Physicial evaluation 'Q&A' updated to reflect that licensed physician assistants can perform examinations The FHSAA Office continues to receive questions from school administrators relative to physical evaluations. The following updated question-and-answer session, hopefully, will resolve the confusion that currently exists about this topic
Q:What does a preparticipation physical evaluation involve? A: There are two parts to the preparticipation physical evaluation – the medical history questionnaire and the physical examination. The medical history questionnaire must be completed by the student-athlete and his/her parents and provided to the practitioner who performs the physical examination. The physical examination consists of a review of the medical history questionnaire and a thorough examination of the student-athlete by the practitioner. Both pages of the preparticipation physical evaluation form (the medical history questionnaire and the examination assessment signed by the practitioner) must be kept on file in the school office.
Q:Who may perform a physical examination? A: Section 1006.20(2)(c) of Florida Statutes establishes the actual physical examination may be performed by a licensed physician, a licensed osteopathic physician, a licensed chiropractic physician, a licensed physician assistant or a certified advanced registered nurse practitioner. A preparticipation physical evaluation form signed by any one of these five medical professionals is valid. Bylaw 11.8.1 as printed in the 2006-07 edition of the FHSAA Handbook does not reflect that a licensed physician assistant may perform a physical examination. This is an omission that will be corrected in the 2007-08 edition. Member schools must accept physical examination forms signed by physician assistants.
Q:When may a student-athlete undergo a physical evaluation and for how long is it valid? A: A student-athlete may undergo a preparticipation physical evaluation at any time prior to his/her participation in interscholastic athletic practice or competition, including any and all forms of physical conditioning, try-outs, etc. (whether preseason, in-season or postseason). The preparticipation physical evaluation is valid for one calendar year from the date of the evaluation. [For example, John undergoes a physical evaluation on March 17, 2006 and is determined to be physically fit to participate in interscholastic athletics. John's physical evaluation is valid through March 16, 2007. John will have to undergo and pass a new physical evaluation on or before March 17, 2007 to remain eligible so far as physical fitness is concerned.]
Q:What about Bylaw 11.8.1? It says a physical evaluation cannot be given prior to April 1 to be valid in the following school year. A: Bylaw 11.8.1 does establish April 1 as the earliest possible date that a physical evaluation may be given to be effective for the following school year. Section 1006.20(2)(c) of Florida Statutes, however, stipulates that a preparticipation physical evaluation is valid for one calendar year from the date of the examination, regardless of when that date may be. The statute supersedes the bylaw. Accordingly, the Commissioner has exercised his executive authority under Bylaw 14.4.1 to revise Bylaw 11.8.1 to conform to the statute. The revision will appear in the 2006-07 FHSAA Handbook, but it is in effect now.
Member schools should direct any other questions about preparticipation physical evaluations to Associate Commissioner Sonny Hester in the FHSAA Office.
Board of Directors adopts 'considerations for fall practice'
The FHSAA Board of Directors at its June 1 meeting in Atlantic Beach amended its "Guidelines for Practices and Scrimmages" to include a new section entitled "Considerations for Fall Preseason Practice." The Association recommends these new guidelines be followed to better ensure that each student-athlete participating in a fall sport is properly acclimatized to reduce the risk of heat-related and stress-related injuries.
» Guidelines for Practices and Scrimmages (HTML)
Parental consent, physical evaluation forms revised for 2006-07 school year
The "Consent and Release from Liability Certificate" and "Preparticipation Physical Evaluation" forms have been revised for the 2006-07 school year. Use of the revised forms is required. The "Consent and Release from Liability Certificate," which is used by parents/guardians to consent to their child's participation in interscholastic athletics and to grant certain protections and releases to the FHSAA, has been revised to include language granting the FHSAA the right to inspect all of the student's records relevant to athletic eligibility. The consent form also has been amended to stipulate that should a student and/or his parents/guardians choose at any time to revoke any of the releases contained in the form the student will immediately become ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics. The eligibility rules in brief on the second page of the form have also been revised to reflect changes in FHSAA residence and transfer rules that will take effect July 1, 2006. The "Preparticipation Physical Evaluation" form, meanwhile, simply has been revised to stipulate that the form is valid for 365 days from the date of the physical examination as written on the form by the licensed physical or nurse practitioner administering the examination.
» Consent and Release from Liability Certificate (PDF)
» Preparticipation Physical Evaluation (PDF)
