PURE ELITE JUDGES HANDBOOK

Welcome

Thank you for being part of the Pure Elite judging team.

Every athlete who steps onto the Pure Elite stage has invested months, and often years, preparing for this moment. As judges, we have a responsibility to ensure every competitor is judged fairly, consistently and professionally.

Our role is simple.

To reward the athlete who best represents the criteria for their category on that day.

This handbook has been created to provide consistency across the judging panel. Whether this is your first show judging with Pure Elite or your fiftieth, every judge should apply the same standards and approach.

Remember, we are not just judging physiques.

We are protecting the integrity of the Pure Elite brand.

The Role of a Pure Elite Judge

As a Pure Elite judge you are expected to:

  • Judge fairly and without bias.
  • Judge only what you see on show day.
  • Apply the published category criteria consistently.
  • Leave personal preferences outside the judging panel.
  • Remain professional throughout the event.
  • Respect fellow judges and athletes at all times.
  • Be confident enough to make decisions while remaining open to clarification from the Head Judge.

Every athlete deserves the same attention and the same opportunity, regardless of experience, reputation or previous results.

Before Show Day

Before arriving at the venue you should:

  • Read this handbook.
  • Familiarise yourself with the category criteria.
  • Inform the Head Judge of any conflicts of interest.
  • Ensure your judging attire is prepared.

If you have been paid to prep an athlete competing in a particular category, you must inform the Head Judge before judging begins.

Arrival on Show Day

Judges should arrive at the venue by 10:00am.

This allows sufficient time to:

  • Meet with the judging panel.
  • Review the running order.
  • Go through the scorecards and judging process.
  • Refresh the category criteria.
  • Discuss any rule changes or category updates.
  • Raise any questions before the show begins.

The judges’ briefing is an important part of the day and helps ensure consistency across the panel before the first athlete takes to the stage.

Judge Appearance

The judging panel is an important part of the Pure Elite experience.

Our judges are recognised athletes, ambassadors and champions who represent the standard our competitors aspire to.

We encourage judges to dress in a way that reflects the prestige of the event while expressing their own style.

Many of our judges are former Overall Champions and Pro winners, and we welcome them wearing their crowns, tiaras and title accessories as part of the Pure Elite experience.

The only expectation is that judges are well presented and dressed appropriately for Pure Elite.

Please avoid:

  • Jeans
  • Trainers
  • Casual sportswear

Judges should arrive ready to represent the Pure Elite brand and may be photographed, filmed and approached by athletes and spectators throughout the day.

Professional Conduct

During the show judges are expected to:

  • Give every athlete your full attention.
  • Keep mobile phones away whilst judging.
  • Avoid unnecessary personal conversations during comparisons.
  • Remain engaged throughout the event.
  • Treat all athletes respectfully.
  • Conduct yourself professionally both on and off stage.

Judges represent the Pure Elite brand throughout the entire event.

Conflicts of Interest

Fairness is essential.

If you have:

  • Been paid to coach an athlete.
  • Have an immediate family member competing.
  • Have any situation that could compromise impartiality.

You must declare this to the Head Judge before judging begins.

Judging Philosophy

Every judge should remember one simple principle.

Judge the category, not your favourite physique.

Different categories reward different physiques.

A Wellness athlete should not be judged against Bikini criteria.

A Men’s Physique athlete should not be judged like a Classic Physique competitor.

Judge today’s physique.

Not last season.

Not reputation.

Not social media.

Not previous titles.

Every athlete starts with a clean slate on show day.

Judge Weighting

Not all judges’ scores carry the same weighting.

This allows new judges to gain valuable experience while maintaining consistency across the panel.

Head Judge – 150%

The Head Judge carries the highest weighted score and is responsible for maintaining consistency throughout the competition.

Established Judges – 100%

Established judges carry a full voting score.

New Judges – 75%

New judges contribute to the final result while developing experience alongside senior members of the judging panel.

The Role of the Head Judge

The Head Judge leads the judging panel and is responsible for ensuring fairness and consistency throughout the event.

Responsibilities include:

  • Clarifying category criteria.
  • Answering judging questions.
  • Ensuring the published standards are applied consistently.
  • Resolving uncertainty regarding category criteria.
  • Leading the judging panel where required.
  • Making the final decision on Overall winners.
  • Awarding Pure Elite Pro Cards where an athlete meets the required professional standard.

