Thou Shalt Be Judged! A View From the Judge's Table

[pxykxu...@yahoo.com]

If you're reading this article, chances are you've been on the stage
staring down the panel of judges that decides your fate from show to
show. Many a show, I've walked through the locker room, whether I was
competing or not that day and have heard, "I just don't get it! I
don't know what those judges are looking for!" "You can't tell me that
I didn't look better than that other guy! How could they not see
that?!" "They don't know what they're talking about," and a slue of
other comments not fitting for NB and F. Nevertheless, the comments
are out there and they are as common from show to show as a high carb
meal moments after the awards are handed out.
If you've stood on the most competitive stages of the INBF, at one
point or another you've stared down the barrel of one of the big guns
of the INBF, Steve Downs. For many a year have I stared into Steve's
face as he meticulously analyzes each athlete from the judges' table.
I've watched him do this for a great many years and as one of the top
judges of amateur and professional talent in the INBF and WNBF. Many a
show have I stood on the stage and watched his eyes move about from
athlete to athlete from either side of me to my own physique. Being a
promoter as most have come to know me, I felt it was about time to
answer these questions that the athletes have about, 'what are these
judges looking for'. I recently sat down with Steve to discuss these
matters. This article will pinpoint the highlights to this
conversation and look to annotate the truths about judging. So, from
here on in, you can't say you weren't told!
When I tell you that Steve was open and straightforward with me about
EVERY aspect to judging, I mean there were no holds barred and nothing
to hide. It was a great conversation, fun, and gave me an insight into
what goes on at the judges' table. A man of integrity, Steve stands by
each show, his decisions, the show outcomes, and his own moral
platform as one and the same.
"I find it SPECTACULARLY insulting and offensive when someone
questions my ethics with regard to our judging," Steve exclaimed to me
with ferocious tenacity. "It's also odd that those people that seem to
question our integrity seem to have NO integrity whatsoever.
Organizations are a dime a dozen. As a {INBF or WNBF} judge, we feel
and know that everything we do reflects on us personally," Steve
continued.
In my conversation with Steve, I got the impression that he always
felt that the organizations that stand alone, don't need to say that
they are the best and don't need to go around bashing. And if you
didn't think that Steve was a man of honor or high moral ethic
ESPECIALLY when it comes to judging, I questioned him directly if he
ever 'held someone back that he didn't like.'
"I don't know how well you know me, but I think you do," Steve began,
"I tend to not dislike anyone. I have had problems with athletes in
the past or know of some that may have disliked me for whatever their
reason. But, it never changed an outcome with regard to judging or
placed anyone ahead or behind someone that earned their place on
stage. The organization's mission and not my personal feelings is what
prevails above all."
With all the shows I've gone to, whether or not I was competing,
competitors have posed many questions to me with regard to an
athlete's finish. I went down the list with Steve and he took the time
we needed to answer my questions one by one. Let's examine those most
common questions:
How is one judged once that first quarter turn is made to the judges'
table?
"First impressions," Steve began, "That first look is critical. I
remember one athlete that would come out like a smoking gun and then
fade from view as the pre-judging wore on. Sometimes it's
nutrition..., sometimes over-preparing back stage. You must have
lasting ability through the pre-judging. If you fade as the judging
goes on, you'll tend to fade in your presentation, which could hurt
your final standing. You need stage presence and projection."
When athletes are moved on stage, does this have meaning and/or
bearing on where the athlete finishes?
"Depending on the size of the group, we may not begin to split the
classes or move anyone until one full quarter turn, IF AT ALL. It is a
process; Not for the audience, not for the athlete, but for the
judges. Athletes are moved to make it easier to make the proper
distinctions on scoring. Sometimes an athlete is moved for better
lighting, comparison to another athlete, or because a judge has asked
to see that athlete a bit better for a comparison with another. If
there is not a need for a movement, we just won't move people for the
sake of moving them. You tend to try to put your better athletes at or
near the middle to give ALL the judges a better vantage point in which
to judge the better of the class. HOWEVER, an athlete may not belong
in the middle but next to others near the middle of the class for
comparison. Other times, its comparisons for 5th, 6th, or 7th."
