The National Physique Committee is the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States. Amateur bodybuilders compete in competitions from local to national competitions sanctioned by the NPC. The NPC is the only amateur organization recognized by the IFBB Pro League. The IFBB Professional League is the professional league for bodybuilding athletes and the sanctioning body for the world's largest professional contests such as the Mr. Olympia, Arnold Sports Festival, and Legion Sports Fest. In order to become an IFBB professional athlete an athlete must compete at an IFBB Pro Qualifier such as the NPC Nationals Championship, NPC USA Championship or NPC Worldwide International Russia Championship. Professional status will be awarded to top placing athletes. While the term "bodybuilding" is commonly used to refer to athletes participating in contests sanctioned by the NPC and IFBB PRo League, nine divisions are represented including men's bodybuilding, women's bodybuilding, bikini, men's physique, classic physique, women's physique, figure, fitness, and wellness.
Rules
You must possess a valid NPC card to compete in an NPC show. NPC cards are valid for a calendar year.
Female Bodybuilding
Events
Men's Bodybuilding
Classic Physique
Men's Physique
Fitness
Women's Bodybuilding
Women's Physique
Bikini
Figure
Wellness
Classes
Open - Competitors of any age or experience.
Novice - Athlete's who have never placed first in any class/age group in an NPC contest
True Novice - Athlete's who have never competed in an NPC contest
Teen - The athlete must be in the age range of 16-20.
Junior - The athlete must be under, or 23 years old the day of the event.
Master - The athlete needs to be the minimum age of the division the day of the event.
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.
Suits worn by female competitors at the Prejudging must be two-piece and plain in color with no fringe, wording, sparkle or fluorescents.
Suits worn by female competitors at the Finals 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.
Posing Music
Posing music will be used at the Finals only with the exception of Mixed Pairs competitors who will use music at both the Prejudging and the Finals.
Posing music must be on a cassette tape or CD and must be the only music on the tape or 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.
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 and NPC officials.
Coaches or others may be permitted after paying for a backstage pass, along with tickets to the show.
Competitors' 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
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: class winners of the drug-free NPC Team Universe Championships go on to represent the United States in the IFBB World Championships that follow the IFBB weight limits below and for all polygraph tested events.
Lightweight - up to and including 114-1/2 lbs
Middleweight – over 114-12 lbs up to and including 125-1/2 lbs
Heavyweight – over 125-1/2 lbs
Prejudging Poses
Relaxed Round:
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.
Individual Round:
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.
Mandatory Round:
Front Double Bicep
Front Lat Spread
Side Chest
Side Triceps
Rear Double Bicep
Rear Lat Spread
Abdominals and Thigh
Eligibility
An athlete must be a citizen to compete in the following national competitions:
