A. Eligibility:   
        1. Athlete's Eligibility for NABBA USA Amateur Competitions:  
               An amateur athlete is defined as any athlete who has not competed for prize money in a sanctioned competition of any federation. Based on this rule, all athletes competing in NABBA USA amateur competitions must be amateurs. An athlete who has competed professionally or has accepted prize money and wishes to compete as an amateur must serve a six month to one year reinstatement term to be determined and approved by the NABBA USA National Committee. Request for reinstatement must be received in writing from the athlete.
        2. Competition Eligibility:   
             a. Eligibility for Local, State or Regional competition: NONE  
             b. Eligibility for NABBA USA National Competitions: A contestant must have placed fifth or better in his/her height or weight class in a state, regional, or national amateur competition of any federation within the previous three years. Athletes must be United States citizens to compete in national competitions.  
             c. Official National titles are the: National Bodybuilding Championships, Junior National Bodybuilding Championships, American National Bodybuilding Championships, American Junior National Bodybuilding Championships, Natural United States Bodybuilding Championships, and Natural American Bodybuilding Championships.  
             d. National title winners of the above competitions in the Men's, Women's, Master's, Jr's, and Ms. Figure® categories, with the exception of the Junior National and American Junior National Bodybuilding Championships, are qualified for selection by the NABBA USA National Committee to enter NABBA International amateur events such as the Universe and World Championships.  
   B. Contest Rules:  
        1. Each NABBA competition will consist of one or more classes with height not weight distinctions. The scoring procedure used will be the placement system. Where five or seven judges are used, one high and one low score shall be dropped. When using a panel of nine judges, the two highest and two lowest scores shall be excluded in computing each contestant's final placement. Ties will be broken by the lowest placement system not most first place votes (Guidebook, page 13).  
        2. Posing attire for physique competitions must be of solid color, opaque, and of non-reflective material, devoid of embroidery, stripes, logos, or other embellishments. For the Ms. Figure® posing attire, consult the specific Judging Procedure in Guidebook.  
        3. The use of bronzers, tanning lotions, cremes, gels, posing oils, or other high-lighting products is acceptable for both prejudging and evening performance. On occasion, at the request of the venue site or the meet promoter, such products may be prohibited. In this case, athletes should be notified in advance.  
        4. A good quality cassette tape is required from each athlete for the evening performance. The tape should be cued by the athlete to start at the beginning of the routine. It is to the athlete's advantage to select the music piece which can dramatically enhance the free posing presentation. Words or lyrics on tape must contain any profanity nor be offensive.  
  C. Membership Information:   
          All athletes, officials, and judges participating or competing in NABBA USA events must be registered members of NABBA USA, in good standing. Membership dues are $45.00 per year beginning on the date of registration - payable by money order, check, or cash from officials and judges. Only money orders made payable to NABBA USA, Inc. Or cash will be accepted from athletes at competition registration; money orders only by mail registration. Membership covers membership card, newsletter, mailings, and the right to participate in NABBA USA events.  
  D. Drug Tested Events: Requirements and Procedures:   
          NABBA USA will conduct the most stringent and extensive drug testing analyses available at all natural events. All athletes must submit to a urinalysis test for each contest entered. A polygraph test may also be performed. Test results must prove negative. All athletes must be from all anabolic steroids, growth hormones, prescription diuretics, muscle implants, or other physique enhancing drugs for a three year period prior to the specific contest date. Masking substance which might be used with the intention of passing a polygraph test or urinalysis will not be permitted and will be included in the screening. Athletes competing in drug test events are required to sign a waiver and disclaimer, and to pay for the testing which is usually an additional $50.00. For additional information, refer to page 7 and 25A-B of the GUIDEBOOK.  
   E. Disqualifications and Suspensions:  
          Competitors will be subject to disqualification from their placement in the competition and loss of eligibility for competition in future NABBA USA events (suspension) for:  
          Poor sportsmanship - disqualification and one year suspension from contest date  
          Failed urinalysis at drug tested event - Three year suspension.  
If athlete files a written notarized appeal sent by registered mail to the NABBA USA Office P.O. Box 531, Baychester Station, Bronx NY 10469 disputing the authenticity of the results within two weeks after receiving the registered letter informing him/her that the urinalysis was positive, and wishes a retest, he/she must agree to appear at a place designated by the NABBA USA National Committee for the retest and pay his/her travel expenses to the testing site and cost of the retest. Results of the retest are then considered final and binding. If the athlete still wishes to appeal or dispute the results of the retest, then this matter may be taken before the American Arbitration Association.  

