The sports physical is important for ensuring that it is safe for the child to participate in sports activities at the start of a new school year or sports season. The participant’s health and wellbeing during sports participation are at the heart of a sports physical, by providing a series of tests and exams that will check their strength, flexibility, joints, vision, blood pressure, heart rate, heart, lungs, and other functions of the body that can be impacted through physical activity. It will also look at the child’s medical history including existing or previous medical conditions, previous surgeries, injuries and hospitalizations, allergies, any medications the child is on, and if they have ever had problems with breathing, chest pains, feeling dizzy, or fainting. The sports physical will be used by the doctor to determine whether or not it is safe for the child to participate in sports and will let the school or coach know of any existing medical conditions that require monitoring or special treatment throughout their participation. It is important for the coach or school to have updated and accurate medical records should the child become ill or injured through their participation and need to be treated onsite.