Is Bodybuilding a team sport?

[Katia]

Hello everyone!
I would love to know your thoughts on this. I know some of us are a part of certain "teams" who prep under the guidance of one or two coaches, get together at posing classes, bootcamps, travel to out-of-state shows, and what have you... And even though some of those team gatherings are fun, and traveling to a competition with a group of teammates is always more exciting, I've been wondering if the idea of a "team" really applies to bodybuilding?
Im speaking from a perspective of a bikini competitor... I met several figure, physique and bodybuiling girls at past competitions, and I always felt like physique and bodybuilding women are so much nicer, there's no drama, no judgement... but as soon as i have to go back to the bikini competitor area, it seems like there's always whispering behind your back, "dirty glances", and tons of attitude, even between some of the team-mates who comnpete in the same category. That's been generally my experience, but I am fairly new to all this and was wondering what everyone else has experienced when it comes to being around other competitors, especially the "teammates" ones...
Thanks

[sassy69]

FWIW, I think there's a distinct difference in the where the attention is focused when it comes to "around showtime" between Bikini & the other categories - at least BB (my own experience). It honestly takes years of prep to get on stage as a BB - that means you've spent most of your time (years), and most of your time on your own (years) doing the prep. I'd also venture because FBBs are so few and far between, its hard to get a big enough group to have a "boot camp" or "posing class" to have these more "team-oriented" activities. So the atmosphere isn't there because "getting on stage" is actually the smallest part of the whole effort - meaning how you look, etc.

For Bikini - the competition is much more about look and presentation, and there is inherently an average shorter time spent on the prep part and more time, and more frequently, time spent "getting on stage". Because there's a larger audience, much larger audience of actual / potential Bikini competitors, its a greater revenue op for people putting on boot camps & posing sessions. So there are more people who may be new, you may not know, etc.. When you get more women involved, it tends to have a higher potential for cattiness.

Anyway, just some thoughts. Among the girls who are more active online, I think there's a greater sense of commaraderie because they have had time to "chat" in casual conversation or discuss particular questions, and have a greater sense of being more familiar w/ others in that category as well as more about the category in general.

[Bronwyn]

Nicely said sassy!

[Katia]

That's a great perspective Sassy! Thank you! I just wish there was less of that "cattiness" going on between bikini girls. I have so much respect for women who act more like athletes and not like super-models with attitude.
The reason I am frustrated is because I feel like even within our own team, there's jealousy, competition, and lots of gossip. I don't like gossip, and try to stay away from it, however, somehow i've become a subject of gossip as i've recently found out... From some WP and FBB girls' conversations - they always talk with respect regarding their fellow competitors; from bikini conversations, there's almost always judgement and cattiness...
just wonder what the best way to deal with it and not become like that...

[sassy69]

For one, Physique Competition is not a team sport, unless of course you happened to be competing in a Mixed Pairs competition (they still exist at a few shows!). So the "team" is really only by virtue of being associated w/ the same organization/trainer/gym/whatever. But you're still competing amongst each other. Its also so much about how you look, and very much about the response you get from those around you in the context of a show or event. I think you'll also find that people w/ less self-confidence may be the ones being catty because we all know that the easiest way to feel good about yourself is to make others around you feel bad about themselves. But I think the people who stand out as the best "team players" are the ones who sort of support by example - you see them do their work in a productive rather than a destructive way & don't push away and critique but rather are supportive, help, etc. This is where the time-spent differential comes in - over time, you ultimately end up spending a lot of time in the gym / eating / food prep / trying to get sleep in on your own and there's less and less energy available to worry about how other people look or are reacting to you. Then it just gets old. When the general time frame of activities is relatively short and you have a larger group of people who have not really gone thru that longer "maturity" phase, the easier it is to sort of be a in fish bowl environment where its just very easy to shoot out less than thoughtful comments and generally create more drama.

The best way to deal w/ it is to rise above it. A dedicated athlete is less concerned about those around him/her and more about a healthy & productive environment. A bit pie-in-the-sky, but I think, ultimately true. Take out the drama and pay attention to what you are doing. If people have nothing better to do than gossip about others, apparently they aren't focused enough on their own prep.

