, we are "borrowing" judges from other Natural organizations. In the future, all judges must be MCBB sanctioned. There will be no conversation among judges during the event. No judge shall engage in photography during the event. The entire judging panel is required to be present at the prejudging and final show. Judges shall not discuss or divulge the competitor's rating until after the awards presentation. Any judge subject to conflict of interest by virtue of their relationships with contestants shall withdraw him/herself from the judging panel. Any judges aware of a conflict on the part of any member of the panel is required to notify the head judge of such a conflict. The head judge is not required to participate in actual scoring of competittors if there is a sufficient number of judges. The head judge shall maintain a smooth flow of classes and will call out the mandatory poses to the class. The head judge will conduct all necessary communication between the judging panel and the competitors. The head judge shall poll the panel and supervise the comparisons among contestants as required by the panel. If any judge remains dissatisfied, the head judge shall allow that panel member to communicate his/her specific request through the head judge to the competitor. It is suggested that if any obvious comparisons should become necesary, that the rearrangement of competitors be done before the competitors are asked to complete any of the mandatory poses. The head judge will not allow any coaching from spectators during the prejudging. Official Score Sheets Judges sheets are distributed upon request to competitors; therefore, in all cases, judges are encouraged to make constructive notes and comments on the scoresheets to assist the competitors in adjusting their training and/or dieting habits. Each round of scoring is designed for the judges to evaluate every competitor in an individual class against all other competitors in that class. Placement Scoring is the form of judging for MCBB contests. The most outstanding competitor in a class in each round of scoring receives a score of one (1). The second most outstanding competitor receives a score of two (2), and so on, until all competitors in all classes in each round have been placed in order. Judges score sheets will be filled out completely to minimize any discrepency. All judges individual scoring sheets shall be totaled in their entirety. The total scores of each judge shall be inserted into the Judges Summary Sheet. In the panel of five or seven judges, the highest and lowest score shall be thrown out. In panel of nine judges, the two highest and the two lowest scores shall be excluded. Ties among contestants in the final placings shall be broken in the following manner. using all of the judges scores, an "X" is entered for the contestant each judge placed highest. The contestant with the most "X" marks is given the higher final placing. In the cases of three or more-way ties, the same procedure is followed until all ties are broken. Rounds of Judging A round of judging shall occur for each class of competition. STANDING RELAXED: In this round, the indidual classes shall stand together in a line facing the judges, and will be in a relaxed position. The head judge will call for a series of simultaneous quarter turns to the competitor's right. The judges will look for the competitor's degree of perfection for perfect symmetry, overall muscular developent as each muscle group relates to the total appearance, as well as the degree of body fat and water retention. The most outstanding competitor receives a score of one (1). MANDATORY POSING: In this round, the class shall remain in the line up facing the judges. The head judge shall call out each pose on the official list of mandatory poses. Judges may shift the order of the line up for the comparisons. The official mandatory pose list is arranged to follow the series of quarter turns to the competitor's right. The judges will view the competitor's body part by body part, and will look for the degree of hardness, the muscle separation and definition or cuts, the striations and realionship of each body part to its adjacent components. At the end of the mandatory poses round, each judge should have a listing of the competitor's ranking as to the degree of perfection of the development of each body part in comparison to all other competitors in the class. The most outstanding competitor receives a score of one (1). INDIVIDUAL FREE STYLE POSING: This round is designed for the competitor to highlight his/her most favorable development in the fashion of their favorite poses and should be choreographed to music of the competitors choosing. Music will be in good taste. Any music which is offensive will not be permitted. In the free style posing round, each competitor takes the stage alone and performs for a period of 60 to 90 seconds at the dicretion of the promoter. In the event that MCBB adds mixed pairs, the competitors may pose free style for up to three minutes. The judges will look for the competitor's ability to display his/her most favorable part as well as the ability to favorably present his/her weak parts. Judges will also assess the competitors presentation in regard to smooth flow of movement, fluid transitions between poses, the artistic ability to present poses. In short, the judges will watch for the beauty and grace of the performance in conjunction with the incorporation of accepted bodybuilding