POSING SUITS
- All suit bottoms must be V-shaped, no thongs are permitted.
- Suits worn by male competitors at the prejudging and finals must be plain in color with no fringe, wording, sparkle or fluorescents.
- Posing Suits worn by female competitors must be two-piece but may include a printed design with fringes, lace, sparkle or fluorescents that are in good taste.
- All Prejudging suits will be checked at the morning check-in.
- Competitors are not permitted to alter the fit of the posing suit by hiking it up in the back or by pulling up the sides during Front and Rear Lat Spreads.
- Take a look at our recent NPC contest galleries for examples of approved NPC Posing Suits.
POSING MUSIC
- Posing music will be used at the Finals.
- Posing music must be on a CD and must be the only music on the CD.
- Posing music must be on Side A and should be cued to the start of the music.
- Posing music must not contain vulgar lyrics. Competitors using music containing vulgar lyrics will be disqualified.
ONSTAGE
- During the Prejudging male and female competitors are not permitted to wear any jewelry onstage other than a wedding band. Decorative pieces in the hair are not permitted.
- During the Finals female competitors are permitted to wear earrings.
- No glasses, props or gum are permitted onstage.
- Any competitor doing the “Moon Pose” will be disqualified.
- Lying on the floor is prohibited.
- Bumping and shoving is prohibited. First and second persons involved will be disqualified.
- Competitors numbers will be worn on the left side of the suit bottom.
BACKSTAGE
- The only people permitted in the backstage area are competitors, expediters, NPC officials & NPC News Online.
COMPETITOR’S HEALTH
- Any competitor who appears to be disoriented, light-headed or experiences undue cramping will not be permitted to compete.
- Any competitor disqualified for health reasons must be checked by the attending EMT and, if it is advised by the EMT, must go to the nearest hospital for evaluation.
- Competitors who refuse to be evaluated by the EMT or at the hospital will be suspended from competition for a period of one year from the date of the occurrence.
WEIGHT CLASSES
| Bantamweight | up to 143 ¼ lbs |
| Lightweight | over 143 ¼ lbs up to 154 ¼ lbs |
| Middleweight | over 154 ¼ lbs up to 176 ¼ lbs |
| Light-Heavyweight | over 176 ¼ lbs up to 198 ¼ lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 198 ¼ lbs up to 225 ¼ lbs |
| Super Heavyweight | over 225 ¼ lbs |
| Bantamweight | 143 ¼ lbs & under |
| Lightweight | over 143 ¼ lbs to & including 154 ¼ lbs |
| Welterweight* | over 154 ¼ lbs. to & including 165 ¼ lbs |
| Middleweight | over 165 ¼ lbs. up to & including 176 ¼ lbs |
| Light-Heavyweight | over 176 ¼ lbs. up to & including 198 ¼ lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 198 ¼ lbs up to & including 225 ¼ lbs |
| Super Heavyweight | over 225 ¼ lbs |
*The Welterweight is optional at local, regional and national qualifying contests.
2 CLASSES
| Lightweight | up to and including 176 ¼ lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 176 ¼ lbs |
3 CLASSES
| Lightweight | up to and including 165 ¼ lbs |
| Middleweight | over 165-1/4 up to and including 187 ¼ lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 187 ¼ lbs |
4 CLASSES
| Bantamweight | up to and including 154 ¼ lbs |
| Lightweight | over 154 ¼ lbs up to and including 176 ¼ lbs |
| Light-Heavyweight | over 176 ¼ lbs up to and including 198 ¼ lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 198 ¼ lbs |
5 CLASSES
| Bantamweight | up to and including 143 ¼ lbs |
| Lightweight | over 143 ¼ lbs up to and including 154 ¼ lbs |
| Middleweight | over 154 ¼ lbs up to and including 176 ¼ lbs |
| Light-Heavyweight | over 176 ¼ lbs up to and including 198 ¼ lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 198 ¼ lbs |
6 CLASSES
| Bantamweight | up to and including 143 ¼ lbs |
| Lightweight | over 143 ¼ lbs up to and including 154 ¼ lbs |
| Middleweight | over 154 ¼ lbs up to and including 176 ¼ lbs |
| Light-Heavyweight | over 176 ¼ lbs up to and including 198 ¼ lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 198 ¼ lbs up to and including 225 ¼ lbs |
| Super Heavyweight | over 225 ¼ lbs |
Note: At the NPC Universe Championships there is no Super Heavyweight class but there is a Welterweight class that is over 154 ¼ lbs up to and including 165 ¼ lbs for a total of six (6) classes.
2 CLASSES
| Lightweight | up to and including 125 lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 125 lbs |
3 CLASSES
| Lightweight | up to and including 125 lbs |
| Middleweight | over 125 lbs up to and including 140 lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 140 lbs |
4 CLASSES
| Lightweight | up to and including 115 lbs |
| Middleweight | over 115 lbs up to and including 125 lbs |
| Light-Heavyweight | over 125 lbs up to and including 140 lbs |
| Heavyweight | over 140 lbs |
Note: National level contests do not permit competitors to cross over into fitness, figure or bikini at the same event. All other competitions are permitted to have crossovers at the discretion of the promoter with appropriate approval.
THE PREJUDGING POSING ROUNDS FOR MALE AND FEMALE COMPETITORS
Judges will score competitors according to the NPC “total package” which is a balance of size, symmetry and muscularity.
POSING ROUNDS:
- Keep your feet flat
- Keep your heels together
- Hold your arms at your sides
- No twisting
- Your head must be facing the same direction as your feet.
- Begin when ready – no signal is necessary from the Head Judge.
- Maximum of 60 seconds with a warning when 10 seconds remain.
- You are not obligated to use all 60 seconds.
- Lying on the floor is not permitted.
- Front Double Bicep
- Front Lat Spread
- Side Chest
- Side Tricep
- Rear Double Bicep
- Rear Lat Spread
- Abdominals with one thigh
- NO Gymnastic Moves Are Allowed
Note: Scroll below to see examples of mandatory round poses.
Mandatory Round Poses
NATIONAL LEVEL CONTESTS
NPC Junior USA Championships
NPC Junior National Championships
NPC Masters Nationals Championships
NPC USA Championships
NPC Universe Championships
NPC North American Championships
NPC National Championships
BODYBUILDING QUALIFICATIONS
Beginning January 1, 2018 athletes must place top 2 in an open class at a National Qualifier to be qualified for any National show. All athletes that qualified in 2017 for a National contest are eligible to compete in in a National Contest in 2018. Also, athletes that place 3rd, 4th or 5th place at the USA or Nationals are also qualified for one year.
ENTRY INFORMATION
The following must be provided with your entry:
- NPC contest you entered
- Date of contest
- Contest promoter
- Your weight class and final placing
ELIGIBILITY FOR IFBB PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
NATIONAL PHYSIQUE COMMITTEE OF THE USA, INC.
POST OFFICE BOX 799
CARNEGIE PA 15106
(412) 276-5027 FAX: 412-281-0470 Email: npcfirst@npcregistration.com
January 10, 2019
I am very happy to announce that the 2019 NPC Contest Season will be the biggest and best ever. If you are a United States Citizen you have the ability to qualify to compete for IFBB Professional League status in the following (10) events.
- 2019 NPC Arnold Amateur (Columbus, Ohio)
- 2019 NPC Junior USA Championships (Charleston, South Carolina)
- 2019 NPC Junior National Championships (Chicago, Illinois)
- 2019 NPC Universe Championships & NPC National Fitness Championships (Teaneck, New Jersey)
- 2019 NPC Masters National Championships (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- 2019 NPC USA Championships (Las Vegas, Nevada)
- 2019 NPC North American Championships (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- 2019 NPC Olympia Amateur (Las Vegas, Nevada)
- 2019 NPC National Championships (Miami, Florida)
- 2019 NPC Masters USA Championships (Los Angeles, California)
(If you achieve a Pro Card at one of these events then you are eligible to compete under the rules and regulations of the IFBB Professional League.)
The 2019 IFBB Professional League has worked diligently to increase the number of contests and prize money.
This year the prize money, including the Mr. Olympia, will be a record $4 million dollars plus! IFBB Professional League Contest Schedule.
International competitors and those that possess a Green Card, but not United States Citizenship, who would like to qualify for the IFBB Professional can compete in the following (3) NPC sanctioned events.
- 2019 NPC Arnold Amateur (Columbus, Ohio)
- 2019 NPC North American Championships (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- 2019 NPC Olympia Amateur (Las Vegas, Nevada)
International competitors also have the opportunity to compete and earn a pro card currently in over 60 IFBB Professional League Qualifier Events around the world.
IFBB Professional League Qualifier Contest Schedule
I look forward to seeing you all compete this year and Good Luck in achieving your IFBB Professional League Status.