And a last comment about the whole "team" thing -- at least in the end, this is still an individual sport. If the "team" environment is inhibiting your ability to get to where you're trying to go, go find another team, or make your own. One thing that can be viewed as good or bad about physique competition is that it is still fairly unstructured and open to everyone. So you can do what you want, when you want, how you want. There may be a certain about of "who you know" but at the end of the day you're still competing w/ yourself, for yourself.

[Waylon]

No... /Thread

[Katia]

But I think the people who stand out as the best "team players" are the ones who sort of support by example - you see them do their work in a productive rather than a destructive way & don't push away and critique but rather are supportive, help, etc.

This is great! that's exactly what i was looking for. Not per say "team sport" but rather respect and support when it comes to interacting with other competitors.

The best way to deal w/ it is to rise above it. A dedicated athlete is less concerned about those around him/her and more about a healthy & productive environment. A bit pie-in-the-sky, but I think, ultimately true. Take out the drama and pay attention to what you are doing. If people have nothing better to do than gossip about others, apparently they aren't focused enough on their own prep.

thank you for all the great words of advice!

And a last comment about the whole "team" thing -- at least in the end, this is still an individual sport. If the "team" environment is inhibiting your ability to get to where you're trying to go, go find another team, or make your own.

i'm not necessarily saying that my team is bad, not at all. it's just certain behaviours that i see amongst girls. and i'd rather try to fix it before running to another, supposedly "better" place. and what you said about not having gone through that "maturity" phase, totally makes sense. plus also, for bikini, i suppose it is more about glamour and diva-like attitude when it comes to presenting on stage, but at the same time i take pride in what i do during prep - all the training, food prep, taking care of my health, mental focus - and i would rather be recognized and rewarded for that rather than just being a girly-girl with supermodel looks...

One thing that can be viewed as good or bad about physique competition is that it is still fairly unstructured and open to everyone. So you can do what you want, when you want, how you want. There may be a certain about of "who you know" but at the end of the day you're still competing w/ yourself, for yourself.

so true!

No... /Thread

lol - thanks Waylon
I didn't mean it quite literally, and not the competition itself...
what about working out with your buddies? guys seem to be very supportive of each other when working out with a partner...

[sassy69]

I think the simple answer is - this is the effect when there are lots of women in the same place involved in something where you get judged on how you look Raging estrogen!

[PFEPerformance]

I think the simple answer is - this is the effect when there are lots of women in the same place involved in something where you get judged on how you look Raging estrogen!

NO TRUER words!! I will say that from my own experience - we train as a group maybe 3-4 times a year, we do posing practice together, and "for the most part" everyone is very encouraging and complimentary and helpful, etc..... There is a very distinct difference between the attitudes from bikini to bb's..... I think all reasoning is dead on from Sassy!

I also think that "some" competitors have the ability to be very supportive and root one another on while at the same time taking the "game on" attitude and though you are a team...you are in fact competing against one another if in the same division - some handle this with a lot of class and humility - OTHERS...... not so much.

Do you have a twinge or two .... immediately following placings....sure, you're human and you are their to do YOUR best after all! But, if you take a breath, allow the dust to settle, FOR ME - I can always step back and see - more times than not, I just didn't have what the judges were looking for that particular day and/or I can identify what to take back to the gym and keep sweating it out to bring a bigger, badder, better package next time at it.

Those who chose to turn it into drama queen catty stupidity aren't worth your sweat or second thought!

[Waylon]

“Team Sport - a sport that involves competition between teams of players;'baseball is a team sport but golf is not' - Dictionary.com

Basketball / Football are examples of team sports because during the actual contest you must exacute as an organized unit vs say Golf, Strongman, or Bodybuilding where you (unless it is some type of special pairs event, which some federations still have) are responsible for your own execution and performance.

If bodybuilding is a team sport then what sports aren't team sports?

ALL athletes need a support staff and even Tiger Woods has a coach and a number of people behind him and other athletes who share the same sponsors. You could maybe consider this group of people his team but those guys are not out on the Fairway with him. The same with physique competition, you may depend on other people, you may even have 'team' with you of other competitors, that doesn't make it a team sport.