poses. Again, the most outstanding competitor receives a score of one (1). Official Criteria of Physique Judgment The considerations to be included in the judging of the competitor's physiques in all MCBB sponsored events shall include three equal dimensions: SYMMETRY: Symmetry refers to the structural harmony of the physique including the structural size of the muscles, the relation of each muscle in a group to all other muscles in the group. It shall also include the balance and proportion of components (upper and lower body, upper and lower parts, and front and back). Also to be considered is the degree of seperation, definition and detail. Symmetry is a measurement of evenness of development and how well the parts of the physique fit together. MUSCULARITY: Muscularity refers to the size of the muscles, their shape, seperation, definition, and hardness or visibility of striations and vascularity. Muscularity is determined by the extent of development in relation to the size of the skeletal structure. Also to be considered is the shape and contour of the developed muscle and muscle groups. Of equal importance is the seperation, between adjacent muscles, and striations delineating sections or fibers within the same muscle group, and the degree of firmness of muscle tone. Body fat retention and water retention are conditions which should subtract from an athletes degree of perfection in this round. PRESENTATION: Presentation is the effectiveness of display of the competitor's most favorable development, including posture, carriage, projection, posing ability and stage presence. Skin quality, eveness of tone, and grooming are also considered. The selection and order of poses used in the individual routine and the finesse in assuming them, along with smoothness of transition between them are factors included in the judgment of presentation. In the case of female competition, we stress that these are bodybuilding contests, not figure contests. Female competitors shall be judged in accordance with the prescribed criteria. However, please note that extemes in the female catagory will result in points being deducted. These are female competitors, not male. Should mixed pairs be introduced, the pair should complement one physique to the other, the synchronization of movement between the two competitors, and the originality of the routine devised by the competitors. Seperate movements are encouraged as oppsed to simply mirroring each other's movements throughout the routine. Markers of Physique Judgment Certain markers are evident within the structure of physique judgement embraced by MCBB. These markers help to clarify the dimensions of judgement, ( muscularity, symmetry, and presentation ). Judges are required to consider all aspects of each dimension of judgement and to use these markers to compare and make placements within each MCBB sponored event. MUSCULARITY: In comparing muscularity, judges should look for evidence that the competitor is a bodybuilder, with muscularity that is greater than average. An impressive development of muscle, and not the definition of average muscularity achieved simply by dieting, is the quality sought in this area. In gauging muscularity, the judge should examine the degree of muscularity over the entire body. In the arms, judges should look for prominent bifurcated peaks in the biceps, and seperate and distinct development of the brachialis and coracobrachialis. All three heads of the triceps should be visible and exhibit approriate thickness and size. Muscle in the forearms should give the appearance of having 75% of the circumference of the upper arms when flexed and have necessary detail. The shoulders should exhibit all three heads of the deltoids in a balanced development, seperated distinctly from the trapezius, chest and muscles of the upper are. Also in this area, in the back region, the trapezius and neck muscles should be developed and visible. The traps should extend down into the center back muscles and infraspinatus and teres minor groups should be visible. From these, the lat sweeps widely from the spinal insertions to beneath the arms, giving the back width. There should also be a deep furrow along the lower spine reflecting thickness of the erector spinal muscles. From a front view, the chest should exhibit developed pectorals which are thick and defined. Upper and lower portions should be distinguishable and approximate equal thickness. There should be no puffiness in male contestants, which is evidence of prior steroid use. Beneath the chest, the abdominal area should be clearly visible, with at least three horizontal grooves, the third being at the level of the naval or slightly below. A vertical groove should be visible along the midline, with the abs clearly seperated from the external obliques by lines which arc around and extend downward and inward. The serratus anterior should be visible above the obliques, and below, the internal obliques and tensor fasciae latae should be visible above hips. The legs should feature balanced development of the qudriceps at the front, as well as that of the adductors along the inner thigh. From a rear view, the glutels should be of a muscular nature, squared and trim rathere than appearing soft and round. Separate and distinct development should be evident in the leg biceps when rear poses are done, featuring the biceps femoris, semitendinosis and smimembranosis. Calf muscles should be developed and appear