Council Rock School District

Changes in Athletic Physical Procedures

The PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association), the organization that governs athletics for member Pennsylvania schools, of which Council Rock is a member, has adjusted the required athletic physical regulations.   As such, Council Rock will modify current district procedures to reflect these new regulations.  The primary purpose of this change it to minimize the number of physicals / recertifications student-athletes must obtain in order to be eligible to safely compete in our interscholastic athletic program.  The following points are intended to provide direction to our students and their parents in preparation for participation in middle and high school athletics beginning in the 2008-09 school year.

1. The PIAA now allows for a once / year pre-participation physical.  These physicals for the school calendar year 10-11 may not be completed any earlier than June 1.  This physical is good for 12 months and only requires physician re-certification if the student sustains an injury or illness since the original physical was performed.  As an example, a student who receives a physical in July of 2009 has met the requirement to participate on all interscholastic athletic teams for the 2009-10 school year and would not need to be seen again by a physician until the following summer unless sustaining an injury or illness.
2. Council Rock will no longer offer athletic physicals or recertifications.  This service was offered to our students because of the original PIAA requirement that all students receive a comprehensive physical and subsequent recertification prior to any participation in interscholastic sports.  Thus, many students would need to be seen by a physician two or three times each year.  With insurance providers limiting coverage to a once/year only physical, this posed a hardship on our athletes and their families financially as well as securing medical appointment.  The change in PIAA regulations no longer creates this same problem.
3. Each of the Council Rock secondary schools will have available all of the paperwork necessary for participation in interscholastic athletics.  This is the official paperwork for the district, so it is imperative that any student planning to participate in our school sponsored athletic program access this information at their respective school or via the school website.

These changes will simplify the certification process for participation in the Council Rock School District athletic program.  Should you have any questions regarding these changes, please feel free to contact any of the following:

Mike Horan – Athletic Trainer, Council Rock High School-North

Scott Lisher – Athletic Trainer, Council Rock High School-South

Lynn Peterson – Athletic Director, Newtown Middle School