NPC Women's Bodybuilding Guidelines
These guidelines do not include complete rules for competition set out by the NPC, and are not intended to encompass all requirements that competitors must meet in order to compete in a NPC sanctioned event. These guidelines have been prepared as a courtesy to assist you in your contest preparations.
Weight Groups
| Unlimited – 4 weight groups
| Lightweight - 115 lbs & under
Middleweight - over 115 lbs up to and including 125
Light Heavyweight - over 125 lbs up to and including 140
Heavyweight - over 140 lbs up to and including
| Unlimited – 3 weight groups
| Lightweight – up to and including 125
Middleweight – over 125 and up to and including 140
Heavyweight – over 140
Unlimited - 4 weight groups
(national qualifier)
| Lightweight - up to 154
Middleweight - over 154 to 176
Light Heavyweight - over 176 to 198
Heavyweight - over 198
| Polygraphed Events - 2 weight groups
| Lightweight – up to and including 118
Heavyweight – over 118
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NOTE: Some events have only one weight group in the unlimited women's division.
Prejudging
- CHECK-IN: Double check your entry form for information concerning the location and time of check-ins. It is your responsibility to be on time !!
NOTE: Each contestant may enter more than one division as long as you pay a separate entry fee for each division entered (refer to your entry form for fees required).
You must check-in in the suit you plan to compete in. If you plan to wear a different suit during any phase of the competition, it must be of the same cut or you will need the women's head judge to inspect the suit before you can be allowed to wear it on stage.
Have your suit on before you get in line for check-ins. Do not wait until you are actually checking in. Be considerate to your fellow competitors. Not wearing your suit only delays the check-in process. (for additional requirements regarding suits, see section entitled "suits").
- NUMBERS: Your numbered tag should be placed on your left hip. Place it on the flat plane of your hip to prevent it from twisting or flipping around. This way the judges should be able to see it clearly,
- ROUNDS OF COMPETITION: Prejudging will consist of three rounds of competition; symmetry round, 60-second free posing, and comparisons.
Note: If there are less than 100 athletes in the contest everyone will perform at the evening finals. If this is the case then the 60 second free posing round may be dropped at the morning prejudging.
- Symmetry Round: Each class will be directed to the stage in a single numerical line-up.
The class will be instructed by the head judge to perform quarter turns, one turn at a time, to the right. You should perform quarter turns with heels touching, arms at your side and your head facing in the direction of your feet. You should be in a "semi relaxed" pose, meaning you are not performing any mandatory poses, but you should not be totally relaxed either.
Do not distort your body by twisting your torso or placing one arm further in front of you than the other. Perform the quarter turns as indicated above. If you are not in the position indicated above, the head judge will direct you to conform to the position required.
- Free posing round: Each competitor will perform his 60-second free posing routine without music. You may perform the routine you plan to use at the evening finals, or you may use an entirely different routine.
Do not try to do your entire 90-second routine in 60 seconds. If you don't hold your poses long enough, you will not be able to display your physique to your best advantage.
You do not have to wait for the head judge to tell you to begin. You will be timed from your first pose. When 50 seconds has elapsed, the head judge will call "10 seconds". This is to warn you that you still have 10 seconds remaining in which to complete your routine. When 60 seconds has elapsed, the head judge will call "time".
The only time the head judge will stop you once you begin your free posing routine is in the event of an emergency or if your suit is in eminent danger of coming undone, such that it may cause you extreme embarrassment. The head judge will tell you that you need to fix your suit. If you cannot fix your suit while you are onstage, ask the head judge if you may leave the stage for a moment in order to fix your suit. You will be allowed to begin your routine again.
You may perform gymnastic maneuvers. However, keep in mind that you may be posing on a raised platform, which may or may not be as steady as the stage floor. If you plan on performing gymnastic maneuvers, please look over the posing platform first. You should be allowed to inspect the posing platform before prejudging. If for some reason you run into any problems in being given a opportunity to inspect the posing platform please find the promoter right away and this problem will go away.
- Comparison Round: The entire class will file on stage in a line as they did in the symmetry round. At this point, the head judge will call out the mandatory poses to be performed.