prominent from the front (tibialis) and rear (gastrocnemius should be noticeably divided between the two muscle heads, with the medial head somewhat longer. Calves should have a 60% circumference ratio when compared to the upper legs. In looking at these muscle groupings, judges should be aware of the SHAPE, SIZE, DEFINITION and HARDNESS of each muscle. Muscles should have a pleasing contour (shape), with origins and insertions that give them the appearance of appropriate placement within the anatomy. Average or long bellied muscles are more desirable than short bellied, in that they do not leave gaps in the physique (such as a gap near the inside elbow for a person with a short bicep muscle, or a long gap in the achilles area for someone with a short calve muscle). A full, well-positioned muscularity has a more favorable appearance and should be judged accordingly. Size is not necessarily the key determining factor, but evidence of thick musculrity is desirable in comparing qualities among bodybuilders. The aspect of definition is equally important in judging muscularity. It must be possible to distinquish between muscles and muscle groups, as in muscle outlines, as well as the visibility of striations between fibers within a seperate muscle. Leanness is important but an anorexic or overly dieted appearance is not advantageous nor desirable. Definition within the confines of a welll-muscled physique is what judges should be looking for. Definition and hardness are the signs of a "finished" physique which is the result of hard training, the absence of body fat, and a limited retention of body water. Vascularity is a sign of a defined muscularity. SYMMETRY: In evaluating symmetry, the judge should be concerned with the harmony and proportion of the physique. This evaluation should begin with the SKELETAL STRUCTURE itself. Although a competitor may be limited by his genetic structure, the judge has to honestly examine this characteristic to make necessary distinctions between bodybuilders. The ideal structure should include a near-equal ratio of torso to leg length, broad shoulders and narrow hips for a man, with similar proportions for a woman. Symmetry also includes judgment of muscular development and the muscles themselves. The upper body and lower body development should be synergistic and fit together well. Likewise, the arms and legs should be in proportion to one another and also within each front to back. The physique should looked balanced from the front, back and side, with no angle overshadowing the others. Within the muscles themselves, balance must be existent pertaining to quality of muscle peak, height, development, length, shape and proportion. A final aspect involves definiton and hardness. There should be an evenness between hardness in the upper and lower body, between extremities and the torso and between corresponding sides of muscle groups or the entire body (between arms and between legs). Judging symmetry involves finding defects within the physique by careful evaluation, which are separate from defects found in the area of muscularity. Symmetry is a difficult marker of physique competiton to be judged. PRESENTATION: The focus in presentation is on all aspects of the performance other than the actual physique itself. Elements of display such as posture, carriage, projection, posing ability, skin tone and grooming are all concerned. Presentation judging begins with the SEMI-RELAXED round, in examining how the contestant presents himself. Contestants should face the position request by the judges (side, front, etc.) without twisting, posing, moving, etc. They should stand erect and symmetrical, weight on both feet and arms at the sides. Any movement (posing) which impairs the judge's ability to look at the presentation should be reflected in a markdown in scoring, costing the athlete possible higher placement. Grooming is also examined during this time, whith the emphasis on the athlete's ability to present a well-prepared and attractive appearance. Included here are evaluations based on hair neatness, discoloring of skin - tan quality and evenness. Jewelry other than rings and post earrings is prohibited. The individual POSING ROUTINE gives judges the opportunity to study the competitor's stage presence and ability to display his/her physique. The routine should include a broad selection of poses (to show all aspects of physique and be non-repetitive) and have an orderly progression of poses with smooth and finessed transitions. Likewise, poses should be held long enough for judges to gain an impression of the physique. Also, routines should be a bodybuilding display, and not dance, gymnastics, burlesque or other displays. Use of these techniques can enhance a routine if used sparingly, but judgement of posing should not be predicated on athletic or dance ability. The competitor shold enjoy the routine and communicate this to the judges and audience with the absence of gritted teeth, grimaces, quivering or shaking, balance problems, arrogance, etc. Slouching or lack of attention between requested poses should be viewed negatively by judges and reflected in scoring. Presentation involves a significant amount of pre-contest preparation, which is reflected in everything from stage presence to the posing routine. Many elements make up this portion of judging, all which should be considered when placing competitors. Presentation should be judged equally with muscularity and symmetry. |