Elite Physique

Q. I’m so confused by the judging done in bodybuilding contests. What are the judges looking for in the symmetry round, the muscularity round, and the compulsory poses round? Also, what’s the point of having a pre-judging and a night show? How many points are awarded for the posing routine?

A. I understand your confusion. In the past, the only way to get a contest report was through the magazines. Unfortunately, the mags focus on pro shows. So what you would get would be a review of the different rounds. Amateur shows are different in that all the judging rounds are distilled into one round. That round happens in the morning, and it’s where the judges rank the competitors based on muscularity, symmetry, proportion, etc. You may actually see several comparisons take place. The judges will put the competitors through the compulsory poses until they have all been ranked. I really need to stress the word “rank.”

The biggest misconception competitors have with respect to judging is that points are taken away for flaws. Totally false! There simply isn’t enough time to worry about minor details. The judging panels I’ve worked with are very experienced. In fact, in the OPA it’s not uncommon to be judged by two Olympia-level judges—it really doesn’t get better than that. Competitors are ranked by seven judges. For example, if there are three bodybuilders in a class, the best would get a score of one (ranked first) and the last-place competitor would get a score of three (ranked third). Of the seven scores, two (the highest and the lowest) are removed and the remaining five scores are added together. The competitor with the lowest score is placed first. This trend continues until all the athletes are placed. Once the judging sheets are submitted to the statistician, the rankings cannot be changed. In fact, each judge must sign off on his or her score sheet prior to moving to the next class.

Be Disciplined

The bulk of the scoring is done in the morning. The only judging done at the night show is during the overalls. Does this mean that open season on treats is declared after the morning show? A wise competitor wouldn’t deviate from the original game plan. Although limited judging is performed at the evening show, this could be a prime opportunity for physique athletes to “sell” themselves. Supplement company reps are more likely to attend the night show, so it’s vital to arrive at your best. I’ve seen great athletes get passed over because they couldn’t resist pigging out before the evening event. The winner of the show may not have the look that a supplement company is in search of. Remember, they want a model who can sell their product, not necessarily the overall winner. Look at the ads that currently grace the pages of the physique magazines. The majority of ad work is not from event winners.

Prove Yourself

The night show is also the best time to get a great stage shot that can be used for a business card, a portfolio, etc. During the morning show, athletes are limited to the mandatory poses, but at the night show, they can spice it up a bit. Put forth some effort in your posing routine and really show who you are. Sure, you can sit there and say it’s a money grab for the promoters, but they deserve it. I personally know some promoters, and their asses are on the line. They put a lot of time, effort, and money into creating a great show, and they should be rewarded. Trust me, they aren’t coming away with bulging pockets—most are lucky to break even. One such dynamic duo, Jim Morris and Norm Jacobs, make up the premiere Canadian physique event promotional company Jamor Enterprises. This team has probably the longest and most successful track record for Canadian physique events. Recently they have combined efforts with OPA President Ron Hache to promote the Toronto Pro SuperShow. This event is getting bigger and better each year and is certain to be the Canadian equivalent of the hugely successful Arnold Classic. So, yes, there is a purpose to the night show—for both promoter and competitor. Coming in the best you can be for both the morning and night shows will only be in your best interest. It’s called being professional

To read another great article by Dan Kennedy on contest judging, click HERE!