About US
The WPA was founded to bring unity to a fragmenting industry by working hand-in-hand with existing organizations where applicable and possible, and fostering a greater sense of community across the board through sporting events, charitable activity and community outreach
Men's Bodybuilding Criteria
WPA MEMBERSHIP
Competitors are required to be current members of the WPA to compete in WPA sanctioned events.
DRUG TESTING
Competitors must pass a drug test administered in the form of a polygraph screening in order to be eligible.
Other forms of drug testing may be used including urinalysis, voice stress, blood, saliva, hair testing or other means of detection.
Competitors should be sure to thoroughly read the drug testing guidelines prior to obtaining a WPA membership.
MEN'S BODYBUILDING DIVISIONS
WPA divisions are based or age, category status and level of experience.
Teen: Ages 15-19.
Debut: Ages 18+. First competition ever. Cannot have competed anywhere else, in any category, with any organization.
Novice: Ages 18+. Cannot have placed first in any class besides Teen, within any division, within any category, with any organization (with the exception of cases where first place was won in a class that only had one competitor in it).
Masters: Age as of day of contest must fall within the stipulated age range. Master’s categories start at 40+ (example Master’s 40+, Master’s 50+
Open: Open to everyone 18+ with any level of experience.
Military, Police, Fireman (MPF) – Open to everyone 18+ who is currently or previously served in the Mililtary, Police Officer or Fireman.
WPA MEN'S BODYBUILDING RULES AND COMPARISONS
WPA Men’s Bodybuilding division consists of Group Comparisons, Individual Presentations and Overall Comparisons (if needed).
Competitors must be 15 -19 years of age for Teen Divisions and 18+ for Debut, Novice, Open. For Master’s categories (40+, 50+, etc.), competitors must be within the age restrictions at the time of competition.
Men’s Bodybuilding competitors wear posing trunks, are shirtless and there is no footwear. No thongs are allowed.
• Props are allowed
• Small earrings and wedding bands are permitted
• Men’s Bodybuilding competitors may not crossover into Men’s Physique at the same show. Men’s Bodybuilding may crossover in to Men’s Classic Physique.
Round 1 – Symmetry: Competitors will be judged on balance, shape, fullness and proportion. Physique structure should be aesthetically pleasing in both front, side and rear poses.
Round 2 – Muscularity and Conditioning: Competitors will be judged on overall muscularity and leanness. Visible signs of strength training should present along with a focus on muscularity and conditioning.
Men’s Bodybuilding Poses consist of:
#Example Resource - http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/layne-norton-peak-week-posing.html
Symmetry Round Poses
• Front Relaxed Pose - Facing front center stage, arms should be shoulder width apart with lats flared, quads flexed, chest up high/flexed.
• Quarter Turn Right (left pose) – Feet flat on the floor, shoulders tight, left arm (with tricep flexed) and back to view side serratus/intercostal muscles. Chest up high with
hamstrings, glutes and calves flexed.
• Quarter Turn to the Rear – Feet flat on the floor with triceps, back, glutes, hamstrings and calves flexed.
• Quarter Turn Right (right pose) - Feet flat on the floor, shoulders tight, right arm (with tricep flexed) and back to view side serratus/intercostal muscles. Chest up high with
hamstrings, glutes and calves flexed.
Muscularity Round Mandatory Poses
• Front Double Bicep – Set and squeeze legs. Raise both elbows above the shoulders while supinating the wrists and squeezing the biceps. Roll arms back slightly to
delineate the biceps and triceps.
• Front Lat Spread – Set and squeeze legs. With hips slightly back, and hands in the middle of back, draw hands around pulling out lats. Keep chest high and abs tight or
vacuumed. Do not roll shoulders forward.
• Side Chest (Left/Right) – Set legs by spiking calf, squeezing the quads, hamstrings and glutes. Bring right or left arm into bicep with palm up clasping wrist. Bring shoulder
around slightly squeezing the chest. Don’t bring shoulder too far around. Keep upper and lower body tight. Keep chest high and abs vacuumed or flexed.
• Side Tricep (Left/Right) – Set legs by spiking calf, squeezing the quads, hamstrings and glutes. Flex and squeeze your tricep while slightly rotating to show the judges.
