What is a sports physical?

A sports physical is the comprehensive physical evaluation given by an authorized medical examiner that ensures the student athlete is medically cleared to play sports. We use Section 6 of the PIAA Comprehensive Initial Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation (CIPPE) form, which is mandated by the PIAA.

Download Section 6 here: the Sports Physical (Section 6 Only)

If requested by your doctor, you can find the entire CIPPE form here: PIAA CIPPE form

Do I need the other pages of the CIPPE form?

No, because these are part of our FamilyID registration! You only need a separate form for the sports physical, Section 6; everything else will be filled out when you complete FamilyID. 

How do I submit the sports physical to the Athletics Office?

Attach a digital copy (either a photo or a scan) of your sports physical to your FamilyID registration. For more information on FamilyID, see above.

Can I just turn in a paper copy?

No. By using FamilyID, our athletic trainer, coaches, and administrators will have instant access to the sports physical in case it is needed, while you get to keep a hard copy of it for your records.

Where can I get a sports physical?

Bring a copy of Section 6 of the PIAA CIPPE  (COMPREHENSIVE INITIAL PRE-PARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EVALUATION) to your primary care physician or other authorized medical examiner for completion after May 1st. This form can be found here or as part of the entire CIPPE on the PIAA website. Hard copies of this form can be found in and outside the Athletics Office.

What if I already have a current physical, but it's not a sports physical?

We cannot accept forms that have not been approved by the PIAA. If the form does not have this information, please take a blank copy of Section 6 of the CIPPE to your doctor and have them fill it out instead.

When do I need to get a sports physical?

You need to get a sports physical after May 1 (so May 1, 2024 for the 2024-2025 school year). May 1 was chosen by the PIAA to ensure that all student athletes have an up-to-date record of their health for the entire school year.

What do I do if the sports physical is dated before May 1?

We know that some insurance policies only cover one physical a year. If that took place before May 1, please contact your doctor so they can fill out a current form for Section 6 (dated after May 1, 2024) for your student athlete.

What if the doctor didn't sign or date the sports physical?

The sports physical is an official medical record which MUST be signed and dated. Please take the form back to the doctor until they have fully completed it.

More questions? Need IT help? Need access to a computer? Call the Athletic Department at 610-622-7000 ,ext. 2428 or email us at udsdathletics@upperdarbysd.org and we'll be happy to help!

Each year the PIAA, as well as the Upper Darby School District, requires a PIAA Comprehensive Initial Pre-participation Physical Evaluation (CIPPE) before a student can take part in any activities involving interscholastic sports.  This physical must be performed and dated no earlier than May 1st and shall be effective, regardless of when performed during a school year, until April 30th or the conclusion of the spring sports season.  For this upcoming school year, those valid dates are May 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025/the end of the 24-25 spring season.  Students cannot participate in try-outs or practice until a doctor has cleared them using the PIAA Comprehensive Initial Pre-participation Physical Evaluation (Section 6). Failure to submit a registration and physical prior to the start of tryouts for your sport will result in a loss of participation for the upcoming season (until all necessary forms have been completed, and at the discretion of the coach/athletic department). 

The whole CIPPE form, including Section 6, which must be filled out by your child's physician, can be found HERE.

As of this spring, the PIAA has moved its cutoff date to May 1. This means to participate in athletics in the 2024-2025 school year, you must have a sports physical issued on or after May 1, 2024. No student may try out, practice, or compete without a current sports physical form uploaded to their completed FamilyID registration for that season!

In addition, the PIAA has renumbered some of the pages in their sports physical packet. The Sports Physical Form may be listed as Section 6 or Section 7, but all forms will be titled "PIAA Comprehensive Initial Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation and Certification of Authorized Medical Examiner". The content of the forms has not changed and we will accept both versions of the form. If you have any questions about which form to upload, please contact the Athletic Department at 610-622-7000 ext. 2428.