STEROIDS and MASKING AGENTS:  

   F. Categories of Competition:  
        1. Physique:  
             a. Men: No age restriction. Overall winners of National titles are not eligible to compete in competitions below the national level except upon graduating into the Master's category.  
             b. Women: No age restriction. Overall winners of National titles are not eligible to compete in competitions below the national level except upon graduating into the Master's category.  
             c. Novice: Contestants shall not have previously won an overall title in any competition, nor their class in any category of competition except the Novice category. Novice class winners are eligible to compete in the Novice category until they win an overall . Overall and class winners of Teenage or Jr. Teenage competitions are exempt from the above and are eligible to enter the Novice category.  
             d. Junior: The Jr. Category in NABBA USA competitions is a transitional category between the Teenage and advanced Men's. Contestants shall be a maximum of 21 years of age and a minimum of 13 on the day of the competition. For International Jr Competitions, Jr. contestants shall be at least 13 years of age and under 21 years on January 1st of the year of the competition. Proof of age is required.  
             e. Jr. Teenage or Teenage: Contestants shall be at least 13 years of age and shall not have reached their 20th birthday on the day of the competition. Proof of age in the form of a copy of a birth certificate is required.  
             f. Masters: Contestants must have attained the minimum age of 40. However, if the promoter so wishes to run and Over-35 in an area category other than a national, he may petition the NABBA office for permission. Proof of age is required.  
             g. Grandmasters: Contestants must have attained the minimum age of 50. Proof of age is required.  
             h. Collegiate: Contestants shall be full-time undergraduate students, under 25 years of age, carrying at least 12 credits or equivalent, and be enrolled in accredited colleges or universities.  
             i. Couples: Contestants shall be a pair consisting of one male and one female.  
       2. Ms. Figure®  
             Contestants for the Ms. Figure must have a trained and shaped body, be of the feminine gender, and at least 17 years of age.  

         3.Men's ATHLETIC (Body-Fitness)
          A new category in NABBA USA for men who have an athletic and trained body without the heavy muscular development of a "bodybuilder". Competitors must have good muscle development and separation, low body fat, defined abdominals, and nice overall symmetry. Age minimum - 16 years.


  G. Classes of Competition  
        1. Height Classes  
          All NABBA USA competitors should be run in height classes or as a single class. The supervising body may adjust height class limits before the beginning of the event to facilitate the judging.    

          Round 1. Quarter Turns  

          All competitors in the class will present themselves on stage in serial order in a straight line or curve and assume a semi-relaxed stance. The head judge will then instruct the competitors as a group to execute a series of quarter turns allowing the judges to view them from all sides. When this procedure is finished and the judges are satisfied, round one is completed.  

          Round 2. Mandatory Comparative Posing  

          All competitors in the class will present themselves on stage in serial order and assume a relaxed stance. The head judge will call each of the thirteen mandatory poses in order giving the competitors a sufficient number of seconds to hold the pose for the judge's determination and ample time for the athletes to rest between each pose. After the initial comparisons are completed, the head judge shall shift the competitors about and conduct additional comparisons of selected sub-groups which can include both mandatory and optional poses. Once the judging panel is satisfied, round two is finished, and prejudging is completed unless a free-posing round (Round 3) is required at that time.  

          Round 3. Free Posing  

          The athlete will individually perform his/her posing routine for a maximum of 60 seconds. It is the promoter's choice to have the athlete pose without music, to pose to background music supplied by the promoter, or allow the athlete to pose to his/her own music. 
          Upon agreement of the senior NABBA USA official present and contest promoter, this round may be deferred to the evening performance.  
   Physique Competiton - Evening Performance  
     The athlete will individually pose to his/her own music for a restricted time limit of 90 seconds. The number of athletes posing may be limited due to time constraints, and is at the promoter's discretion. However, all trophy recipients must pose. Upon completion of the last athlete's routine, the judging panel will make its final decision.  
     Female competitors may wear a swimsuit of solid color, multicolored, decorated, embroidered, jeweled, sequined, or tasseled. Wearing jewelry and makeup is permitted and the choice of the competitor.  

