Malta Federation Of Bodybuilding & Fitness

                                                            Affiliated to the IFBB Federation

Procedure on stage

The athletes are called on stage in a line-up according to numerical order. The Master of Cermonies will then instruct the athletes to perform the quarter turns and seven compulsory poses. The order of the line-up is then switched and the quarter turns and compulsory poses are performed again. The athletes may then be instructed to step to the back of the stage and call outs are performed if judges are still undecided with regards the placing of athletes in the physique round. When all call outs are completed the athletes are allowed a one minute pose-down. Click here to view new compulsory poses

After the pose-down athletes return to their original line-up and proceed to back stage. Each athlete is then called out individually to perform a sixty second posing routine. The posing routine is a choreographed artistic presentation in which poses chosen are at the athlete's discretion however compulsory poses should be included in the routine. 

Solid coloured, opaque posing trunks are used for all rounds. The colour, fabric, texture and style of the trunks will be left to the competitor’s discretion. The trunks must  cover a minimum of ¾ of the gluteus maximus. The front area must be covered and the side of the trunks should be 1 cm in width at a minimum.

Except for a wedding ring, competitors will not wear footwear, glasses, watches,necklaces, earrings, wigs, distracting ornamentation or artificial aids to the figure. Props are not allowed at any time on stage.

The IFBB has banned all tans and bronzers that can be wiped off. If the tan comes off by simply wiping, the athlete will not be allowed to enter the stage. 

Sparkles, glitter, shiny metallic pearls or gold colouring are prohibited whether applied as part of a tanning lotion and/or cream or applied separately.  

The  delegated representative, will have the right to determine if a competitor’s attire meets an acceptable standard of taste and decency and, eventually, recommend the athlete to change the attire, if it does not meet the prescribed standards.  

Judging

The judge  first assesses the overall male athletic appearance of the physique. This assessment should begin at the head and extend downwards, taking the whole physique into account. The assessment, beginning with the general impression of the physique, the overall athletic development of the musculature, the presentation of a balanced, symmetrically developed physique, the condition of the skin and the skin tone and the athlete’s ability to present on stage with confidence.

During the comparisons of the Mandatory Poses, the judge will first look at the primary muscle group being displayed. The judge then surveys the whole physique, starting from the head, and looking at every part of the physique in a downward sequence, beginning with general impressions, and looking for muscular bulk, balanced development, muscular density and definition.

A detailed assessment of the various muscle groups is be made during the comparisons, at which time the judge compares muscle shape, density, and definition while still bearing in mind the competitor’s overall balanced development. The comparisons of the Mandatory Poses cannot be over-emphasized as these comparisons will help the judge to decide which competitor has the superior physique from the standpoint of athletic balanced development, muscular density and definition.