Sports Physical Information
What is a sports physical?
Participation in middle school sports requires a sports physical form to be completed every year by a medical professional. A sports physical is a medical assessment done by a doctor that determines a student’s bodily fitness and ability to safely compete in sports activities. All students in 7th & 8th grade who are participating in school sports must have a current sports physical form on file with the school. Sports physicals are good for 13 months from the date of the physical exam before they expire.
Where can I get a sports physical?
Here are some places in the metro and across the state where students can get their sports physical:
Free Clinics of Iowa A Volunteer Healthcare Network
Full state list of free Clinics of Iowa
There are two free clinics over the summer: one at Iowa Ortho and one at Des Moines University. Both clinics are scheduled for July 21, 2022. Click the name of the clinic to see the flyer for more information about getting registered!
There are also some upcoming opportunities at DMPS schools provided by The Iowa Clinic. See below for more information and links to get signed up.
Sports Physical Clinics provided by The Iowa Clinic:
DMPS has a partnership with the Iowa Clinic to host physical clinics within some of our middle schools and high schools, including clinics at nearby schools such as North, Harding, Hoyt, and Hiatt. Please click the following link to see dates and locations for these clinics, and there are also links to sign up for a time slot.
https://activities.dmschools.org/middle-school/sports-physical-opportunities/
Goodrell also has a partnership with Primary Health Care at the corner of E. 29th St. and Euclid and occasionally takes students there to get a physical. Primary Health Care also provides free physicals at Hoover High School and there is also a clinic at the Kurtz Building on the south side. Please contact the Student Engagement Coordinator if you would like to explore this option.
Other Sports Physical Information:
Families often mistake immunization records or well-child doctor visits for a physical, but there are specific requirements that need to be met with a sports physical. Click HERE for an English version and HERE for a Spanish version to see what the requirements are for a sports physical. All student-athletes must be cleared by a doctor to show they are healthy enough to participate in athletics. Completing this physical form with your family physician or at a healthcare clinic and keeping it updated annually will allow your student to join sports teams at Goodrell, North, and East.
If your student has already completed a sports physical, you can upload the form during the online registration process prior to the start of school. You can also drop off the completed form in the school nurse’s office, email it to the school nurse, or have your doctor fax it to the school at 515-323-8651. Students can check with the school’s nurse or student engagement coordinator to see if they have a physical on file or to check when the physical expires.