Fitness Figure Bikini Overview

NPC FITNESS RULES

Judges:
Judges for the fitness competitions may consist of IFBB bodybuilding judges, aerobic instructors or other fitness experts with approval of the chief judge. All judges must be current NPC Members.

Contest Format:

• Round 1- Two piece swimsuit

The contestants will be brought out on stage in one or more lines for quarter turns. The judges will be scoring the degree of athleticism by assessing the degree of firmness, symmetry, proportion and overall physical appearance including complexion, poise and overall presentation. This is not a bodybuilding competition! The contestants should have shape to their muscles but not the size, definition or vascularity seen in a bodybuilding physique. If these are present the contestant should be scored down.

• Round 2- Fitness Round

Each athlete will perform a maximum two-minute routine. The four aspects that the judges will use to score this round are: * this round will be counted 50% of the score.
Strength-            The amount and types of strength moves.
The degree of difficulty of these moves
The ease and correctness of the moves
Flexibility-        The number and types of flexibility moves
The degree of difficulty of these moves
The ease and correctness of the moves
Cardiovascular- The tempo of the routine
Overall Package- Includes creativity, stage presence, outfits, hair, make-up etc.

Scoring-
The judges will mark each round individually using the placement system. Each round will be judge on its own merit. An athlete maybe first in one round and last in a different round. The judge will not let a previous round influence the next round. The fitness round will be 50% and the physique round will be 50%.

Finals-
All athletes will be introduced in their bathing suits. The finalists will perform their routines. After all classes are completed the trophies will be awarded. At competitions where there is more than one class the class winners will be brought back in their bathing suit. Quarter turns will be done. The judges will then decide on the overall winner based on physique and their routine.

Height classes:

1 class maybe used at regional competitions

2 classes- up to and including 5’3”over 5’3”

3 classes- up to and including 5’2” over 5’2” up to and including 5’ 4 ½” over 5’4 ½”

Eligibility:

If a competitor competes in a NPC fitness competition and later competes in a fitness contest for money she is no longer considered an amateur. There is a one-time consideration if the athlete petitions to compete as an amateur. The athlete must write a letter declaring their intentions being aware that if they compete a second time for prize money they will be suspended from the NPC for life.

FIGURE DIVISION

Two piece swimsuit

At the local and regional levels, a mock comparison should be done as described above. This will allow the audience to see how the judges made their decisions., No scoring should be done at night, the prejudging scores final.

The NPC has added a Master’s Figure Division to the Teen /Collegiate/Masters Nationals, North American and Team Universe. This class is over 35. It should be included in the local and regional level figure competitions.

Height classes:

Two classes:
Up to and including 5’4”
Over 5’4”
Three classes:
Up to and including 5’4”
Over 5’4” and up to and including 5’6”
Over 5’6”
Four classes:
Up to and including 5’2”
Over 5’2” and up to and including 5’4”
Over 5’4” and up to and including 5’6”
Over 5’6”
Six classes:
Up to and including 5’1”
Over 5’1” and up to and including 5’2 ½”
Over 5’2 ½” and up to and including 5’4”
Over 5’4” and up to and including 5’5 ½”
Over 5’5 ½” and up to and including 5’7”
Over 5’7”
Eligibility:
For all National qualifying events the top 5 are eligible for the Jr. USA/Jr. Nationals and the top 3 are eligible for the USA and National Figure. * Only those events held in conjunction with a National qualifying Bodybuilding event will be National qualifiers.

NPC BIKINI DIVISION
NPC MEMBERSHIP

Each competitor must be a member of the NPC.

SANCTIONING A BIKINI DIVISION EVENT

An NPC BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS must be run along with another NPC division i.e. Bodybuilding, fitness or figure contest.

CONTEST ENTRIES

All height classes and awards must be awarded as advertised on the entry form.
Height classes may not be combined on the day of the show and this cannot be advertised as a possibility.

AWARDS

Cash awards are not permitted.

CHECK-INS

BIKINI Division competitors will be checked in and measured the same as Fitness and Figure competitors.

HEIGHT CLASSES – For Pro qualifying event

Up to and including 5’1”
Over 5’1” and up to and including 5’2-1/2”
Over 5’2-1/2” and up to and including 5’4”
Over 5’4” and up to and including 5’5-1/2
Over 5’5-1/2” and up to and including 5’7”
Over 5’7

If promoter chooses to do fewer height classes:
For all contests with two (2) classes:

Up to and including 5’4”
Over 5’4

For all contests with three (3) classes:

Up to and including 5’4”
Over 5’4” and up to and including 5’6”
Over 5’6

For all contests with four (4) classes:

Up to and including 5’2”
Over 5’2” and up to and including 5’4”
Over 5’4” and up to and including 5’6”
Over 5’6”

COMPETITOR RULES

National level contests do not permit competitors to crossover into Bodybuilding, Fitness or Figure at the same event. All other competitions are permitted to have crossovers at the discretion of the promoter with district chairperson approval.
Competitors will compete in a two-piece suit. The bottom of the suit must be v-shaped. No thongs are permitted. Competitors can compete in an off the rack suit. All swimsuits must be in good taste.
Competitors must wear high heels.
Competitors may wear jewelry.

COMPETITION JUDGING
Presentation

Competitors will walk onstage alone and perform their Model Walk (personal preference)
The Model Walk consists of the following:

Walk to the center of the stage, stop and do a front stance then a full turn and do a rear stance then turn to the front again in front of the judges and then proceed to the side of the stage.
Comparison Round, Two-Piece Swimsuit

Competitors will be judged wearing a two-piece swimsuit and heels.
The competitors will be brought out in a group and directed to do a full front and rear stance.
Judges will have the opportunity to compare competitors against each other in half turns. (No side judging permitted, front and back only.)
Judges will be scoring competitors on the following items:

Balance and Shape
Overall physical appearance including complexion, skin tone, poise and overall presentation.

QUALIFYING FOR NATIONAL LEVEL EVENTS

Please note that for all 2009 National Bikini contests except the 2009 Junior USA Bikini Championships, an athlete must have competed in an NPC Bikini event prior to entering a national contest.

The following must be provided with your entry:
• NPC Bikini Contest Name
• Date Of Contest
• Contest Promoter
• Your Height Class & Final Placing

This includes:
• NPC JUNIOR NATIONAL BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• NPC USA BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• NPC TEAM UNIVERSE BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• IFBB NORTH AMERICAN BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
• NPC NATIONAL BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS

The following placings will qualify competitors for one year for the NPC national level Bikini contests:
            Top 5 places in each class at National Qualifying events only.
The NPC national level contests are listed below:
            JUNIOR USA BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
            JUNIOR NATIONAL BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
            USA BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
            TEAM UNIVERSE BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
            IFBB NORTH AMERICAN BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
            NATIONAL BIKINI CHAMPIONSHIPS
QUALIFYING FOR IFBB PRO STATUS

The following placings at selected national level events will qualify competitors to turn professional and compete in the IFBB Pro Bikini Contests.
USA CHAMPIONSHIPS – Height class winners earn IFBB Pro Card (6 height classes)
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Height class winners earn IFBB Pro Card (6 height classes)
JUNIOR USA CHAMPIONSHIPS – top 2 in the Overall Comparison earn IFBB Pro Cards – (6 height classes)
JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - top four (4) in the Overall Comparison earn IFBB Pro Cards (6 height classes)
IFBB NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS - Top two (2) in Overall Comparison earn IFBB Pro Cards (6 height classes)
TEAM UNIVERSE CHAMPIONSHIPS – Top two (2) in each height class earn their IFBB pro Card (6 height classes)