*The contents of this refer to the criteria of the IFBB professional league and the NPC competitions. IFBB professional and NPC competition are officially affiliated competitions and IFBB professional leagues differ from IFBB in different aspects.
Bodybuilding Scoring Criteria
Unlike some sports such as football, golf or tennis which have a definitive score which tells win-loss-draw, the scoring criteria of bodybuilding competition is much more subjective as it is more of a relative comparison and qualitative assessment is required rather than a quantitative assessment. For IFBB professional league competitions, each competitor is assessed by various variables.
Judging Process
The judging process varies by each division but normally competitors present their physique with a routine of required poses which some divisions have fixed mandatory poses while other divisions only have do or don’ts but not a fixed pose.
After the judges take a look at the competitors, they perform several rounds of comparison which is referred as ‘callout’. In general, the 1st callout is the round where the top-ranking competitors compete.
Also, within each callout, those who are placed near the center or the middle of the competitions would be the top competitor among each round. Thus, if one poses in the 1st callout and competes near the middle of the competitors, the individual will highly likely to be the winner of the competition.
A total of seven judges compares the competitors by muscle mass, symmetry & balance, definition accordingly to the specific guidelines & criteria for each division.
The assessment by each judge itself maybe subjective, and criteria of divisions seems to change over time which does cause controversies of results per one’s preference, however still the IFBB professional league puts effort to make judging as fair as possible.
After each judge ranks the competitors in an order, the score sheets of each judge are collected. After all score sheets are collected, the highest score(which should be the rank of each competitor) and the lowest score are excluded.
After excluding the highest and lowest score for each competitor, the judges calculate the average of the rank(score) and announce the winner.
The competitor with the lowest score which means that in average the judges gave a better rank than others would be the winner of the competition.
In case of the Mr. Olympia weekend competitions, only from the first (which means the winner of the Mr. Olympia of the division) through the 15th rank is officially announced.
If a competitor ranks out of 15th rank, the competitor could only guess one’s rank by which callout the competitor was called out and how close the competitor was to the middle/center during one’s callout round.
Muscle Mass
Depending on the division a competitor is competing, the criteria of muscle mass may differ. For men’s bodybuilding, the more muscle mass, the better it is. Larger muscle mass will visually make each muscle more distinctive and make a much more visible separation.
Also, as the muscle itself is a linear tissue, the larger a muscle group is the more the striation patterns of the muscle would be visible.
However, for divisions such as Women’s Bikini, division criteria state that ‘too much muscle mass’ or ‘too much separation for specific muscle parts’ is a deductive point.
Definition
Definition refers to showing the texture of the muscle itself or the more ‘sculpted physique’.
It may sound confusing but for example, if muscle mass is more like revenue or how many dollars there is in my pocket, muscle definition is more like net profit or how much percent of the dollars in my pocket that I could actually use.
Among all the elements of the body, less fat, less water while retaining most of my muscle would mean a better muscle definition. Competitors competing in NPC or IFBB professional league competition present around 5% body fat level physique.
However, not only do they present a low body fat, but they also manipulate water retention by controlling water intake & outtake, and control carbohydrate intake to lose as much water in other tissue while retaining as much water in muscle tissue as possible.
Imagine when you roast steak, you may have had a fat juicy chunk of meat but you would see it shrink as it cooks and loses water.
Also imagine if how you could soak much milk when you dip your bread in it. Losing water in muscle tissue would make the muscle mass smaller while keeping just the right amount of carbohydrate would absorb excessive water which would make muscle tissue more pumped and bigger.
Of course, excessive water would make the muscle even less visible. Thus, in high level competitions such as the Mr. Olympia, water control is a very important component for competitors.
By observation, many South Korean competitors describe ‘definition’ as ‘carving’ or ‘taking out fat’ while many competitors in the North American region describe ‘definition’ as ‘adding up’ or ‘embossment’.
Symmetry & Balance
This may be the most subjective criteria upon all and the indigenous criteria above all criteria. Symmetry and balance would refer to the overall harmony of the muscle.
For men’s bodybuilding, from arms, shoulder, chest, back and legs should all have a certain size that overall form an aesthetic physique. Simply speaking, one should never skip leg day nor skip any other parts.
Oversized or underdeveloped body parts would be a great deduction in this criterion. However, these factors highly depend on the overall ingenious body structure as well.
Some people will have a shorter thigh limb or some might have a longer torso compared with other people.
Thus, symmetry and balance is one of the uncontrollable factors and why in the highest competition levels, judges mention that aesthetic counts.
However still, this isn’t the absolute criteria. For example, Ronnie Coleman didn’t have much of an aesthetic body but he came over this with his massive size with definition. [1]
Each bodybuilding division
There are many other bodybuilding federations such as PCA, ICN, NABBA, WBFF etc. However, the IFBB professional league is the most prominent bodybuilding competition in the world. Thus, the this shall cover the divisions of the IFBB professional league.
