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What Do You Need to Pass a Physical to Be in Football?

Sep 13, 2011 | By John Gregory
What Do You Need to Pass a Physical to Be in Football?
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Whether they are on the high school gridiron or in a professional stadium, football players can reach a physical breaking point. Fit and robust, these players give no surface indication of health vulnerability, which can manifest itself in the heat of training or play. While most recorded cases of collapse are not due to organic health problems, they underscore the need for athletes to have a clean bill of health prior to subjecting themselves to the rigors of practice and competition.

Children and Youth

Local recreation teams for children and pre-teens must take care when signing up new players. At such ages, bones are not always fully developed and chronic health conditions may not yet be diagnosed. Organizations, therefore, will require certification by parents and the pediatrician before admitting a child. For instance, the doctor will have to note any abnormalities relating to the functioning of heart, lungs, nervous system, bones and muscles. Additionally, the recreational league must be informed of any known allergies and current medications. With that information in hand, the league may accept a medical doctor’s clearance, rather than conducting its own examination. Check with your child's organization for specific guidelines.

High School

Physical requirements for high school football are standardized by state athletic or activity associations. Informational questionnaires regarding the student’s medical history are expected from parents or family doctors, but the schools usually conduct physical exams of their own. Height, weight and body fat percentage are often recorded. Physicians will examine the skin and genital regions for lumps or irregularities. Heart rate, pulse and lung capacity are also subject to evaluation. Finally, the exam will focus on lymph nodes, eyes, ears, nose and throat to confirm the absence of any unusual conditions.

College and University

The National Collegiate Athletic Association mandates physical examinations for all incoming athletes, football players included. The student may use a family physician or the team doctor, as long as the exam is performed within six months of commencing team activity. The team’s sports medicine staff conducts medical exams for each subsequent year of active participation. Emphases are on the cardiovascular, neurological and musculoskeletal systems. In the absence of a satisfactory immunization history, students may be required to submit to inoculations for measles, hepatitis-B, diphtheria and meningitis.

Professional Football

Prospective players for the National Football League will undergo pre-draft medical testing at the NFL’s annual combine. Height, weight and length of limbs are measured. A mental skills test similar to the IQ is administered to evaluate the prospect’s analytical and problem-solving capacities. To determine the extent of past injuries, a full battery of X-rays is performed. Moreover, a urinalysis is required to screen for drug usage. Finally, doctors will connect the player to a machine that performs what is known as the Cybex Test. This instrument then measures the range of joint flexibility and mobility. These procedures all preface the team examination. This encounter includes a full head and neck examination, cardiovascular monitoring, respiratory tests, probes for enlarged organs and hernias, and an evaluation of thyroid, liver and kidney performance. Neurological tests, an electrocardiogram and a comprehensive set of blood tests all round out the examination.

References

Article reviewed by DawnF Last updated on: Sep 13, 2011

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