Steve continued, "Phil, understand, a good head judge is not making
the decision. A good head judge is helping others to make a decision.
The judges follow where I may put an athlete and I am constantly
asking if the other judges are fine with the movement. I look at
things I see as a judge AND as a head judge. I am only an expeditor
for the other judges. MY three people in the middle MAY NOT
NECESSARILY be YOUR three people. That's why there is a panel. A good
head judge communicates with the panel that he is happy with where he
has moved everyone and if not, the moves are made; but only if it is
necessary.
Sometimes, someone {on the judging panel} asks me to move someone and
I will skip. A specific comparison may take place at times and it's
nice to see guys that will fight it out for 6th or 7th. That's the fun
to the sport. The larger the number the more expedient you should be
with regard to judging. HOWEVER, the judging must be done and we will
always make sure that it gets done right."
Why are certain athletes moved and some athletes never moved?
"Movement has to do with expediting the judging process. Sometimes,
the luck of the draw works out well in a small group. In a big group,
there must be movement and not just for movement sake. Movement on
stage is not an indication of anything. I might be moving people
around you as this may be the difference between 4th and 5th or 5th
and 6th. The job is to make the judging easier for the judges so all
the athletes get a fair look."
Does stage placement mean ANYTHING?
"To some extent. But again, the head judge does not make a decision
for the other judges. The better athletes TEND to be grouped at the
middle to give a better vantage point for the judges. The best
athletes being all the way at one end or another will displace the
judges' ability to see. The best are usually grouped in the middle for
the 'best view'. Now," Steve continued, "That does not mean the person
in the middle is MY choice."
I then hit Steve with one of my favorite questions - Rock, paper,
scissors?
Symmetry, conditioning, muscularity...is there a "this beats that?"
"The written rule: We'll always look for the total package. A lot of
what's written is what's on stage. The judging for that day will even
come down to as specific as that specific class. For figure, we're
looking for beauty. For bodybuilding, we're still looking for a
muscular body but conditioning is now important of late. A panel of 5
or 7 people means that there are 5 - 7 different views of the day's
standard. The trend right now is conditioning. In the 90's, guys were
huge and cut, without an emphasis of definition. However, nowadays,
definition is carrying more of the decisions. BUT, people are NOT
smaller. MASS ALONE does not carry it anymore. A SIDEBAR: IT IS NOT A
DIETING CONTEST and ripped will not win the day! It is still
bodybuilding, so though the trend seems to be leaning towards a more
defined physique, we are still looking for quality muscle."
Is there one clear cut judging criteria?
"CLASS FOR CLASS and GROUPS AT A TIME determines judging. Each group
of bodybuilders we see is different which necessitates a re-visitation
of the standards."
(Now I've got to tell you, I was blown away by this statement! I felt
it was such a broad-stroke of the judging brush that was at the same
time very 'tell-all'! Ultimately, it says that YES, there is a
standard that the judges are using to judge us as bodybuilders while
at the same time, a judging standard that is evolving at the table
with each class that steps on stage. As each body is different within
each class, so is each class unique unto itself within the show
itself! FASCINATING!)
Steve continued to amaze me by moving along with concise truth and
straightforward reason:
"Each judge has their own bias. The best BODYBUILDERS don't
necessarily prove to be the best judges. A good judge looks at the
package: Posing, presence, muscular development, etc. There are
guidelines. Experience on stage as a competitor helps but experience
looking at competitors is also important."
This next piece of the conversation is absolutely insightful! It is
something I have seen from show to show and athlete to athlete (myself
included). I have always focused on making a POSITIVE IMPRESSION upon
those who are judging me and careful not to cross over the border of
arrogance while looking confident- as there is a fine line! Follow the
next part of the discussion carefully as this may help you do better
just by working on WHO you are on stage! Just remember that you still
must diet and train! This is a bodybuilding organization, not a
popularity contest!
PROJECTION AND POSING!!!
Projection:
"How you project yourself is very important, whether you are in the
middle, toward the middle, or off to the side. Athletes tend to fade
if they get moved away from the middle. I've seen it a thousand
times," Steve said. "How you project to the judges is critical. You
cannot teach it, but you can get someone to practice it. It comes with
confidence and time."
So how did Steve tell me to project confidence? PREPARE for the show!
