School enrollment, daycare, youth sports and college programs may require a physical examination or health forms. Our pediatric team can review your child’s health history, perform an age-appropriate examination and address the paperwork you bring to the appointment.
Sylacauga Pediatrics and Summit Pediatrics provide pediatric physicals for children and adolescents, including school, daycare, youth sports and college needs. With offices in Sylacauga, Chelsea and Birmingham’s Valleydale area, families can choose the location that works best for them.
Physicals for Every Stage
From daycare through college.
Bring Your Required Forms
We’ll review the paperwork you provide.
Three Convenient Locations
Sylacauga, Chelsea and Valleydale.
Physicals can serve different purposes depending on your child’s age and what a school, daycare, athletic organization or college requires.
Some families need an updated examination before a child enters daycare or starts a new school year. Others need a youth sports physical or preparticipation evaluation before practices begin. Older teens may need health documentation before college or participation in campus activities.
Our pediatric team can help you understand the health information being reviewed, complete appropriate forms you bring with you and discuss any questions that arise during the visit.
Health examinations and paperwork for school-related requirements when applicable.
Pediatric physicals and forms families may need before beginning or continuing childcare.
Evaluation for children and teens preparing for athletic participation.
Health examinations and documentation for older adolescents preparing for the next stage.
The exact examination depends on your child’s age, health history and the reason for the visit. A pediatric physical may include a review of medical history, measurements, an age-appropriate physical examination and discussion of any concerns that could affect your child’s health or participation.
For a sports preparticipation physical, the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes medical history and evaluation of issues that could affect safe participation, with particular attention to cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health.
We’ll review relevant medical history, previous illnesses, injuries, medications and other information that may be important.
Your child’s measurements and age-appropriate vital signs may be reviewed as part of the examination.
Your provider may evaluate cardiovascular and respiratory health as part of the physical examination.
For sports-related evaluations, the musculoskeletal examination may help identify concerns that warrant additional evaluation.
The visit may also provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s overall health and age-appropriate concerns.
Bring required paperwork and any questions you want to discuss with your pediatric provider.
It can be tempting to think of a school or sports physical as simply a form that needs a signature.
But the examination is also an opportunity for your pediatric provider to review your child’s health history, identify concerns that may need further attention and talk with your family about your child’s overall health.
For sports participation specifically, the AAP recommends completing the preparticipation physical evaluation in the child’s medical home when possible, where the clinician has access to the child’s medical history and ongoing records.
A sports physical, also called a preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE), focuses on identifying health concerns that could affect a child’s ability to participate safely in sports or other physical activities. A routine well-child visit provides a broader assessment of growth, development, preventive care, immunizations, and overall health.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends completing sports physicals through a child’s regular pediatric provider when possible. This allows the examination to be considered alongside the child’s existing medical history and ongoing care.
Planning Both Appointments?
If your child is due for a well-child checkup and needs sports paperwork, tell our team when scheduling. Your office can explain the appropriate appointment type, required forms, and whether both needs can be addressed during the same visit.
Schools and childcare programs may require health documentation before enrollment, at certain ages or when records need to be updated.
Bring any forms provided by the school or daycare to your child’s appointment so your pediatric team can review exactly what information is requested.
If your child is new to our practice, prior health and immunization records may also be helpful.
A sports physical—also called a preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE)—helps evaluate health issues that could affect athletic participation.
The AAP recommends that sports physicals ideally be completed through the child’s medical home. The evaluation is intended to support safe participation while identifying circumstances that may require further assessment.
Older adolescents may need physical examinations, health documentation or immunization records before beginning college, participating in athletics or entering certain programs.
Bring all paperwork or requirements you have received so your provider can determine what needs to be completed.
Try not to wait until the night before a form is due.
Students participating in athletics governed by the Alabama High School Athletic Association must meet the association’s preparticipation physical requirements.
The AHSAA uses an official physical evaluation form that includes medical history, examination findings, and a physician’s determination about sports participation.
For the 2026–2027 school year, the AHSAA lists its revised 2018 preparticipation physical form. The form requires an M.D. or D.O. signature.