     Trophy Awards  

     The top athlete who will receive a trophy will be called back on stage and commence a one minute posedown for the audience. Awards ill then be presented. Awards may be presented after each class poses or after all the classes have posed. If the competition has classes and an overall winner need be selected, then the class winners will be called back on stage as a group, put through quarter turns and mandatory poses. When the judges have made their final decision, the competitors will be asked to leave the stage and the overall winner then brought back to receive the trophy.  

     Alternate Order of Judging Procedure:  

     Upon mutual agreement of the promoter and head judge, after the completion of Round 1 - Quarter Turns, each competitor in the class may be asked to perform their Free Posing routine for 60 seconds maximum. Upon conclusion, Mandatory Comparative Posing will be initiated to determine the final placements in that class.  
  K. Physique Competitions - Official Poses (Men and Women)  
     Mandatory Comparative Poses:  
        1. Abdominal and thighs - hands behind head.  
        2. Front lat spread with thighs flexed (heels together and toes pointed out at a 45 degree angle)  
        3. Front double biceps.   
        4. Side chest (lifted ribcage) - your favorite side.  
        5. Side triceps - your favorite side  (with leg flexed to display the side of the thigh and calf spiked).  
     (turn to the rear) 
        6. Back lat spread with one calf spiked.  
        7. Back double biceps.           
     (turn to the front) 
        8. Most muscular (Men Only) - your favorite.   
     Optional poses:  
       9. Double calf raise. 
       10. Hands on hips most muscular. 
       11. Thigh flex (right and left legs). 
       12. Hands behind back most muscular.  
       13. Serratus/intercostal twisted crunch (from either side).  
       14. Hamstring flex (from rear and side).  
       15. Overhead victory (front and rear).  

Ms. Figure®
       Ms. Figure is a registered servicemark in the United States of NABBA USA, Inc. All rights reserved
   L. Ms. Figure® - Judging Criteria  
      The agreed NABBA criteria for the Ms. Figure® judging is as follows: 

     "The emphasis must be on feminine shape and proportion while retaining a 'trained look' and low body fat levels, but not carrying development nor definition to an extreme. She should not have the degree of development, definition, separation, nor striations of the female physique competitor."        
  M. Ms. Figure® - Judging Procedures 
     The judging will be conducted in three rounds. Each competitor in the class will be given a single placement based on her total performance as set forth in the judging criteria. 
     The contest promoter has the right to specify the type of swimwear which is permissible; it may be limited to a two piece suit, bikini, and/or thong. Competitors should check with the promoter in advance of the competition which type(s) of swimsuit are allowed. The attire should be chosen to best and most advantageously show the figure and conditioning. The suit may be of solid color, multicolored, decorated, embroidered, jeweled, sequined, or tasseled. Wearing makeup and jewelry is optional and the choice of the competitor. High heel shoes are standard footwear during Rounds 1 & 2. At the discretion of the head NABBA USA official and contest promoter, the use of light body oil may be permitted.  

     Round 1. Symmetry - Quarter Turns 

     All competitors in the class will present themselves on stage in serial order in a straight line or curve facing the judges and assume a semi-relaxed stance with ankles touching. The head judge will instruct the competitors as a group to execute a series of quarter turns to the right allowing the judges to view them from the front, left side, back, and right side before returning to the front position. When the judges are satisfied, Round 1 is completed. 

     Round 2. Mandatory Comparative Displays 

     All competitors in the class will present themselves on stage in serial order. The head judge will call in sequence the six mandatory displays giving the competitors a sufficient number of seconds to hold the display for the judge's determination and ample time for the competitors to rest between each display. After the initial comparisons are completed, the head judge may shift the position of the competitors and conduct additional comparisons. 

     Round 3. Individual Routines - Free Posing 

     Each competitor will be allowed a maximum of 90 seconds to exhibit her figure, physical conditioning, charisma, and presentation ability through this free posing round. The routine must be of artistic creation, graceful and artful, and should incorporate some of the mandatory Ms. Figure® displays. The routine must not be a fitness nor aerobic presentation, should not contain muscular poses, nor poses with a clenched fist. The routine must be performed in swimsuit and barefooted. Competitors and judges are again reminded that however graceful and exciting an individual presentation may be, the most important aspect is the agreed criteria applied to the Ms. Figure® judging as described above.

