Judging begins the moment you step on stage. Be aware of everything:
- Smile
- Hold in and flex your stomach
- Flex everything
- Walk big
- Walk with good posture
- Manage breathing through your chest
- Keep your eyes up and make eye contact with the judges, the audience, and the photographers
- Be confident
- Watch for instructions from the stage expeditor
Listen to the Head Judge
- Carefully follow instructions from the head judge
- Be aware of your number and listen for it
- If your number is called, raise your hand. Typically another competitor will be called for you to switch places.
- Be charismatic, don’t show disappointment if you don’t like how you were moved.
At this point, the head judge is moving competitors around to compare them to one another for the judging panel to see. The judge will ask for different poses and may ask to repeat poses. Typically when the call out will be complete, you will be standing in the position of how you will place at finals. This is by far not a sure thing and anything may change. But more times than not, this is how you will finish.
On Stage
Center Podium Competitor Stage Blocking
Stage blocking will vary from show to show. However, Center Podium shows use the blocking found at top events like the Mr. Olympia, Arnold Classic, and Legion Sports Fest.
Stage Entrance by Show
- NPC Mother Lode – Stage Left
- NPC West Coast Classic – Stage Right
- NPC Dexter Jackson Classic – Stage Right
- NPC Tahoe Show – Stage Left
- NPC New Mexico State – Stage Right
- IFBB Legion Sports Fest – TBA
- NPC Worldwide Russia International Championship – TBA
NPC Pre-Judging
Pre-Judging is when the judges decide placing for all classes except the overall. The judges may choose to re-judge at finals, but it is rare.
Bikini, Figure & Men’s Physique
- Athletes line up in numerical order backstage.
- Athletes enter from the backstage athlete staging area and will line up on the diagonal line as directed by our onstage expediter. Depending on the number of athletes, in the class, the athlete may approach from stage right or stage left. Be prepared for either scenario.
- Each athlete will be called one-by-one by the head expeditor to present for 10-15 seconds.
- Walk from the diagonal to the front and center of the stage, directly in front of the head judge. You will see a number “1” on the floor in that general area. Perform 2-3 of your best poses.
- You will follow the stage expediter’s instructions to walk back to the diagonal line where you started.
- Judges will then call athletes by number for “First Callout.” They will call 5-6 competitors at a time, running competitors through mandatory poses. The stage expediter assists in identifying athletes in the call out, moving them to the appropriate spot as the head judge requests. Be sure to listen for your number and follow the instructions of the head judge. Also, be sure the judges can see your number button at all times.
- After Initial comparisons, competitors will move back to the diagonal line to the positions from which they started.
- Upon completion, if there is LESS THAN one “CALL OUT” you will be instructed to file off stage by the judges and the stage expediter.
- If there is MORE THAN one “CALL OUT,” the first group will file to the diagonal. The judges will then call “SECOND CALL OUT.” This may repeat to a third, fourth, etc. call-out depending on the number of competitors.
- Note that you may be asked to join comparisons in more than one call out.
- After judging concludes, athletes will leave from the same side that they entered.
Classic Physique, Bodybuilding, & Women’s Physique
- Competitors will not perform posing free posing round.
- Up to 8 athletes will go on stage to the judging line as instructed by the stage expediter. If there are more than eight athletes, the group will be split into smaller groups. The group not on the judging line will wait on the diagonal.
- Initial comparisons take place, running competitors through all compulsory poses.
- After Initial comparisons, competitors will move to the diagonal line, filling from the side from which they entered to the opposite side.
- Judges will then call athletes by number for “First all out.” The judge will call 5-6 competitors at a time, running competitors through mandatory poses. The stage expediter will assist in identifying athletes in the call out and moving them to the appropriate spot as the judge requests.
- Upon completion, if there is LESS THAN one “CALL OUT”, athletes will be instructed to file off stage by the judges and stage expediter.
- If there is MORE THAN one “CALL OUT,” the first group will file to the diagonal. The judges will then call “SECOND CALL OUT.” This may repeat depending on the number of competitors.
- Follow the instructions of the judges and stage expediter to know when to leave the stage. It will vary based on the number of athletes in your class.
- After judging concludes, athletes will leave from the same side that they entered.
