Sports Physical Season: A Checklist for Parents and Athletes

Every season, families discover the night before tryouts that the school requires a completed sports physical. The exam itself is quick; the scramble is optional. Here is what a pre-participation physical actually covers, what to bring, and how to make it one easy visit.

What the exam is for

A sports physical, formally a pre-participation evaluation, has one purpose: making sure a young athlete can train and compete safely. It is a screening visit focused on the systems sport stresses hardest, not a replacement for an annual well visit with your regular provider, though it often catches things worth following up.

We see athletes ages 13 and up, and the visit takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes when paperwork arrives completed.

What we check

• Heart: listening for murmurs and rhythm issues, plus blood pressure, sitting and sometimes with position changes
• Lungs: breathing assessment, with attention to exercise-triggered asthma
• Vision: adequate sight for safe play, with or without correction
• Musculoskeletal: joints, strength, flexibility, and the residue of old injuries, especially ankles, knees, and shoulders
• General health: growth, skin conditions that matter for contact sports, and hernia screening where appropriate

The history is the most important part

The honest truth of sports medicine: the questionnaire catches more risk than the stethoscope. The personal and family history questions deserve real answers, not autopilot checkboxes. Flag these every time:

• Fainting, near-fainting, chest pain, or unusual shortness of breath during exercise
• Any family member with sudden unexplained death before age 50, or known inherited heart conditions
• Previous concussions: how many, how severe, how recent
• Asthma or inhaler use, even occasional
• Prior injuries that required missing practice, braces, or physical therapy
• Any single organ situations: one kidney, one eye, one testicle
• Medications and supplements, all of them

None of these automatically disqualifies an athlete. Most lead to a conversation, sometimes a follow-up test, and a plan that lets the athlete play safely. Concealing them, which teenagers occasionally attempt in the name of making the roster, removes the safety net entirely.

What to bring

• The school or league's physical form, with the history section filled out at home, ideally with a parent's help on family history
• A parent or guardian for athletes under 18
• Glasses or contacts if used
• A list of medications, doses, and allergies
• Records of any recent injury care, if a specialist was involved

When to schedule

Earlier than you think. Most forms are valid for a year, so a physical done in early summer covers fall and winter seasons. Early scheduling also leaves time for any follow-up, an echocardiogram, a physical therapy clearance, without missing the first week of practice. Walk-ins are welcome at our clinic, and teams or groups of five or more can arrange visits together.

A sports physical is a small investment in a season of safe competition. Bring the paperwork, answer the history honestly, and let us handle the rest.

This article is for education only and is not medical advice. For guidance about your own health, talk with your provider or call our clinic.