As for actual “Teams” that sponsors shows etc I think that is bullshit. These teams have tilt judging from the amature shows to the Olympia. At the local level these guys have X-Amount of atheletes at a show and the promoter knows it in addition to buying booths etc, and they often give them ‘gifts’ in the form of placings. These teams mess up the IFBB as well, where if you aren’t signed with Manion and you are a female you aren’t going to see the Top-5 ever again.

So no it is not a team sport, or at least I think it shouldn't be.
That doesn't mean you have to walk the road alone

[Katia]

“Team Sport - a sport that involves competition between teams of players;'baseball is a team sport but golf is not' - Dictionary.com
Basketball / Football are examples of team sports because during the actual contest you must exacute as an organized unit vs say Golf, Strongman, or Bodybuilding where you (unless it is some type of special pairs event, which some federations still have) are responsible for your own execution and performance.

If bodybuilding is a team sport then what sports aren't team sports?

Waylon, thank you for your input! I realize that I probably chose the wrong title for the thread and that might've annoyed you. But i was looking for opinions and advice on how to cultivate a more supportive and less competitive environment amongst people who compete together. And, thankfully, I got a lot of good advice and reasoning from these ladies here ^^^

As for actual “Teams” that sponsors shows etc I think that is bullshit. These teams have tilt judging from the amature shows to the Olympia. At the local level these guys have X-Amount of atheletes at a show and the promoter knows it in addition to buying booths etc, and they often give them ‘gifts’ in the form of placings. These teams mess up the IFBB as well, where if you aren’t signed with Manion and you are a female you aren’t going to see the Top-5 ever again.

As for this, I've heard that this "sport" is a lot about who you know... but i really don't think that it's as bad as you describe it.
I was just looking through Chicago Nationals pictures (a couple of my teammates were competing)... and to tell you the truth, the first callouts do look much better than the competitiors called out later. yes, there might be a few that went unnoticed and should've been at higher placings, but in general, i think the judges pick those who look the best, and not so much who they know... after all there are 10-15 judges on the panel and it's impossible for all of them to know the same competitors...

yes, there are some "team" that have strong influence, but if their competitors didn't "bring it", no connections will help in that case...
by the way, one of my teammates got 3rd place, and we are in no way a "big" influential team...

That doesn't mean you have to walk the road alone

that's more what this thread was meant to be about... not so much about literal "team sport" idea...
but again, thank you for sharing your thoughts.



[/QUOTE]

[weezer]

Its a team sport: but if i win a trophy, it's all me, me, me, me, lol

[ParadiseCup]

But i was looking for opinions and advice on how to cultivate a more supportive and less competitive environment amongst people who compete together.

by not creating threads like this talking about your teammates.

it's all real simple, be the best that you can be and be happy for others.


by the way, we noticed you took Team Total Package out of your signature here, thanks !

[Katia]

by not creating threads like this talking about your teammates.

it's all real simple, be the best that you can be and be happy for others.


by the way, we noticed you took Team Total Package out of your signature here, thanks !

I was having mixed feelings at that point, which was a couple months ago. Through sharing my frustration here and getting some perspectives, Ive reevaluated some things and have been looking at my team differently, and been happy for everyone's success genuinenly.
And I didn't take anything out of my signature: it should say a proud member of teams IML And Total Package. I cant check on the phone but I'll make sure it's right when I get to my computer.

[mzz'sgirl]

Having done the sport of bodybuilding, it is very much a "selfish" sport by way of eating, training and prep - the routine of this all has to be around you. Now having said that, a team is needed more often than not to create this athlete for the stage - to bring the whole package together and make it work. It was well noted how bodybuilders tend to be a bit more supportive of each other simply because there are less of us on the stage and each of the ladies truly understands how difficult it was to build their physiques and make it to that level. With the other classes and divisions for the ladies, I find that where the loss of 'team' might come from is knowing that how you look and place can make or break your chance of a sponsor, magazine shoot or another accomplishment in the industry.

Now being on the other side of the industry and off the stage, I can see where one would feel that the other girls can turn on each other, so to speak. These classes bring in a huge number of athletes who are all after the same thing and the claws can come out when you know you are all wanting the big prize - so to make yourself feel better, you might talk about the person or act in a jealous or catty way.