Development of SNS and increase of interests in fitness and bodybuilding influenced many bodybuilding federations for more public friendly division and induce more accessible competitions.
The IFBB professional league is also endorsing such demands and although other federations may have much public friendly divisions, these core competitions of other federations are influenced by the IFBB professional leagues.
Up to date, there are a total of 11 divisions in the IFBB professional leagues. The IFBB professional leagues have been constantly incorporating public interests and attempted to create more divisions upon demand. Thus, there may be different divisions in the future.
1. Men’s Open Bodybuilding
2. 212 Division
3. Classic Physique
4. Men’s Physique
5. Wheelchair
6. Women’s Bodybuilding
7. Fitness
8. Figure
9. Bikini
10. Women’s Physique
11. Wellness
1. Men’s Bodybuilding
This is also referred as the Men’s Open Division which means that there isn’t any limit to height nor weight during the overall final judgement. Men’s bodybuilding, 212 division and Classic Physique all require a small waist, V-taper torso and upper body, and overall X-taper balance.
However, Men’s bodybuilding doesn’t limit height and weight and gives more room for muscle mass. Men’s Bodybuilding is the main event for bodybuilding competitions. Competitors usually go through two rounds (For NPC, there would a division by weight/height and the winners of each division compete in the final comparison rounds.
Applicable for all NPC, because usually NPC competition overall winners are presented the IFBB professional card.) Judging and Finals. During Judge rounds, each competitor presents the eight mandatory poses and each competitor is compared and scored during the callouts.
Those usually called during the 1st callout may reach the finals. The Finals round include a 3-minute individual physique presentation routine prepared individually and a final comparison round.
The eight mandatory poses comprise of:
1. Front double biceps
2. Front lat spread
3. Side chest
4. Back double biceps
5. Back lat spread
6. Side triceps
7. Abdominals and thighs
8. Favorite Most muscular
2. 212 Bodybuilding
The 212 division was created in 2011 for shorter competitors who couldn’t build as much muscle mass than taller competitors. (This does not imply that the taller, the better to compete for the Men’s Open division). The 212 division is the same rules with the Men’s bodybuilding.
However, there is a limit for each competitor in terms of weight. Each competitor must weight less than 212 pounds(lb) which is about 96.6kg. There was once a height limit which was 5’ 5”(feet/inches) which is about 166cm but this became obsolete.
However, as there is a weight limit, a tall competitor may not be as successful as one may expect for this division. The eight mandatory poses comprise of:
1. Front double biceps
2. Front lat spread
3. Side chest
4. Back double biceps
5. Back lat spread
6. Side triceps
7. Abdominals and thighs
8. Favorite Most muscular
3. Classic Physique
This is a division created in 2016 as an attempt to present a much more ‘classic physique’ during the 1960 ~ 1980’s (Although unofficial, before Dorian Yates brought the monstrous muscle mass competition to the Mr. Olympia level competition).
There is a limit of weight per height criteria so each competitor cannot build ‘too much muscle weight’. The Classic Physique division does incorporate muscle mass, but due to the weight per height limit and the background of its foundation, it puts overall aesthetics to its judging criteria.
For competitors to be successful, narrow V-taper on the torso with a distinctive X shaped overall physique with symmetry and muscle definition is required.
Physique like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Frank Zane would be the perfect example for competitors. Like Men’s Open Bodybuilding, Classic Physique also consists of two rounds but the mandatory poses are only five and the most muscular pose is prohibited.
Also, competitors must wear a black trunk without any letters written on it for competition. The five mandatory poses comprise of:
1. Front double biceps
2. Side chest
3. Back double biceps
4. Abdominals and thighs
5. Favorite classic pose (no most muscular)
4. Men’s Physique
This division was created in 2012 as an attempt to induce more public attention and fans to bodybuilding and fitness. The objective of this division is to present the perfect physique ‘at the beach’. The Men’s Physique division doesn’t judge on the leg development and focuses on the upper body structure.
However, the Men’s physique division also emphasizes that too much muscle mass would be a deduction point. The overall physique required would be the V-taper physique with an overall athleticism and aesthetics.
The 8 mandatory bodybuilding poses are prohibited and rather the competitors take quarter turns showing off their upper body structure to the judges. Also, competitors wear border shorts that even covers up to their knees.
The Men’s Physique division is one of the most popular divisions and with the most contenders as well. Despite its short history, it is one of the most versatilely changing division as well. Year by year, the judging criteria seems to change a bit.
5. Wheelchair
The WCBB(Wheelchair Bodybuilding) is a different bodybuilding federation from the IFBB professional league. However, the WCBB athletes can also achieve the IFBB professional cards and compete at the Wheel Chair Mr. Olympia.
