School and Sports Physicals
A sports physical (or school physical) is a quick checkup to confirm a child is healthy enough to play sports or to meet Illinois school requirements. It is done in the office in about 15 to 30 minutes, with a health history and a physical exam. There is no recovery or downtime, and most kids are cleared the same visit.
What are sports and school physicals?
Sports physicals and school physicals are routine exams that confirm a child is healthy and ready, whether that means playing a sport or starting a new school year. A sports physical, sometimes called a preparticipation physical, focuses on whether it is safe for a child to play. A school physical is a broader health exam that Illinois requires at certain points in a child’s schooling. They overlap, but they are not always the same thing, and knowing the difference saves families a second trip.
Why does my child need one?
In Illinois, these exams are both a safety step and a requirement. The state requires a school physical before a child enters pre‑K or kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade, and for any student new to Illinois schools, with forms typically due by October 15. Separately, students who play interscholastic sports need a current sports physical before they can try out or practice.
Beyond the paperwork, the real value is safety. The exam, especially the health history, is designed to catch issues that could make sports risky, like a heart problem or a past concussion, and to make sure a child’s growth, vision, and overall health are on track.
Sports physical vs. school physical: what’s the difference?
One of the most common mix-ups for Illinois families is assuming a sports physical also covers the school requirement. It usually does not. Here is how they compare:
| Feature | Sports physical | School physical (Illinois) |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Clears your child to safely play a school sport | Required health exam to enroll or stay in school |
| Who needs it | Athletes in school sports (often grades 7, 8, 10, 11, 12) | Kids entering pre‑K or kindergarten, 6th, and 9th grade, and new-to-Illinois students |
| Focuses on | Heart, lungs, joints, past injuries, and a health history | Growth, vision and hearing, immunizations, scoliosis, development, and a full history |
| Illinois form | IHSA / IESA preparticipation form | Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination |
| Do they overlap? | A sports physical does NOT meet the school physical requirement | A school physical may also satisfy sports clearance if it is completed within the required timeframe and accepted by your school |
| Valid for | 395 days, and cannot expire mid-season | Within one year before the school start, due by about October 15 |
The simplest approach: if your child needs a school physical this year and also plays a sport, getting both forms is best. When in doubt, check with your school about which form is needed.
What happens during the exam?
A sports or school physical is quick and done right in the office. It has two main parts.
Health history
The provider, with you on the form, reviews your child’s personal and family health history, past injuries or surgeries, current medications, allergies, and any symptoms like chest pain, fainting, or trouble breathing during exercise. This history is the most important part for spotting anything that needs a closer look.
Physical exam
The provider then checks your child’s overall health. Depending on the type of physical and what your child needs, this may include:
- Height, weight, and blood pressure
- Vision, and for school physicals, hearing
- Heart and lungs
- Abdomen
- Joints, flexibility, strength, and posture
- For school physicals, a scoliosis (spine) check and a review of immunizations
The whole visit usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes.
What can a physical uncover?
Most children are cleared without any problem, but these exams can also flag things worth following up on, which is part of why they matter. A physical might pick up:
- High blood pressure
- A heart murmur or another sign that needs a closer look before clearing for sports
- Asthma or other breathing issues
- An old injury that has not fully healed
- Scoliosis or other growth and posture concerns
- Vision or hearing problems
If something comes up, the provider may clear your child with a few conditions, suggest treatment, or refer to a specialist (such as cardiology or orthopedics) before giving the okay to play. The goal is simple: make sure your child can be active safely.
How do we prepare, and when should we schedule it?
A little planning makes these visits smooth. To prepare:
- Bring the right form (the Illinois school physical form, or your league’s or school’s sports form)
- Bring a list of medications, allergies, and any past injuries or conditions
- Bring immunization records, and glasses or contacts if your child wears them
- Fill out the parent and history sections ahead of time
On timing, schedule early. Summer is ideal so forms are ready before the October 15 school deadline, and so there is time for any follow-up before the season starts. Illinois sports physicals are valid for 395 days, but they cannot expire in the middle of a season, so check the date if your child plays year-round.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sports physical the same as a school physical in Illinois?
Not exactly. A sports physical clears your child to play but does not meet Illinois’s school physical requirement for kindergarten, 6th, or 9th grade. The reverse does work: a full school physical can also cover sports participation for that year. If your child needs both, getting the school physical handles it. Check with your school about the right form.
Can my child’s yearly checkup count as a sports or school physical?
Yes! A pediatrician can complete the school physical form and the sports clearance during the annual well-child visit, so you do not need a separate appointment. Just bring the right forms and let the office know what your child needs. Combining them saves a trip and keeps everything on one record.
How long is a sports physical good for?
In Illinois, a sports physical is valid for 395 days from the date of the exam, and it cannot expire during a sports season. School physicals must be completed within a year before the school start and are generally turned in by about October 15. It is worth checking the date so your child stays eligible year-round.
What if my child is not cleared to play?
It is not common, but if the exam turns up something, the provider may clear your child with conditions, recommend treatment first, or refer to a specialist before clearing them for sports. This is a safety step, not a dead end; most kids are cleared after any needed follow-up. Your pediatrician will explain the next steps.
Where can I get a school or sports physical in Chicagoland?
Duly Health and Care pediatricians across the Chicago suburbs provide school and sports physicals, complete the Illinois forms, and can fold them into your child’s yearly checkup. Booking early in the summer helps you beat the October 15 deadline and leaves time for any follow-up. You can schedule a visit online.
Care at Duly Health and Care
School and sports physicals are quick, but they do real work: keeping your child eligible and, more importantly, making sure they are healthy and safe to be active. Duly pediatricians complete the Illinois school physical and sports clearance forms, often right alongside the yearly well-child visit, and handle any follow-up if the exam turns something up. Booking early in the summer means forms are ready well before the school deadline.
With pediatric care across the Chicago suburbs and easy online scheduling, getting your child checked, cleared, and ready for the year is simple.
Schedule a school or sports physical
Medically reviewed by Allison Croucher, DO · Last reviewed June 2026