School Sports Season Is Here: Florida's New EKG Requirement for Student Athletes

School Sports Season Is Here: Florida’s New EKG Requirement for Student Athletes

With school sports tryouts right around the corner, Florida families have one more box to check this year: a new state law requires a one-time EKG screening for many student athletes, in addition to the sports physical you’re already used to. Here’s what changed and what it means for your family.

Every fall, sports physicals are one of the most common reasons families come see us before school starts. This year there’s a new step in the process. Under Florida’s Second Chance Act (Florida Statute §1006.20), effective July 1, 2026, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) now requires an electrocardiogram, or EKG (also called an ECG), for many student athletes before they can try out, practice, or compete.

Who needs an EKG?

The EKG requirement applies to:

• All incoming 9th graders playing an FHSAA-sanctioned sport for the first time, and
• Students in grades 10-12 participating in an FHSAA sport for the very first time.

If your student already played an FHSAA sport before the 2026-27 school year, they generally don’t need a new EKG to keep playing — this is a one-time screening, not an annual one. An EKG completed within the two years before July 1 of the participation year satisfies the requirement, so if your child already had one done recently (for another reason, or at another school), it may already cover them — ask us to confirm before scheduling another.

Why the state added this

EKG screening is designed to catch rare but serious heart conditions — the kind that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest during intense physical activity — before a child ever steps onto the field or court. It’s a genuinely good addition to the existing physical exam, which checks things like blood pressure, heart and lung sounds, growth, and flexibility, but isn’t designed to catch every underlying heart rhythm issue.

What if the EKG comes back abnormal?

An abnormal result does not automatically bench your child. It means a follow-up evaluation is needed, and the student needs written clearance from a qualified healthcare provider before they can participate. That’s a normal and expected part of the process — most follow-ups end in clearance to play, just with an extra step first.

The paperwork: EL1, EL2, and EL3

FHSAA uses a few standard forms, all available at fhsaa.com:

• EL2 — Preparticipation Physical Evaluation. This is the standard sports physical your provider completes. It hasn’t changed with the new law.
• EL1 — EKG Screening Form. New for 2026-27. Documents the EKG result.
• EL3 — Consent and Release from Liability Certificate. Signed by parents; updated this year to include the new statute language, so make sure you’re using the current version rather than one saved from a prior year.
• EL1/2s — Follow-Up Form. Used only if the EL1 (EKG) or EL2 (physical) needs additional follow-up before clearance.

Cost and where to get the EKG done

Florida law requires school districts to arrange low-cost EKG partnerships for families, and districts are exempt from the requirement if they can’t secure a rate under $50 per student. Many districts run school-based or community EKG screening days — check with your school’s athletic director for the current schedule, since it changes district to district and year to year. You don’t have to wait for a school screening day, though — see below.

We do EKGs in-office

One World Pediatrics performs EKG screenings right here in our Longwood and Apopka offices, so you can get your child’s sports physical (EL2) and their EKG (EL1) done in the same visit instead of juggling two separate appointments. If it isn’t covered by insurance or a district partnership, our self-pay rate is $40.

If a result needs a closer look, your provider reviews it and handles the follow-up and written clearance directly — no separate referral required for most cases.

Ready before tryouts start

Since tryouts tend to sneak up fast once summer winds down, we’d rather you come in with a few weeks of buffer than find out the week before tryouts that a form is missing. Book a sports physical and EKG online, or contact our office with questions about the EKG requirement for your specific situation.

Sources: WUWF, FHSAA, STAT News.