Pro Division Press Release #2 --> Judging Criteria

On February 1st, a press release from a company called Pro Division Inc announced a series of competitions for 2006, as an alternative to professional bodybuilders and their fans. However, they also said that the schedule would be released in late February. We all realized that this had nothing to do with the IFBB at all. It was basically a statement that although was rumored to come from Wayne DeMilia, who was with the IFBB for 28 years in terms of one of their main promoters and organizer, had nobody's name to it.

For the past week, there were many comments on that release, from basically saying that anyone can make a statement, and why weren't there no names on the press release, why use a yahoo.com account, and why were there no addresses at all. In other word, it was a general statement with no substance.

Well, today, another press release was release, this time on the judging criteria, and also released two names that are involved in the organization. The first is one which many had been suspecting since last year. Wayne S. DeMilia himself is the main person behind this, as he is the CEO of the new division. And John Calascione will be the Executive Judging Director, who also used to be a part of the IFBB in terms of a respected judge.

So after reading the press release, still many questions go answered. There are still no shows that have been announced, still who will be involved with this organization, where the prize money and sponsors will come from, and so much more. All we know is that there are two press releases out, and perhaps, something is happening.

So does this make news. Absolutely. After all, we all thought that Wayne DeMilia was out of the bodybuilding scenario, but here we find out, with the second press release that he is the CEO of this Pro Division.

So what is this Pro Division? Will it affect the IFBB? Will the fans care? Or will it go away like the WPI press releases from last year? Only time will tell. Here is the press release.

For Immediate Release - February 8, 2006

Pro Division Inc has announced today the judging criteria for their 2006 competition/event schedule which commences in September.

Wayne S. DeMilia, CEO of Pro Division Inc states, “The main points in the judging procedure are the easily defined rounds and the rewarding of the athletes for aesthetics, symmetry, and entertainment value as well as muscle size and definition.“

Executive Judging Director John Calascione, who will serve as Chief Judge at all events, has formulated the groundwork to underwrite fair judging on all levels.

“The judges will be constantly rotated, not only to prevent the same judges from judging the same event every year, but also to insure that every panel will be different. Judges will be assessed every six months and judges who cannot meet the standards that are required will first be asked to attend additional judging clinics. If the judge is still not up to standard, he/she will not be included on future panels,” said Calascione at a recent Pro Division Inc. summit.

Both DeMilia and Calascione guarantee that any improprieties, connections, associations or collusion between judges and/or judges and competitors can result in the judge not only being removed from a panel but also removed from consideration from all future judging panels.

Any questions, comments or interest in the judging procedures and rules for Pro Division Inc should direct them via email to prodivisioninc@yahoo.com.

Pro Division Inc judging rules for 2006 are as follows:

JUDGING RULES

All competitions in Pro Division, Inc will be judged using the placement system. When there are more than 20 athletes in a competition, judges will judge from 1 to 15 with all other athletes receiving a 16. When there are 20 or less competitors in a competition, the judges will place them from 1 to 20 in each appropriate round.

Each competition will have a minimum of seven judges and an alternate judge. The alternate score will only be used is one of the seven voting judges is unable to continue in the competition.

In major competitions there will be eleven judges and an alternate judge. In major competitions, computer scoring will be used with the alternate score being determined at random by the computer in each round.

Judges will have the opportunity to call their individual comparisons in rounds one and two.

Judges will be instructed to mark down any athlete with gynecomastia. Any type of artificial muscle augmentation, either by implants or any other type of foreign substance to enhance the muscle size or shape will also be cause for the judges to lower the athlete’s placing.

The contest will be judged based on five rounds, with each round being an equal 20% of the score. The athlete with the lowest score after five rounds is the winner.

SCORE #1--ROUND 1—Symmetry & Aesthetics—20%

WHAT THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR: The judges are looking for overall symmetry, aesthetics, balance and proportion. There should be a “V” taper from the shoulders to the waist. The stomach region should be muscular yet small and tight from all angles. From the front, the thighs should have an outer sweep and the calves should show an inner muscle belly. There skin should show an overall tightness from all angles.

Muscularity and size should be taken into account in this round, but the overall aesthetic look of the body should take precedence.

PROCEDURE: In this round the athlete is viewed and compared from four sides, (quarter poses front, right side, back, left side), in the semi relaxed position. In all four positions knees are to be locked, feet are to be no more than 2 inches apart, and there is to be no twisting of the upper torso.

The athletes will come out in groups of no more than ten at a time to do the quarter poses as a group, and then compared 2 or 3 at a time. When all the judges are satisfied, athletes are placed, score sheets marked and given to the head judge.

SCORE #2--ROUND 2—Muscularity in the 7 Compulsory Poses—20%

WHAT ARE THE JUDGES LOOKING FOR: The judges are looking for size, muscularity, definition and separation based just upon the seven compulsory poses.

PROCEDURE: The athletes will be judged in the seven compulsory poses:

The athletes will come out and do the seven compulsory poses individually (when there are more than 20 athletes in a competition, the athletes will be brought out 2 at a time), then be brought out and compared in groups of 2, 3 or 4.

SCORE #3--ROUND 3A--FREE POSING—20%

WHAT THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR: The judges are judging the overall physique on all points (aesthetics, muscularity, size, balance, proportion, and symmetry) but only what the athlete shows them. If an athlete hides his weak points, it is to his advantage and the judge will base the score on what is presented. This score is based solely on the body, not presentation.

PROCEDURE: Each athlete presents his body as he wants it to be seen, choreographed to music for approximately three minutes. . If he has weak points on his physique or weak poses, he is not required to do them He is to present his body to his best advantage to the judges.

SCORE #4--ROUND 3B—ENTERTAINMENT QUALITY—20%

WHAT THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR: The judges will be giving a second score solely on the entertainment value of the posing routine. Props and special effects can be used, but the athlete must remember that if the body is covered too much or for too long, or if the effects prevent the adequate presentation of the body in the judge’s mind, it could effect the score in round 3A.

SCORE #5—ROUND 4—FINAL POSEDOWN—20%

WHAT THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR: This is the judge’s final chance to assess the athlete’s physique. The judges are first looking at the physique as a whole, then breaking it down to symmetry, aesthetics, muscularity, size, balance and proportion.

PROCEDURE: The top six will come out as a group in numerical order. The judges can ask the head judge for repositioning of the athletes if necessary to aid in the judging. Athletes will first do quarter turns as a group, then the seven compulsory poses as a group. The head judge will then order the athletes to “posedown” and the athletes will break into free posing of their choice to out do the other athletes on stage.