OCB Rules and Regulations: Essential Guide for First-Time Competitors
Everything you need to know about OCB rules and regulations as a first-time competitor. From membership fees to drug testing, prepare for your first competition with our comprehensive guide.
You have seen the covers of fitness magazines, and you follow your favorite fitness athletes and models on Instagram. If you have been to an OCB show and love the fit and beautiful look of women on stage, you are at the right place! Now you can also achieve that look! But where do you start?
This is why we’re here to help you understand the hidden rules & regulations of competing in an OCB show.
Preparing your body for competing is a given, but this guide will help you decide if OCB (Organization of Competitive Bodybuilders) is the right fit for you and your future goals. Here are some factors to consider when choosing your first show, answering these will make the journey much easier.
- Where does your body aesthetic fit best?
- What type of federation fits your personality best?
- What are your future goals?
Finding your right division
If you have decided to step on stage, the first and foremost thing to consider is where your body fits best. This will help choose the right division.
Let's consider figure and bikini divisions for now -
- Bikini division: If you are a newbie and haven't been lifting for too long, you have muscles but very minimal definition, then a bikini can be a good fit for you. If you have an hourglass figure with fuller hips then you will look amazing in a micro Bikini Competition Suit and we recommend you to pick the bikini division. Remember that in the pro level and masters division (30-40+), the bikini division will have more muscular women but still fewer than figure athletes.
- Figure division: If you have been hitting the gym for a long time now and look more muscular than other women there, then figure division will be perfect for you. If you have a broad back and rounded shoulder caps then choose the figure division. But make sure your V-taper is fuller because it will help you pose better and pull out muscles more easily.
Let's learn more about the OCB Federation
OCB is an all-natural federation, meaning they are drug tested. All bikini bodybuilding competitors are polygraphed before the show and category-based competitors are further drug-tested to ensure a fair game field. The bikini competition suit, prejudging, and posing are similar to NPC competition rules. Except for in finals when athletes have to do individual T-walks to showcase their personality and style. If you want to participate in a smaller and family-oriented show, OCB can be a good fit for you.
Misconceptions about competing in OCB
A lot of women avoid bikini bodybuilding competitions because they think they need to be huge or have years of weight training experience. This is a big misconception. Ads and magazines show professional-level athletes who are not always drug-free. If you watch a drug-tested competition and a nondrug-tested competition then you will know the difference. Drug-free competitions like OCB focus more on conditioned lower body sizes. It does not take years to build the right size and muscles to compete. If you decide to compete and look leaner, your muscles will look more defined and appear large. Judges in OCB competitions look for more well-proportioned and aesthetically pleasing physiques, not only your muscle size.
What does it take to compete in OCB?
The most important thing you need to complete is the desire to step on that stage. Many competitors say - “I have waited too long, I could have competed years ago” or “I wish I had gone to see a show before I participated myself because I feel lost now.”
The reality is you do not need years of training or too much muscle mass to compete. And if you wish to watch a show before competing, do it! OCB promotes shows all year round, so find an event near you and check it out. Learn what the judges are looking for and how the competitors deliver it.
Drug testing is a big part of OCB bikini & figure competitions. Before choosing a show, understand the banned substance list for that organisation, if you don't check too carefully then you can be disqualified from the show. Some shows claim to be drug-free but don't perform thorough testing, make sure you know the judging criteria before registering to avoid any issues.
If you want to learn more about OCB drug testing, then visit - https://ocbonline.com/banned-list.php
Choosing the right show
The best thing to do is to choose a show that is geographically close to your location and fits your training schedule. If you feel confused, you can ask previous athletes to help you out with honest show feedback. OCB qualifies are larger with higher levels and they can help you understand if a show is well-organised and if it will match your current muscle level.
Cost of competing
- Membership free: Like all other organizations, OCB also requires you to pay a membership fee. You can use your one-time fee for an entire year and then renew as you like.
- Registration fee: All competitors need to submit an entry form and pay an entry fee, this covers the total cost of producing shows, including awards, rentals, and staff.
- Polygraph and drug testing: Usually competitors need to pay for polygraph testing. If you are selected as a champion, the show promoter pays for urine and other drug tests.
Additional Service costs
- Hair, makeup & tan: A lot of events offer onsite professional tanning, makeup, and hair services for a small fee but make sure to book in advance. All you need to bring is a killer figure and a stunning micro bikini competition suit to compliment your physique.
- Photography: Almost all competitions offer professional stage photography for an additional fee. Make sure to arrange this before the event or during your check-ins for the best shots.
This is pretty much it. With this guide, you will be better prepared to choose the right competitions and start your fitness journey on the stage perfectly. For additional tips on selecting your competition suit, check out our guide on bikini colors for first-time competitors.
If you ever need any more help, drop us a DM on Instagram @competitionsuitshop and we’ll help you out!
