Page 17 - NGA By-Laws

competitors.
In every class there exists the difficult task of the judging staff placing competitors based onbasiccriteria. Thisisespeciallydifficultwhenyouhaveacompetitorthatmaybeconsidered to have too much muscularity for their class versus a competitor in the same division that lacks being fit and tone (i.e. Bikini vs. Figure). In this instance, because it is a bodybuilding competition, the competitor that would be considered having too much muscularity shall be considered for the higher placement.
III.2.2 Symmetry
In evaluating symmetry, the judge should be concerned with the harmony and proportion of the physique. This evaluation should begin with the SKELETAL STRUCTURE itself. Although a competitor may be limited by his genetic structure, the judge must honestly examine this characteristic to make necessary distinctions between bodybuilders. The ideal structure should include a near-equal ratio of torso to leg length, broad shoulders and narrow hips for a man, with similar proportions for a woman (albeit not so broad of shoulders). Furthermore, skeletal deformations (scoliosis, one leg too short, etc.) must be judged as imperfections despite the athlete's inability to change them.
Symmetry also includes judgment of MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT and the muscles themselves. The upper body and lower body development should be synergistic and fit together well. Likewise, the arms and legs should be in proportion to one another and also within each front to back. The physique should look balanced from the front, back and side, with no angle overshadowing the others. Within the muscles, themselves, balance must be existent pertaining to quality of muscle peak, height, development, length, shape and proportion.
A final aspect involves definition and hardness. There should be evenness between hardness in the upper and lower body, between extremities and the torso and between corresponding sides of muscle groups or the entire body (between arms and between legs). Judging symmetry involves finding defects within the physique by careful evaluation, which are separate from defects found in the area of muscularity. Symmetry is a difficult marker of physique competition to be judged.
III.2.3 Presentation
The focus in presentation is on all aspects of the performance other than the actual physique itself. Elements of display such as posture; carriage, projection, posing ability, attire, skin tone and grooming are all concerned. Presentation judging begins with the SEMI-RELAXED round, in examining how the contestant presents himself/herself. Contestants should face the position requested by the judges (side, front, etc.) without twisting, posing, moving, etc. They should stand erect and symmetrical, weight on both feet and arms at the sides. Any movement (posing) which impairs the judges' ability to look at presentation should be reflected in a
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