  N. Men's ATHLETIC (Body-Fitness) - Judging Criteria 
     The ATHLETIC category is a new category in NABBA USA for men who have an athletic and trained body without the heavy muscular development of a "bodybuilder". Competitors must have good muscle development and separation, low body fat, defined abdominals, and nice overall symmetry. Age minimum - 16 years.

  O. Men's ATHLETIC - Selection Round 
     Those athletes electing to enter the Athletic will be asked by the judging committee to appear backstage or on stage as a group in posing trunks and without body oil after check-in is completed and before the prejudging of the show begins to determine if their physique meets the criteria of this category. They will be asked to do quarter-turns and perform the same mandatory comparative poses as used in the men's bodybuilding with the omission of a most muscular.

Should the judges determine that an individual does not meet the criteria
of this category and that his physique is too massive for the Athletic, he will be transferred to the Bodybuilding category.
   
   P. Men's ATHLETIC - Judging Procedures  
     The Athletic category will be judged in three rounds. Each competitor in the class will be given a single placement based on his total performance as set forth in the judging criteria.

Round 1. Quarter Turns
Round 2. Mandatory Comparative Posing (7 poses)
1. Front double biceps
2. Front lat spread with thighs flexes (heels together, toes pointed out 45 degrees)
3. Side chest (lifted ribcage) - your favorite side
4. Back double biceps
5. Back lat spread with one calf spiked
6. Side triceps - your favorite (leg flexed to display the side of the thigh and calf spiked)
7. Abdominals and thighs - hands behind head
Round 3. Free Posing
The athlete will individually perform his posing routine for a maximum of 60 or 90 seconds as specified by the promoter in the entry form.

Competitors must wear solid colored posing trunks.
Competitors may use light body oil.
Jewelry is not permitted except for a ring.
Crossover will not be permitted between the Bodybuilding and the Athletic categories.

   Q. Couples (Mixed Pairs)- Judging Criteria 
Judges will look for couples who compliment one another in appearance and demeanor, body structure and conditioning. They should also present a routine which is completely in harmony and not pose independently of each other.
Pairings Permitted:
1. Male physique with Female physique
2. Male physique with Ms. Figure®
3. Men's Athletic with Female physique
4. Men's Athletic with Ms. Figure®

Attire:
Male competitors must wear solid colored posing trunks.

Female competitors must wear solid colored two piece posing/swim suit free of adornments; bikini, thong, or G-string are NOT permitted!!

Jewelry is not permitted except for finger or small ear rings. Competitors may use light oil unless prohibited by the promoter or venue director.

   R. Couples - Judging Procedures 
The judging will be conducted in three rounds with each round scored independently. The total of the three rounds will be determined. Each Couple in the class will then be given a single placement based on their total score with the lowest total score placing first.

          Round 1. Symmetry - Quarter Turns 

All competitors in the class will present themselves in pairs on stage in serial order in a straight line or curve facing the judges and assume a semi-relaxed stance with ankles touching The head judge will instruct the pairs as a group to execute a series of quarter turns to the right allowing the judges to view them from the front, left side, back, and right side before returning to the front position. When the judges are satisfied, Round 1 is completed.

          Round 2. Mandatory Comparative Posing (7 poses) 

All competitors in the class will present themselves on stage in pairs in serial order. The head judge will call in sequence the seven mandatory poses giving the competitors a sufficient number of seconds to hold the poses for the judge's determination and ample time for the competitors to rest between each pose. After the initial comparison are completed, the head judge may shift the position of the competitors and conduct additional comparisons.

1. Front double biceps
2. Front lat spread with thighs flexes (heels together, toes pointed out 45 degrees)
3. Side chest (lifted ribcage) - your favorite side
4. Back double biceps
5. Back lat spread with one calf spiked
6. Side triceps - your favorite (leg flexed to display the side of the thigh and calf spiked)
7. Abdominals and thighs - hands behind head

Note: Figure athletes should hit the poses where applicable using the Ms. Figure® positionings - open hands (no clenched fists).

          Round 3. Free Posing 

Each couple will be allowed a maximum of 90 to 60 seconds as specified by the promoter to exhibit their physical conditioning, symmetry, charisma, and presentation ability through this free posing round choreographed to the athletes' own choice of music. It should be colorful, interesting and enjoyable for both the couples to perform and audience to view.

The routine must be performed in posing suit and barefooted.