Fitness
Fitness does not perform at Pre-Judging. There is no comparison round for fitness and thus only the routine is judged at Finals.
After Pre-Judging
Time for a meal and some liquids. The majority of the judging is now complete. Don’t go nuts but eat enough to keep your muscles full. Often people will eat a burger, fries, donuts during this time. In moderation, these are good foods to keep you full. These foods should be eaten with a diuretic. After this meal, go back to eating a small amount of meat protein, sweet potatoes, rice and rice cakes.
Sleep as much as you can. Rest with your legs elevated to keep the lines in your legs.
NPC Finals
Finals order of events will proceed the same as pre-judging, but usually faster judging since that largely happens in the morning but slower due to posing routines. As with Pre-Judging, pay careful attention to when you are to go on stage.
Overalls are live-judged. Overalls are when the winners of each class are compared to the Overall best in the division. All athletes will participate in Finals.
Bikini, Figure, Wellness, & Men’s Physique – DJ provides music
- All athletes will come to the stage for each class and stand on the diagonal line.
- The MC will call each athlete who is NOT posing. The athlete will raise a hand to acknowledge their name announcement. The expeditor will stand in front of the athletes to direct them to stay or pose.
- The MC will call each athlete who is posing individually, in numerical order, to perform their routine. (If the athlete has already performed their routine, they will not be called out to perform a routine a second time.)
- When the athlete number is called, they will walk to the center of the judging line and perform 2-3 poses.
- The expeditor will guide the athlete back to the diagonal line.
- The MC will announce that the Top 5 will be called. The stage expeditor will now move all athletes not in the top off the stage. This will take place
- Top 5 awards will be announced once all athletes have performed their routine.
Top 5
- If you are in the Top 5, the expeditor will move you to the position on the judge’s line that corresponds with your placing.
- Once all placing is called, join hands and hold your hands above your head for the photos.
- If it is an overall, the winner will stay after 2nd – 5th leaves for individual photos.
Classic Physique, Bodybuilding, Fitness & Women’s Physique – You will provide music to the DJ at weigh-ins. Music can be brought on USB or CD. All music must be provided at check-ins.
- ALL Competitor will perform up to a 45-second posing routine. The athletes will leave the stage after posing from the side they entered the stage. (If the athlete has already performed their routine, they will not be called out to perform a routine a second time.)
- If an athlete is in the Top 5, the expeditor will instruct you to stay. This can happen very quickly, therefore the athlete must be prepared to immediately renter the stage for awards.
- Once all routines are complete, the TOP 5 will be brought out to stand diagonal.
- Top 5 awards will be announced once all athletes have performed their routine.
Crossovers
You will do your walk or pose only in the first class. You will enter the stage and be recognized for each class but will not repeat your routine.
Awards
Awards will be called from 5th place to 1st place.
- The placement on stage is laid out as such. Note that this is the order from the judge’s angle.
4 2 1 3 5
- The trophy presenter will place a medal around your neck.
- Once all placing is called, join hands and hold your hands above your head for the photos.
- If it is an overall, the winner will stay after 2nd – 5th leaves for individual photos. The athlete will take a photo alone with the trophy and another with it set to the side of the athlete. (Athletes should practice their winning pose to prepare for the win)
Remember always to smile, show fantastic sportsmanship, and respect for your fellow athletes and judges. This will pay off big in the future of your contest career.
All overall winners should stay until the end for a group photo.
Post Show
Eat, re-hydrate. Pedialyte is often consumed for re-hydration. Avoid alcohol; your organs have been through enough. Plus it just makes you dizzy after competing.
After a couple cheat meals, get back on track. Healthy eating will reap fantastic gains. Amateurs will over do it and get fat very quickly. Top pros never get far out of shape. You’ll find if you get back on track after a couple of weeks it becomes quite easy.
Now you have the knowledge. Combine with hard work, and you will be a champion. No luck is needed!
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Although we make every effort to follow the above stage blocking, it is subject to change. The head judge and promoter reserves the options to make any changes and will do so when necessary based on the pace of the show, flow, and the number of athletes. Changes that may occur include, but are not limited, to shortening of posing times, change of stage blocking, cutting posing routines, allowing only top 5 or top 10 to pose, cutting or shortening posing routines of bottom placing competitors, etc.