ANBF Figure Guidelines

Overview

ANBF Figure Division events consist of two parts: Group Comparisons and Individual Presentations. Competitors perform a 15 second introductory individual walk to center stage prior to the group comparisons and perform a longer individual walk immediately after group comparisons. Two-piece suits and high-heeled shoes are worn for all parts of the contest. Judging is based on having an overall healthy-looking toned body along with good presentation.

Eligibility

All ANBF Figure competitors must be age 16 or older. Current membership in ANBF is required of all competitors to participate in ANBF events. The ANBF is a 100% drug tested organization via polygraph and random urinalysis. The ANBF requires athletes to be 7 years drug free; using the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited substance list, which can be viewed at www.anbfnatural.com. Competitors must pass a polygraph screening prior to their events to attest to their natural status.  Winners at events offering a pro card must submit to urinalysis and pass drug screening in order to be awarded pro status.

Competitor Rules

Competitors will be judged in two-piece suits and clear high heels. Suits may be of any color, pattern, and style. Suit should cover at least 50% of the glutes and should crisscross over the lower back, with the straps hooked into the bottoms. Suits should be in good taste; no thongs/T-back bottoms will be permitted. ANBF promoters reserve the right to disqualify a competitor from competing in a specific show if their suit is inappropriate. Competitors are advised to bring two suits to check-in to avoid this.   Competitor’s numbers will be worn on front left and rear middle of their suit.   Jewelry and hair ornaments will be allowed during all rounds of judging.  Competitors are encouraged to use stage tanning products, but should remember to be careful not to wipe such products on competition facilities’ surfaces such as walls, floors, and auditorium seats.

Classes

At the promoter’s discretion, classes will be split by height and depending upon the number of competitors registered for the event.

Judging Criteria

Judges will evaluate competitors on the following criteria:

• Muscle Tone and Definition – A specific level of muscularity, definition and tone is sought but excessive mass is not desired in the figure category. ANBF figure competitors should be well defined with muscles that flow nicely. Delts should flow nicely into the biceps and triceps. There should be a taper in the lats flowing into the oblique with fluid lines into the sweep of the upper thigh. In general, the figure physique should demonstrate visible muscle separation and conditioning without striations. Muscles should be full and round. The following are examples of common terms used in the bodybuilding industry. These words can be helpful to access what should not be descriptive to the physiques being judged in this division: Ripped, shredded, peeled, striated, dry, diced, hard, vascular, grainy, massive, thick, dense, etc.
• Symmetry and Proportion – In addition to presenting an overall healthy-looking, shapely, muscular and lean body, ANBF figure competitors should have an even flow throughout the body. No body part should stand out from the rest. Equal development between all muscle groups should present good symmetry, shape, balance and proportion when viewed from all sides.
• General Presentation – Competitors should display good poise, posture, confidence, and stage presence. The presentation should not be overly suggestive; competitors may be marked down for inappropriate presentations. Other factors that can affect overall appearance are skin tone, complexion, suit fit, hair and make-up.

Judging

Individual Presentation

Each class will be introduced individually one by one. The competitor will proceed to center stage and be given 15 seconds of free posing. Competitors can perform any poses of their choice. The MC will introduce each competitor by name and where they are from. Competitors should choose stances that display their physique in the most favorable manner. Once complete, the competitor will remain on stage and line up on a diagonal line placed in the back corner of each side of the stage.

Group Comparisons

After the 15 second individual presentations are complete, each class is brought to front center stage and is guided through quarter turns to display physiques from the front, left, back, and right. The front and rear stances are to be with head and eyes facing the same direction as the body, heels and toes together, knees can be soft, but not bent. Arms should be no more than 2 inches from the competitor’s hip (front or side) and should be relaxed from the elbow down through the fingers. Lats should be spread wide as to accentuate the v-taper. Shoulders and chest should be high, but not hunched toward the ears. The side poses: head and eyes facing the same direction as the body, heels together or front foot may be shifted slightly forward of the rear foot (no visible space between the feet). Both legs should be straight. Competitors may twist slightly but keeping in mind that the twist cannot be overly done. Twist only slightly enough that that the rear shoulder (facing away from the judges) can be displayed. The front arm (facing the judges) must not be moved any further than the middle of the hip.   NOTE: Competitors who are overly twisted or not following other ANBF posing guidelines may, at the discretion of the head judge, be corrected. Failure to comply with ANBF posing guidelines could result in a deduction of points from overall score.   Quarter turn transitions should be fluid with no stiff, jerky or military-style movements.   Sample Images:

Finals

Individual Stage Walk

The individual stage walk presentation portion will immediately follow the group comparisons. After a class files off, the first person in the class will perform their stage walk. The competitor walks out to music of their choice to center stage and performs two poses of their choice. Competitor will then proceed to the same side of the stage they entered from and display two poses of their choice. Competitor will then proceed to the opposite side of the stage where they will perform two poses of their choice. To complete the walk, the competitor will return to center stage and perform a final pose and wave/curtsy before exiting the stage.   Individual presentations should be done tastefully and be conducive to a family atmosphere.  Bodybuilding-type poses, fitness moves (like push-ups) and costumes/props should be avoided. Competitors will be allowed 60 seconds to complete their stage walks.   Note: If a competitor has already performed a stage walk in a previous class, they will not do the stage walk a second time. If the competitor has crossed over to another category (bikini to figure, figure to physique, etc.) the competitor may perform their walk/routine in subsequent class.

Overalls

In events with multiple figure classes, the winners of each class will return to the stage for comparison judging following the same procedure as judging.

Scoring

Judging for placements within each class will take place during judging. Each judge takes all criteria into account and assigns an overall score for each contestant in the form of a rank/placement during the group comparison round. The highest and lowest rank for each competitor is dropped as a safeguard against bias, whether intentional or on a subconscious level.  The remaining judges’ placements are summed, and the competitor with the lowest sum receives first place in the class, while the second lowest sum receives second place, etc.   Stage walks will also be judged as part of the competitor’s presentation.  Each stage walk will be scored using the following system: -1 (no effort, bad choice of poses to display physique), 0 (good overall display of physique utilizing proper choices of poses to show strengths, nice effort), +1 (excellent display of physique, good choice of poses), +2 (exceptional display of physique with exceptional choice of poses to highlight strengths). The stage walk scores will be totaled and averaged where the amount will be deducted from the competitors score to determine final placement.   The same procedure is followed for judging of overall winners during the finals.