School and Sports Physicals in Jacksonville: The EL2, the New ECG Rule and What to Bring
School and Sports Physicals in Jacksonville: The EL2, the New ECG Rule and What to Bring
Florida changed the requirements for student athletes in 2026, and a lot of families have not caught up yet. If your athlete is trying out for a winter or spring sport, this is worth ten minutes now rather than a scramble the week before the deadline.
What the EL2 is
Florida Statute 1006.20 requires any student candidate for an interscholastic athletic team to complete a preparticipation physical evaluation. The form is the FHSAA EL2, and it was revised in February 2026.
Key facts:
- The form is valid for 365 calendar days from the date of the exam
- It must be completed each year before competition, practice, tryouts, workouts, conditioning, or any related physical activity, including activities outside the school year
- It is not valid unless every section is complete
- It must be signed by a practitioner licensed under Florida chapter 458, 459, 460, §464.012, or registered under §464.0123, in good standing with their regulatory board
The EL2 runs four pages. Pages one and two are the medical history, completed by the student and parent and retained by the provider or family. Page three is the physical examination. Page four is the medical eligibility form, and that is the page that gets submitted to the school.
The outcome is one of three findings: medically eligible for all sports without restriction, medically eligible for only certain sports, or not medically eligible.
The new ECG requirement
This is the change most families have not heard about.
As of July 1, 2026, Florida law adds an electrocardiogram requirement to the eligibility process. It applies to all incoming ninth-grade athletes and any student in grades 10 through 12 who has never participated in an FHSAA-sanctioned sport.
The ECG does not replace the physical. It is a separate requirement with its own form.
Two new forms came with it:
- EL1, the ECG screening form
- ME1, the ECG medical exemption form, for a medical doctor to exempt a student from the ECG requirement when clinically appropriate
The FHSAA also removed what used to be page five of the EL2 and replaced it with a separate follow-up form, the EL1/2s, needed only when the examining provider requests additional evaluation after the physical or ECG screening.
EL3, the consent and release from liability certificate, is completed by parents and is separate from all of the above.
If your athlete is a returning player who has already competed in an FHSAA sport, the ECG requirement does not apply to them. If this is their first season, it does.
What gets checked
The physical covers appearance, including assessment for Marfan-related findings, eyes, ears, nose and throat, heart and lungs, abdomen, skin, neurological and musculoskeletal systems.
The medical history includes a cardiovascular section, and the provider reviews those responses as part of the assessment. This is the part of the form families rush through, and it is the part that matters most. The cardiovascular questions exist because sudden cardiac events in young athletes, while rare, are what this entire process is designed to catch.
Answer them carefully. A family history of a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator before age 35, unexplained fainting during exercise, or chest pain during activity are exactly the things a provider needs flagged.
Who signs what
The EL2 fails more often on signatures than on findings, so it is worth being clear about who is responsible for which part.
The student completes the medical history questions honestly and signs acknowledging the answers are truthful.
The parent or guardian completes their portion, signs the medical history, and separately completes the EL3 consent and release from liability certificate.
The examining provider completes the physical examination page, initials each assessment as normal or abnormal, and signs and dates the medical eligibility page. Many schools also require the provider’s stamp on that page, so ask your school whether that applies.
If any one of those signatures is missing, the form is not valid and it comes back. Check every signature line before you leave the appointment rather than discovering the gap at the athletic office.
What to bring
The current EL2 form, downloaded from the FHSAA website. Do not use a form from a previous year, since the February 2026 revision changed it.
Pages one and two already completed by the student and parent. This is the single biggest time saver.
Immunization records if the school also requires a general health form.
Glasses or contacts if used.
Records for any managed condition, including asthma inhalers, allergy plans, prior concussions, or any previous cardiac evaluation.
Any prior ECG results if your athlete has had one.
When to book, by season
The most common mistake is treating this as a task for the week before the deadline. Working backward from tryouts gives you room if anything needs follow-up.
Fall sports (football, volleyball, cross country, swimming) generally begin practice in late July or early August. Book in May or June. This is the busiest window of the year for physicals, and it is when appointments get scarce.
Winter sports (basketball, soccer, wrestling, weightlifting) generally begin in October or November. Book in September or early October.
Spring sports (baseball, softball, track, tennis, lacrosse) generally begin in January or February. Book in December or early January.
Two things to keep in mind. The EL2 is valid for 365 days from the exam date, so a single well-timed physical can cover an athlete across more than one season if the dates line up. And if your athlete plays multiple sports across seasons, time the physical so it stays valid through the last one rather than expiring mid-season.
Confirm actual dates with your athlete’s school, since start dates vary by district and by sport.
What holds up clearance
Incomplete sections. The form is not valid unless every section is complete. Blank fields are the most common reason a form comes back.
Missing signatures. Student, parent and provider all sign.
Using an outdated form. The EL2 was revised in February 2026.
Waiting until the deadline. If the physical turns up something needing follow-up evaluation, you need time. Book several weeks ahead of tryouts, not several days.
Not knowing whether the ECG applies. Confirm your athlete’s status before the appointment.
Need a sports physical in Jacksonville? Call 904-788-3747. Cash pay, no insurance required, and visits start at $50. Ask when you call whether we can handle the ECG screening or whether that needs a separate referral.
Where we serve
Our Jacksonville office serves families across Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Nassau counties, including Mandarin, San Marco, Southside, Bartram Park, St. Johns, Fruit Cove, Julington Creek, Nocatee, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Jacksonville Beach and Ponte Vedra.
This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. FHSAA requirements change. Always download the current form from the FHSAA and confirm requirements with your athlete’s school.
Sources
- Florida High School Athletic Association. EL2 Preparticipation Physical Evaluation, revised February 2026.
- LegalClarity. How to Fill Out and Submit the FHSAA EL2 Sports Physical Form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a sports physical good for in Florida?
The FHSAA EL2 is valid for 365 calendar days from the date of the exam. It must be redone each year.
Does my athlete need an ECG now?
As of July 1, 2026, the ECG requirement applies to all incoming ninth-grade athletes and any student in grades 10 through 12 who has never participated in an FHSAA-sanctioned sport. Returning athletes who have already competed are not affected.
Does the ECG replace the physical?
No. It is a separate requirement with its own form, the EL1. The EL2 physical is still required.
Can my athlete be exempted from the ECG?
There is a medical exemption form, the ME1, for a medical doctor to exempt a student when clinically appropriate. Discuss it with your provider.
Which page of the EL2 goes to the school?
Page four, the medical eligibility form. Pages one and two, the medical history, are retained by the provider or family.
Do we need a physical for tryouts, or only for games?
Before any competition, practice, tryout, workout or conditioning, including activity outside the school year.
What if the provider finds something?
There is a follow-up form, the EL1/2s, used when the examining provider requests additional evaluation. This is why booking several weeks before the deadline matters.
Can we fill out the form at the appointment?
You can, but completing pages one and two beforehand makes the visit much faster and gives you time to check family history rather than guessing.
Do you take insurance?
We are cash pay with visits starting at $50, so you will know the cost upfront with no insurance required.
Where do I get the current form?
Download it directly from the FHSAA website. Do not reuse a form from a previous year, since it was revised in February 2026.