The mandatory poses consist of the following:
- Front double biceps
- Side chest (either side)
- Side triceps (either side with your leg closest to the audience to the rear)
- Back double biceps (facing rear curtain)
- Abdominal and quadriceps
- Front lat spread
- Back lat spread
- BANNED POSE: THE MOON POSE IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE DISPLAYED AT ANYTIME DURING THE PREJUDGING OR EVENING FINAL. THIS POSE IS PERFORMED WHEN THE ATHLETE TURNS HER BACK TO THE AUDIENCE AND BENDS OVER AT THE WAIST. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT THIS POSE IS AND THAT YOU DO NOT PERFORM IT. IF YOU DO YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED - NO EXCEPTIONS !!
LISTEN TO THE HEAD JUDGE AS YOU ARE DIRECTED ON STAGE. You may not remain in the same location on stage during this round. Depending on the number of ladies in the class and what comparisons the judges want to see, you may be asked to stand next to different competitors, to move to one side of the stage, or to move on or off the posing platform.
Evening Finals
You will be notified before the end of prejudging when you need to return to the theater. Make sure you have this information before you leave the venue.
It is the discretion of the promoter if all the athletes will perform their evening routine or if it will be limited to the top 5 in each class, however, all competitors will be introduced at the evening finals. WE WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ALWAYS POSE EVERYONE AT THE EVENING FINALS.
The evening finals posing routine duration is 90 seconds max; you can, however, at your discretion, use less time. Your time begins when the music starts. Music must be on CD.
- SUITS:
PREJUDGING:
- Two piece bikini swim suit must be a solid color.
- Except for a wedding ring, no jewelry is to be worn during the morning prejudging.
- Suits must cover 50% of the glutes. No thong or T back allowed, however V style suits are acceptable.
FINALS:
Suits may be as follows:
- Metallic, multi-colored, studded with rhinestones
- Triangle top or push-up
- V suits are acceptable
You should bring at least two suits with you in case your first choice tears, rips, the string breaks or some other mishap happens.
No matter how well your suit fits it will move. There are a variety of different products which will temporarily glue your suit to your body.
- HAIR: There is no rule that says you have to wear your hair in any particular style, including up or down. Enough is to say, "the judges cannot judge what they cannot see" If your hair is long, by wearing it down you may do yourself a disservice because the judges will have a harder time seeing the development of your back. Even shoulder- length hair can sometimes cover more than you want to cover.
- MAKEUP: It is not mandatory to wear makeup. This is your personal choice. However the more finished and feminine you appear, the better your overall presentation is. If you do wear makeup, as your tan must be dark enough to show up under the bright stage lights, so does your makeup. The judges are looking for the best package of muscularity, symmetry, stage presence and femininity.
- JEWELRY: Jewelry is allowed to be worn on stage at the evening finals.
- MUSIC: CD only IS ACCEPTABLE. Each CD must contain only one song (music mixing allowed), must be pre-set, and must bear the contestant’s name. Each contestant is responsible for picking up his/her music at the Evening Show. Lindsay Productions will not accept liability for music left behind. Music that contains profane language or disparaging remarks is not allowed. If such music is used, it will be be turned off and you are subject to disqualification by the meet chairman.
- JUDGING RESULTS: If you wish to approach the judges, please do so after your portion of the show is over, ie, either during the intermission if you were already on stage, or at the conclusion of the evening finals. The judges at the night show are also judging for the various overall awards so make sure your class has finished. You can also contact the district chairman for information regarding scores, results, etc.
- SPORTSMANSHIP: The NPC requires that an athlete conduct herself in a manner which will reflect favorably on the sport of bodybuilding and the NPC. Any conduct contrary to that effect is discouraged, and depending on the severity of such conduct, can lead to suspension from competition. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:
- Making disparaging remarks concerning any NPC official, judge or fellow athletes in the venue location.
- Making disparaging gestures while on stage.
- Smashing, breaking or throwing an award, damaging or vandalizing the contest venue.
- Any conduct which demeans you, your fellow athletes, judges or officials.
Competition can be a source of great personal triumph. There are no guarantees. The nature of the competition requires "risk taking". Sometimes you may wind up being very disappointed because you did not do as well as you wanted to, or as well as you thought you deserved.
What ever happens, leave the audience with the impression that you are a gracious competitor, that you have dignity and class. The way that you present yourself and take your placement will be remembered long after people remember what place you took.
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