New to Sports Physicals and Teen Nutrition? Start Here

The preparticipation physical exam many schools require before sports, and the eating and drinking habits that support young athletes.

Key takeaways

• Best timing for the exam: at least 6 weeks before the season, ideally at a yearly well visit
• Daily physical activity, ages 6 to 17: 60 minutes or more
• Most useful single change: Fill out the family heart history questions honestly, including any relative who died suddenly before age 50.
• Commonest mistake: Cutting food or fluids to "make weight" or lose weight quickly.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

Why bother

The exam can pick up heart conditions, past injuries and other issues before training starts, and good fueling supports growth, performance and bone health.

Start here

These two first. Everything else is easier once they are habit.

• Fill out the family heart history questions honestly, including any relative who died suddenly before age 50
• Eat regular meals with whole grains, protein, fruit and vegetables, and have a snack before practice

Then add these

Once the basics are in place, add these.

• Drink water before, during and after exercise; sports drinks are mainly useful for long, intense sessions
• Include dairy or fortified alternatives for calcium and vitamin D

The numbers, in one place

Common early mistakes

• Cutting food or fluids to "make weight" or lose weight quickly
• Supplements sold for muscle gain or performance, which are not checked by the FDA for safety or effectiveness before sale
• Playing through pain or after a hit to the head

Related topics

• Sports Concussion: What the Evidence Actually Says (Injury Prevention)
• Sports Injuries: What Published Guidance Supports (Bone and Joint)
• Concussion: What Published Guidance Supports (Brain Health)
• Childhood Activity: What the Evidence Actually Says (Children's Health)

Where to go next

• Sports Physicals and Teen Nutrition: Common Questions Answered
• Sports Physicals and Teen Nutrition: Just the Figures
• Sports Physicals and Teen Nutrition — the reference entry
• Teen Health: The Complete Guide
• Teen Acne: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
• Vaping and Teens: What the Evidence Actually Says

When to speak to a doctor

See your doctor before returning to sports if a teen has chest pain or unusual shortness of breath with exercise, misses periods, loses weight without trying or has a suspected concussion. Call 911 if an athlete collapses or faints during exercise, has a seizure, or seems confused after heat exposure, and start CPR if they are not breathing normally.

Where this comes from

• American Academy of Pediatrics — Preparticipation Physical Evaluation
• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Calcium Fact Sheet for Consumers
• Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion — Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.