To get your child cleared to play, download the current WVSSAC sports physical form from wvssac.org, have a parent complete the medical history at home, have a licensed provider perform the exam on or after May 1, and submit the signed form to the school’s athletic department before the first practice.1West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. New Physical Forms for 2026-27 Available Every middle school and high school athlete in West Virginia needs this form on file before stepping onto a field or court.
Download the Current Year’s Form
The WVSSAC posts an updated form each spring at wvssac.org. The 2026–27 version became available in April 2026.1West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. New Physical Forms for 2026-27 Available You can also pick up a printed copy from your school’s athletic office. Use the current year’s version. Older forms won’t be accepted.
What Parents Complete Before the Appointment
Part III, the medical history, must be completed by a parent or guardian before the student sees the provider.2West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. Student Athletic Physical Form It asks about past surgeries, allergies, chronic conditions, and current medications. Be thorough. The examining provider relies on this information to spot risk during the exam, and an incomplete history can delay clearance or send you back for more details.
The form also collects insurance information so emergency care can move quickly if something happens during a game or practice. Both the student and a parent or legal guardian sign it. The parent’s signature authorizes the physical examination in Part IV and confirms the medical history is accurate.2West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. Student Athletic Physical Form Show up with these sections already filled out so the visit stays focused on the exam itself.
What the Provider Does at the Exam
A licensed medical provider performs the clinical portion and records it in Parts IV and V. The screening measures height, weight, and blood pressure and checks vision, respiratory function, and abdominal health.3West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. Middle School Principals Packet The provider also looks at joints, range of motion, and overall musculoskeletal readiness.
Cardiovascular screening is the part most likely to flag something serious. The American Heart Association’s recommended screening covers personal history questions (chest pain during exercise, fainting, unexplained fatigue, prior heart murmur), family history questions (sudden cardiac death in a relative under 50, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, long-QT syndrome), and listening for murmurs in both supine and standing positions along with checking femoral pulses and blood pressure.4Stanford Medicine. American Heart Association 14-Element Screening If anything sounds abnormal, the provider may order a 12-lead EKG or echocardiogram before signing off.
The form notes that this screening is not a substitute for a full physical with your regular doctor. If your child hasn’t had a comprehensive well-visit recently, schedule one separately.
The Three Clearance Outcomes
After the exam, the provider signs the Physician’s Certificate in Part IV and records one of three outcomes: cleared without restrictions, cleared with specific recommendations for follow-up, or not cleared pending further evaluation. That determination is final on whether the student can join a team. If the provider flags a concern that requires more work, such as a cardiac workup, orthopedic consult, or imaging on an old injury, the student cannot practice or compete until the follow-up is resolved and clearance is granted.
If your child is cleared with conditions, read them carefully and share them with the coach and athletic trainer. A note like “limit contact until shoulder rehab is complete” means exactly what it says, and the school needs to know.
When the Physical Is Valid
The exam must be performed on or after May 1 to count for the upcoming school year.1West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. New Physical Forms for 2026-27 Available An exam done on April 30 won’t qualify, even if it was the day before. Once the physical is on or after that date, the form covers the entire school year, so a multi-sport athlete who plays fall, winter, and spring only needs one exam.
The form must be on file before the first practice of each sport, not just before the first game.5West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. 2024-25 High School Principals Packet Schools track this closely. A student who shows up to the first day of fall practice without a completed physical will be sent home. Don’t wait until August. Clinics in May and June are less backed up with families trying to beat the deadline.
Submitting the Completed Form
Once the provider signs off, turn the completed form in to your school’s athletic director or the head coach of the sport. Some schools accept the paper form in person; others use digital platforms where parents upload a scan or clear photo. Check with your school’s athletic office for the preferred method.
Make sure the provider’s signature and the clearance status are clearly legible. Athletic staff review every submission and will reject anything cut off, blurry, or missing the sign-off. The student’s eligibility status updates only after the school confirms the paperwork is complete. No practicing in the meantime.
Keep a copy for your own records. If your child transfers schools mid-year or needs documentation for a club or travel team, having one on hand saves a trip back to the doctor’s office.
Concussions Require Separate Clearance
A valid physical form on file does not clear an athlete to return after a concussion or suspected head injury. West Virginia law requires that any student athlete suspected of a concussion be immediately removed from play, and the student cannot return until a licensed health care professional trained in concussion management evaluates them and provides written clearance.6West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 18-2-25A The return follows a graduated progression through increasing activity levels; if symptoms come back at any stage, the athlete stops and contacts the provider.7Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Returning to Sports Written clearance from the provider is required before full-contact practice resumes. Separately, West Virginia law requires every student athlete and parent to sign a concussion information sheet annually before the season begins.
Cost and Insurance
Sports physicals typically run $50 to $100 at a primary care office or urgent care clinic, with prices varying by provider. Many schools and community organizations in West Virginia sponsor free or reduced-cost physical clinics in May and June. Check with your school’s athletic office or local hospital system for upcoming events.
If your child is covered by Medicaid, the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment benefit requires states to cover comprehensive physical exams at age-appropriate intervals.8Medicaid.gov. Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Whether a sports-specific physical falls under that benefit can depend on how the provider bills the visit. Scheduling it as a well-child visit that also satisfies the athletic form makes coverage more likely. Ask the provider’s office about billing when you make the appointment.