The Head Judge’s role is not to influence opinions but to ensure every athlete is judged against the correct criteria.

Scoring Consistency

Consistency is one of the most important qualities of a judge.

Avoid changing your standards throughout the day.

Every category begins with a clean slate.

Judge each athlete against the category criteria, not against previous classes.

Remain consistent from the first competitor to the last.

The Standard We Are Judging

One of the most important responsibilities of a Pure Elite judge is to judge each athlete against the published criteria for their category, not against personal preference.

Every category has a different ideal. The winning athlete is the one who best represents that category on the day.

When assessing athletes, consider the following order.

1. Category Suitability

Does the athlete fit the category they have entered?

A physique that is outstanding for one category may not be suitable for another.

Always ask yourself:

“Does this athlete best represent this category?”

2. Shape & Symmetry

Assess the athlete’s overall physique.

Look for:

  • Balance between upper and lower body.
  • Proportion.
  • Overall shape.
  • Flow of the physique.
  • Aesthetic presentation.

3. Conditioning

Conditioning should always be appropriate for the category.

Leaner is not always better.

Reward the athlete who displays the correct level of conditioning for that class.

4. Presentation

Presentation includes:

  • Stage confidence.
  • Posing.
  • Transitions.
  • Stage presence.
  • Overall presentation.

Presentation can often separate two very similar physiques.

5. Grooming & Overall Look

Attention to detail matters.

Consider:

  • Tan.
  • Hair and make-up where applicable.
  • Suit or costume choice.
  • Professional appearance.
  • Overall polish.

6. Fine Margins

When athletes are closely matched, small details often determine the final placings.

These include:

  • Better posing.
  • Cleaner mandatory poses.
  • Greater confidence.
  • Improved balance.
  • Stronger stage presence.

Remember

Judge the athlete who best fits the category.

Not the athlete you would personally like to look like.

Not the athlete with the biggest physique.

Not the leanest athlete.

Not the athlete you know.

Not the athlete who won last year.

Every competitor starts with a clean slate on show day.

Our responsibility is to reward the athlete who best represents the published criteria for that category on that day.

Common Judging Mistakes

Avoid the following:

  • Rewarding size over category suitability.
  • Focusing on one body part.
  • Ignoring presentation.
  • Being influenced by popularity.
  • Judging previous performances instead of today’s condition.
  • Comparing athletes from different categories.

Always judge the complete package.

Professionalism on the Judging Panel

Remember that athletes can see the judging panel throughout the competition.

Your facial expressions, body language and conversations can easily be noticed and may be misunderstood.

Please remain professional at all times.

  • Avoid showing surprise, disappointment or excitement whilst judging.
  • Avoid shaking your head or reacting to individual performances.
  • Keep conversations with other judges to a minimum during comparisons.
  • Remain focused on the athletes on stage.
  • Do not indicate placings or discuss results where athletes or spectators may overhear.
  • Treat every athlete with the same respect, regardless of experience or reputation.

If an unexpected situation occurs, such as an athlete forgetting a pose, slipping or experiencing a wardrobe malfunction, remain composed and continue judging fairly. If guidance is required, the Head Judge will direct the panel.

Remember, the judging panel sets the standard for professionalism. Every athlete should leave the stage feeling they were given the same level of attention, respect and consideration as every other competitor.

Judging as One Team

Although each judge scores independently, the final result is a decision made by the judging panel as a whole.

Once placings have been announced, judges should support the final result and avoid discussing how they individually scored an athlete.

Avoid comments such as:

  • “I had you first.”
  • “I don’t know why you didn’t win.”
  • “I scored you differently.”
  • “That wasn’t my decision.”

These conversations can undermine the judging process and create unnecessary confusion for athletes.

If an athlete asks about their placing, they should be directed to the official Pure Elite feedback process.

As judges, we stand behind the panel’s decision and present a united, professional front.

The strength of the Pure Elite judging system comes from experienced judges working together to reach the fairest outcome for every athlete. Every judge plays an important role, but the final result belongs to the judging panel, not to any individual judge.

Final Message

Being selected as a Pure Elite judge is a privilege.

Every decision you make has an impact on an athlete who has dedicated months of hard work to reaching the stage.

Judge fairly.

Judge consistently.

Judge professionally.

Apply the criteria equally to every athlete.

If we all do that, athletes will continue to trust the Pure Elite judging process, and that trust is what maintains the reputation of our federation around the world.

Stewart
Head Judge & Founder