Unfortunately what we wish to happen in sports, mainly sportsmanship and teamwork, does not always happen or come true. But the main thing to try and remember is to not let it get to you and to not be part of that style. Staying true to who you are and remembering the reason of why you are up on that stage will come through and that in the long run will make a big difference - remember, the people who are backstage working the event or volunteering are all watching you and listening to what is said...

[GottaGetLean]

i don't think so but it is better to work in a team, it gives the healthy competition among members and give better results

Shut up.

[hifrommike65]

Everyone has a team who helps her get to where she is, but in the end you are competing alone onstage & trying to win against others who are trying to do the same thing. Don't expect the others to be thrilled they lost & you won, & don't expect them to feel sorry for you when they won & you lost. It's not about you or them, it's about "it"--the competition itself. Do your best & leave the rest to the judges.

[whitelily]

Sassy I so much agree with you . I personally have been to two years of posing practise and unfortunately the coach had no clue of woman's physique poses I learned some from YouTube lol. Subsequently all my group practise resulted in shit posing . I have made a decision to not compete in a group situation , no posing in a group ever again and I will only accept one on one training posing diet whatever I need from a coach /train

Its ridiculous to be in a room with bikini when your doing body building or woman's physique very frustrating and the woman I have met in bikini are great but do not act like athletes and really have no place in a body building posing class . True athletes the ones I have met and worked with never act katty they may act nuts close to the show but not in practise the gym and not in general . Body builders are people with a love and passion for something that lies within . The more you love it the harder you work , the harder you work you learn patience it takes a lifetime to grow muscle . Experienced people know this . I suggest setting you standards very high and accept nothing less because if you want to compete and eventually win your thoughts must be centred on love and positivity .

[sassy69]

You actually reminded me of something about posing classes - I've worked w/ a number of different coaches over the years in different states - every one of them criticized my posing resulting from the collective input of my previous coaches.. so in terms of what is "the way to pose" - IMO complete crap shoot. I might look to some of the well-established choreographers like Michelle Brent, the great Russ Testo, Sheila Bleck, etc. but just like you need to be responsible and informed for the dieting, training and cardio you choose to do (on your own or as the result of a coach), you actually need to pay attention to how to pose - not just the mechanics of it, but how YOU "wear" each pose, your mind-muscle associations and control and general ability to relax and execute (vs lock up and look uncomfortable). There is rarely any one person who can show you the exact way, and a boatload of people out there who sell "posing coaching" but actually are pulling it out of their ass. Even those who are good - if you show one coach what you just learned under a different, equally "qualified" coach, they might completely roll their eyes and tell you "Here hun, you need to do it this way...". Just like judging, extremely objective in every dimension.

Anyway just a thought - sometimes "teams" can create a weird group-think atmosphere that is driven by someone who may not be all that they claim. Is it more important to conform to that group or get what you need individually from the exercise? There can be great and productive groups as well - its just another dimension of prep in this extremely unstructured pursuit we call "physique competition".

[KTTraining]

Bodybuilding is definitely not a team sport . Bodybuilding is a completely different animal than Bikini and figure contest . Unless one has put their best effort into competing in a Bodybuilding contest , following the guidelines of one that knows what they are doing, they can not appreciate what actually goes into it .

I've occasionally trained with partners that were competing in the same show , which can be a positive situation , but even still it never really became a team sport for me .

[FitnBuf]

I dont think it is a team sport. When u are in the gym most of your life, u cannot rely on "so-called" training partners, YOU must be there no matter what and more often then not you are alone motivating yourself to break through your limits. BB'g in no way can be defined as a team sport. Team sport can be defined as --teams competing against other teams--- but when u compete u are on that stage as an individual competing against other individuals. Being on stage is a small part of the sport. The months of hard work is the guts of it all.

Often times when u see groups who share the same coach and there are fifty pictures being taken for every event, for every moment, excessively posted it is more for marketing purposes for the coaches to advertise then for team or friendship.

[Hit-Girl]

I would call it a muscle beauty pageant; team or no team.

[hifrommike65]

It may depend on the contest. I have seen camaraderie among competitors at the Masters Nationals. That's one reason I go back to that show in Pittsburgh.