• Rear Double Bicep – Facing the rear of the stage with one leg extended back, spike calf. With elbows higher than the shoulders, supinate the wrists and squeeze biceps.
• Rear Lat Spread– Facing the rear of the stage with one leg extended back, spike calf. Start with hands in center of lower back and bring the hands slowly around waist
bringing out the lat flare while keeping the chest high being careful not to round out the back.
• Hands Behind Head Abdominal – Set and squeeze legs. Bring hands up behind head and crunch down on the abs.
• Crab Most Muscular – Set and squeeze legs. Bring the traps up and forward, squeeze the chest and flex the biceps all in one motion. Set the pose and hold it without
bending too far forward.
Hands on hip most muscular – Set and squeeze legs then place hands high on hips while flaring lats, rolling shoulders slightly forward and squeezing the chest.
Optional Poses
• Rear double calf raise – Facing the rear of the stage, raise up on your toes and flex while keeping both the upper body/lower body tight and balanced.
• Intercostal with twisted crunch – Twist at the waist and crunch down to flex serratus/intercostal.
• Flex and Rotate Quads (Left/Right) – Set upper body by placing your hands on hips and squeezing your legs. Extend leg keeping it flexed and tight while slowly
rotating so judge can see all angles.
• Hamstring Curl (left/right)– While facing the rear of the stage, maintain your balance then flex and squeeze the left or right hamstring as instructed by the
head judge.
Individual Presentations
Individual presentations consist of a free posing routine. Competitors pose and choreograph to the music of their choosing to highlight their physique and individual personality.
This round is not scored for final division placements but is used as selection criteria for events that have best poser awards. Props and costumes may be used.
Music should be tasteful with no profanity.
Overall Comparisons
If the division has more than one class, the winners of each class will compete for an overall title. Overall comparisons are conducted in the same manner as judging.
MEN'S BODYBUILDING CLASSES
Formation of classes within divisions at a show is at a promoter's discretion. Promoters may elect to use specified weight or may form classes by dividing groups into as equal as possible parts by height based on total number of entries in a division for other categories.
Example:
Lightweight - Up to and including 154lbs
Middleweight - Over 154 1/4lbs up to and including 176lbs
Light-Heavy Weight – 176 1/4lbs up to and including 198lbs
Heavy Weight – 199lbs and over
MEN'S BODYBUILDING JUDGING
Judging Criteria is based on symmetry, muscularity, conditioning and stage presence.
SCORING AND TIE-BREAKERS
• WPA sanctioned events require a minimum of 5 judges for regional shows and 7 judges for Pro Qualifying events.
• Each judge takes all criteria for a category into account and assigns one overall score for each contestant in the form of rank during the group comparison
rounds.
• A highest and lowest rank for each competitor is dropped as a safeguard against human error and/or bias, whether intentional or on a subconscious level.
• The remaining judges' placements are summed, and the competitor with the lowest sum total receives 1st place in the class. Second lowest sum receives 2nd
place, and so on.
• In cases of a tie, competitors ranked higher by the majority of all judges are awarded the higher placements.
NATIONAL QUALIFICATION
Competitors that place in the top five (5) in each class at national qualifying contests are qualified for the WPA Nationals (Spring) and NANBF Nationals (Fall).
EARNING YOUR PRO CARD
Select events are designated as International Pro Elite Qualifiers (ipeproelite.com).
Open division overall winners at these events become eligible for Pro competitions and overall Masters Age 40+ division winners for Men’s Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini become eligible for Pro Masters competitions.
When Open divisions have 30 or more participants, the top two overall qualify. When Open divisions have 45 or more participants, the top three overall qualify.
Should a competitor who previously won a Pro qualifier win the overall, the Pro card being offered at the Pro qualifier can be offered to the competitor who placed 2nd in the overalls.
If the urinalysis test reveals positive results for an overall winner at a Pro qualifier, the competitor who was ranked 2nd in the overalls will be recognized as the overall champion and become eligible for Pro competition.
WPA CONTEST SCHEDULE
Click here for a listing of WPA Shows.