In your heart, KNOW you did what it takes to do well! PROJECTION
matches preparation! This past fall, I competed in "The Mania" and
"The Worlds" and I KNEW I brought the best package I'd ever shown to
the judges. I KNEW that no matter whom I did or DID NOT beat, I
brought my best that day. My projection of my self and my proud,
confident communication of that told the day's judges that I was ready
for these shows!
Though I didn't win, I acted in a lost manner of conduct - Honorably
defeated by a better athlete and the sportsman in me prevailed. Leave
your whimpering and crying at home. Every athlete has lost or won.
There's always a bigger fish. Enjoy the journey that is bodybuilding
and not just the trophy itself!
(By the way, Steve HEAD judged NATURALMAINA and someone I know well
judged THE WORLDS! No political pull I had put me as the winner! The
better athlete proved to be the winner!)
Steve went on to add more commentary to an already enjoyable education
of the judging process, "SO CRITICAL," He began, "It is not what you
do in the gym that is important, but what is on the stage. If an
athlete poses better, presents himself better, it will MOST CERTAINLY
affect an outcome," he concluded.
SO, if you think you LOOKED better than the guy (or gal) that beat
you, MAYBE you THINK you did, but the judges didn't see that! Maybe
you're right when you say, "I don't know what the judges are looking
at?" Maybe they didn't know! They only knew they saw a bodybuilder who
beat you that was more polished because of preparation, poise, and
stage presence. Remember, IT WILL affect an outcome! It could mean the
difference between winning or losing or 4th and 5th places!
DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!
Steve shared more life experience with me, "Less experienced
bodybuilders tend to fade during the pre-judging process. How you feel
dictates your stage presence. STAND OUT! LET the judges know you are
there by being confident, but DON'T OVERDUE IT! Don't be cocky or
overconfident."
I personally have seen it at shows. I've watched a COCKY athlete begin
to crumble once Steve moved him away from the middle and then not
necessarily regard him throughout the pre-judging. Why? Simple. On
that day, there were better bodybuilders. Mind you, this gentleman
didn't think so and as his face dictated his disappointment or
disdain, so did his stage presence. NOT GOOD! Stay confident and have
fun. Worry about yourself, as you can't change much else once you're
on stage!
"Here's a latest rap," Steve began, "A PHOTOGRAPHER: HOW does he make
a good judge? Physique art!! What looks good through a lens tends to
look good on stage. A good photographer will see with a 'good eye'
what looks good! Moreover, he or she has {at times} a better ability
to judge what they SEE as opposed to what they FEEL! Remember, it's
not a gym contest.
Now, there will always be SOMEONE not happy with the end result and
I'm sorry to tell you, that's just the way it goes! There is always
going to be a complainer that thinks that they've been cheated and the
judges "got it wrong", or someone will feel that they got overlooked.
Chances are, NO, they did not! And don't try to tell me because I've
got more 4th place trophies than anyone in the INBF! And don't kid
yourself, STEVE is the guy that's put me there more often than not!
Certainly don't try to call out the 'politics' word when it comes to
judging. When I stand on stage, I (arguably) have the most clout on
the stage. Being a promoter, I bring money to the INBF's mission and
scores of new athletes to the organization with every show I promote.
NOT ONCE did this honor help me past an athlete that I was not worthy
to beat! My "political standing" has not once helped me when it came
to STEVE judging me, or ANY OTHER judge for that matter. So, be honest
with yourself. If you didn't win or end up where you felt you should
have, chances are the only person left to blame is on the stage, not
at the table.
Being an ambassador to the sport, I'd rather know that I beat someone
on my own accord and not with 'a little help from my friends'. It
tells me each time I take the stage that my final standing was real
and not manufactured. So, if I'M telling you that my standing in the
INBF is not placing me above anyone, shouldn't it tell you that where
you have finished is most likely where you have legitimately finished?
Wouldn't you like to know that where you finished is "real"? If I'm a
promoter telling you that my standing in the INBF didn't propel me
forward, should that not squash any claims of POLITICS? Think about
it! The INBF is an organization of honor and we should all be proud to
be part of something that special! Nothing fake! Isn't that the way
DRUG FREE is SUPPOSED to be?