Note: This summary is based on the rules of the International Federation of Body Builders (IFBB).
Stage and Attire
Bodybuilders are judged on a stage, 80 centimeters to 1 meter high, with a centrally located posing plinth that is a minimum of 6 meters deep, 1.2 meters wide, and 60 centimeters high.
Male competitors must wear posing trunks of a solid color. Females must wear bikinis, of a solid cover, that reveal the abdominal muscles and lower back muscles. At least two-thirds of the gluteus maximum must be covered. Metallic materials and padding are prohibited.
Competitors are allowed to use body coloring, such as tanning ointments, but it must be applied at least 24 hours before prejudging. Body oils, skin creams, and moisturizers may also be used in moderation.
Officials
The judging panel for major competitions is made up nine judges. For other events, there may be five or seven judges. For major women's competitions, at least five of the nine judges must be women. In addition, there's a chief judge who is in overall charge of the entire competition.
Other officials include a judges' secretary, a timekeeper, two statisticians, a master of ceremonies/announcer, a chief marshal, and an unspecified number of assistant marshals.
Weigh-In
The day before prejudging, competitors must weigh in, wearing their posing attire for the chief judge's approval. The approved attire must be worn during all phases of competition.
In major IFBB competition, there are six weight categories for men and three for women.
| Men | |
|---|---|
| Category | Max. |
| Bantamweight | 65 kg |
| Lightweight | 70 kg |
| Welterweight | 75 kg |
| Middleweight | 80 kg |
| Light-heavyweight | 90 kg |
| Heavyweight | 90+ kg |
| Women | |
| Category | Max. |
| Lightweight | 52 kg |
| Middleweight | 57 kg |
| Heavyweight | 57+ kg |
Elimination Round
If there are more than 15 competitors in a category, an elimination round is held to get the number down to 15.
All of the athletes in the category line up on stage in numerical order. Under the chief judge's direction, they perform four compulsory poses, also in numerical order: front double biceps, side chest, back double biceps, and abdominals and thighs.
If there are more than 21 competitors, each judge selects 15 finalists. If there are 21 or fewer, each judge selects competitors to be eliminated. The score sheets are then tallied to determine which 15 competitors take part in prejudging.
Prejudging
Competitors in each category are allowed 30 minutes to change into their approved posing attire and to warm up. The 15 competitors then come on stage, in numerical order, and perform two turns in relaxed position, as a group.
In groups of five, they then perform compulsory poses, seven for men, five for women and couples. The compulsory poses are:
Front double biceps, front lat spread (men only), side chest, back double biceps, back lat spread (men only), side triceps, and abdominals and thighs.
Based on the poses, each judge ranks the competitors from 1 through 15, with no ties allowed. The statisticians then take over, throwing out the two high and two low scores for each competitor and adding the remaining five scores. The resulting subscores determine the placings for the competitors, with the lowest subscore ranked first.
Note: If there are seven judges, only one high score and one low score are thrown out. If there are only five judges, all five scores are used.
Finals
The top six placers from the prejudging round advance to the finals. In this round, each competitor comes out individually to do a free posing routine to music, with a time limit of 60 seconds for men, 90 seconds for women and 2 minutes for pairs.
All six athletes then come back out and perform the compulsory poses as a group, under the direction of the head judge.
That's followed by 60-second "posedown," during which the competitors show their best poses to entertain the audience while the judges mark their final scores.
The scoring procedure is the same as in prejudging. Each judge ranks the competitors from 1 through 6 and the statisticians throw out the two highest and two lowest scores for each, then total the scores that remain.
Compulsory Poses
During each pose, judges first assess the specific muscle groups highlighted by that pose. They then scan the entire physique from head to toe, gauging overall muscular bulk, definition and density. Balanced development is very important.
Front Double Biceps
The competitor faces the judges, with the feet a short distance apart, raises both arms to shoulder level and bends them at the elbows, clenching and turning down the hands to contract the forearm and biceps muscles.
Front Lat Spread
The competitor faces the judges, with the feet a short distance apart, and places the open hands or clenched fists, against the lower waist. Some competitors will actually grip the waist. The latissimus dorsi muscles (lats) are then expanded.
Side Chest
The competitor stands with either side toward the judges and bends the arm on that side to a right angle, clenching the fist, while the other hand grasps the wrist on that arm. The leg nearest the judges is bent at the knee, resting on the toes. The chest is expanded while the biceps, thigh muscles, and calf muscles are contracted.
Back Double Biceps
This is similar to the front double biceps, except that the competitor faces away from the judges and one foot is placed back. The competitor contracts the arm muscles and the muscles of the shoulders, upper and lower back.
Back Lat Spread
The competitor stands with his back to the judges, with hands on his waist, elbows wide, and one foot back. The latissimus dorsi muscles are contracted the calf muscles of the back leg are contract through pressure on the toes.
Side Triceps
The competitor stands with either side toward the judges and puts both arms behind the back, linking the fingers or grasping the front wrist with the rear hand. The leg nearest the judges is bent at the knee. The triceps muscle is contracted through pressure against the front arm; the abdominal, thigh, and calf muscles are also contracted.
Abdominals and Thighs
Facing the judges, the competitor puts both arms behind the head, with one leg forward, contracting the abdominal muscles and the thigh muscles of the forward leg.