The Wheelchair division is distinctive as it has four mandatory poses and focuses on the overall upper body structure. They share the mandatory poses with the Men’s Open Bodybuilding division except for the leg posing. Another distinctive point is that competitors wear loose training pants. The four mandatory poses comprise of:
1. Front double biceps
2. Side chest
3. Back double biceps
4. Abdominals
6. Women’s Bodybuilding
This division was once excluded in the Mr. Olympia weekend in 2014 and has been re-introduced in 2020 due to the controversies among the public and voices within the IFBB professional league. The Women’s Bodybuilding has no limits in height nor weight.
Many Women’s division require wearing high heels, however the Women’s Bodybuilding doesn’t require high heels and competitors would have to compete with their mandatory poses and comparative physique only.
Competitors would compete in muscle mass, symmetry & balance and definition along with their overall aesthetics. The seven mandatory poses shares with the Men’s Open bodybuilding and 212 division except for the most favorite muscular pose. The seven mandatory poses include:
1. Front double biceps
2. Front lat spread
3. Side chest
4. Back double biceps
5. Back lat spread
6. Side triceps
7. Abdominals and thighs
7. Fitness
The fitness division is not a static posing division. Competitors in the Fitness division must perform a dancing style routine with some mandatory moves incorporated. This division was created in the 90’s in demand of a more dynamic performance based competition.
As much as the overall physique of the competitors are a crucial judging criterion, competitors must be able to counter-balance their physique with physical abilities to successfully perform their routine stage performance. The Fitness division consists of two rounds.
The first round is the physique presentation. Competitors must wear high heels and present their physique in two-piece bikini with four quarter turns. During the ‘Fitness’ round, competitors show a dancing like routine which must include
1. Push up (of any kind)
2. High kick
3. Straddle hold
4. Side split
The Fitness round is 2/3 of the scoring criteria while the physique presentation is 1/3 of the score. Thus, competitors must strategically balance their emphasis based on their strengths and weaknesses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vltGQeDpHE
8. Figure
This division is more similar to the Men’s Physique division. While the Women’s Physique division is more similar to the Classic Physique division. The terms of each division might confuse viewers. However, the Figure division isn’t about the ‘aesthetics of the beach look’ like Men’s Physique.
This division intends to seek the V-taper and gives emphasis on the narrow waist, wide shoulders and wide back. It also examines the hamstrings and the glutes’ structure.
Although muscle separation is important, criteria states that ‘feminine look should be maintained while excessive striation of the muscle (striped patterns of the muscle tissue) and vascularity is a deduction point.’ Competitors must wear a two-piece bikini and present their physique in high heels.
9. Women’s Physique
This division was created together with the Men’s Physique division in 2012. The term may sound confusing but it would be much easier to comprehend this division as a bit more extreme than Women’s Figure but less than Women’s Bodybuilding.
Competitors of this division compete with their bare foot without wearing high heels. However muscle mass, symmetry and overall aesthetics are important but excessive muscle definition, separation is a deduction point for competitors.
The competitors should also maintain ‘feminine look’ while their physique shouldn’t be too much ‘ripped’.
Probably one of the most difficult division to literally define the judging criteria is the Women’s Physique division. The five mandatory poses comprise of:
1. Front double biceps (with open hands)
2. Side chest (with arms extended)
3. Back double biceps (with open hands)
4. Side triceps (with leg extended)
5. Abdominals and thighs
10.Bikini
This division was created 2010 and is the most popular women’s division with the most contenders as well. It is also one of the most difficult divisions to judge.
The overall judging criteria is to make an aesthetic ‘beach look’ and overall presentation. The bikini division competitors perform a ‘model walk’ and perform a number of quarters turns to present their physique.
Competitors in this division have the least muscle mass (excessive muscle is a deduction point) and too much separation, definition or striation of the muscle is a deduction point.
Those with small waist, with round tight glutes without too much separation while having good amount of hamstring separation but it is very subjective and the Bikini division’s judging criteria also seems to change often along time.
11.Wellness
This division is the most recently created division in the IFBB professional leagues. This was created in 2021. The Wellness division criteria may change, but by current criteria, it requires a much more muscular leg muscles compared with the Bikini division.
Competitors compete with high heels and two-piece bikinis on. Competitors must have slight separation but not too less body fat which may show striation patterns. This division gives more emphasis on the hips, glutes and thigh while giving less emphasis on the upper body.
Competitors present their physique in quarter turns. By the results so far, the upper body of top competitors are similar with the Bikini division while the legs are similar with Women’s physique. However, considering that the Wellness division is competing in high heels, this may be a point to consider if one would want to compete. [2]
[1] Marino, Peter. “How Bodybuilding Is Judged, Different Divisions, and Scoring.” BarBend, 7 Dec. 2020, https://barbend.com/how-bodybuilding-is-judged/.
[2] Marino, Peter. “How Bodybuilding Is Judged, Different Divisions, and Scoring.” BarBend, 7 Dec. 2020, https://barbend.com/how-bodybuilding-is-judged/.
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