Bring the current required forms to your appointment and let our team know which school or athletic program your child will be participating in.
School and childcare programs may request physical examinations, immunization records, or other medical documentation.
Bring the paperwork provided by your child’s school or daycare so our team can review the requirements.
Colleges and certain programs may require a health examination, immunization documentation, or additional medical forms.
Review your school’s instructions before scheduling and bring the required paperwork to your appointment.
Give yourself time before the first practice.
Check enrollment and form requirements early.
Bring the documentation requested by your childcare provider.
Review health and form requirements before move-in or activities begin.
Sports physicals are an opportunity to discuss health concerns that might affect safe participation.
Tell your pediatric provider about previous concussions, injuries, fainting, chest pain during exercise, breathing difficulties, asthma, heart conditions, or a family history of significant heart problems.
Some findings may require additional evaluation before a child can be cleared for particular activities. A sports physical does not automatically guarantee medical clearance.
Our pediatric team can explain any concerns identified during the evaluation and discuss appropriate next steps.
Having the right information with you can make the appointment and paperwork easier.
Bring any forms supplied by your child’s school, daycare, athletic organization or college. If your child has seen other medical providers or is new to the practice, bring available health and immunization records as well.
For sports physicals, the AAP recommends completing a detailed medical history before the examination and bringing any medical eligibility form supplied by the sport or organization.
Coverage can vary depending on the type and purpose of the physical, your insurance plan and whether additional services are provided during the appointment.
If you have questions about insurance coverage, self-pay pricing or whether a particular type of physical is covered, contact your preferred office before the visit.
That gives the team an opportunity to explain the information available to them and helps you understand what to expect before arriving.
Contact your office with coverage questions before your appointment.
Ask your location about applicable self-pay information.
Additional testing, forms or services may have separate requirements or costs depending on the circumstances.
A sports physical, also called a preparticipation physical evaluation, is an assessment intended to help determine whether there are health concerns that could affect safe participation in sports or physical activity.
Not exactly. A sports physical focuses on health concerns that may affect safe athletic participation, while a well-child visit provides a broader preventive health evaluation. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends coordinating sports evaluations with routine well-child visits when possible. Contact your pediatric office to ask about appointment requirements and forms.
The AAP recommends scheduling the evaluation about six weeks before the first preseason practice when possible. This allows time to address issues that may need additional evaluation.
Bring any sports or medical eligibility forms you were given, along with an accurate medical history and relevant health information. The AAP specifically encourages families to complete a medical history form before the evaluation.
Bring the forms your school or daycare requires to the appointment. Your pediatric office can let you know if additional information, records or follow-up are needed before the form can be completed.
No. The evaluation may result in unrestricted eligibility, eligibility with further evaluation needed, eligibility for certain activities, or a need for additional assessment before participation.
Coverage varies by plan and by the purpose of the examination. Contact your insurance carrier and your pediatric office if you have questions about coverage or self-pay options.
Choose the location most convenient for your family: Sylacauga Pediatrics, Summit Pediatrics – Chelsea or Summit Pediatrics – Valleydale Road.
Don’t Wait Until the Form Is Due
Sports seasons and school deadlines have a way of arriving quickly. When possible, plan ahead so there is enough time for the examination, paperwork and any additional evaluation your child may need.
Call the office nearest you to plan ahead for school, daycare, sports or college requirements and bring any forms you were given.
Pediatric physicals are available through our Sylacauga, Chelsea and Valleydale Road offices. Choose the location most convenient for your family to call, get directions or view office-specific information.
115 West Clay Street
Sylacauga, Alabama 35150
134 Foothills Parkway
Chelsea, Alabama 35043
1200 Providence Park, Suite 100
Birmingham, Alabama 35242
Providing compassionate comprehensive pediatric care for infants, children, and adolescents at three convenient locations in Alabama.
115 West Clay Street
Sylacauga, Alabama 35150
Mon – Thu: 8:00AM – 5:00pm
Fri: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Mon – Thu: 9:00AM – 4:00pm
Fri: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Mon – Fri: 9:00am – 4:00pm
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