Information For Athletes

HEALTH CLEARANCE PROCESS FOR ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION

The Process for the School Year

The Sport Physical Packets have been revised by the State effective January 2008. Please read the new process as described below carefully. If you have any questions regarding these changes you may call the Health office at 908-647-4800 Ext. 4877 or 4878 for clarification.

The revised Sports Physical & Health History forms are required of all athletes participating on a school sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team. The revised Athletic Pre-Participation Physical Examination Form ( Part A & B) goes into effect for physical examinations performed after January 1,2008. However, each candidate whose medical examination was completed more than 60 days pior to the first day of practice session must provide a WHRHS Health History Update (Green Form) of medical problems experienced since the last medical examination. This must be completed & signed by the parent/guardian.

Sports Physical Application Process

Sports Physical Packets are only available from team coaches. Any student interested in participating in a sport at WHRHS MUST PICK UP THE SPORTS PACKET FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE COACHES.  Please note: Packets will not be available anywhere else for distribution.

1. For students who have not had a physical within 365 days of the first day of practice the following forms must be completed by the athlete/parent/guardian in their entirety.

A. Yellow Form:

Part A: Page 1-2: ANNUAL ATHLETIC PRE-PARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FORM (APPE). This form must be completed prior to your medical visit. YOU MUST COMPLETE & BRING THIS FORM WITH YOU TO THE DOCTOR FOR HIS/HER REVIEW/SIGNATURE.

Part B: Page 3-4: THE ANNUAL ATHLETIC PRE-PARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EVALUATION FORM FOR THE PHYSICIAN OF YOUR CHOICE TO COMPLETE. This form must be completed and signed by a medical doctor within 365 days of the first day of your child's sport participation.

Please note the following options regarding your child's physical examination:

• Examination by WHRHS school physician Dr. Harold Ehrlich. Sports physicals are done free of charge at specified dates/times at WHRHS. The publication of examination dates, times, and locations are announced via the WHRHS web site, overhead announcements, Newsdaze, Athletic bulletin boards, Marquis board,and Coaches.
• Examination by your private physician. Appointments should be made well in advance of the first practice date
• Documentation of any sports physical examination must be done on the yellow form as per state regulations. NO SUBSTITUTIONS, COPIES, OR FAXES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

 B. White Forms:

Consent for Athletic participation, Athlete Code of Conduct, Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct, & Random Steroid Testing must be completed & signed by the parent/guardian/student.

All packets must be returned to the Health office. Forms are reviewed & processed by the school nurses & trainers at WHRHS. In some cases additional infomraiton regarding your child's health may be required resulting in a delayed clearance. You, your child and the coach will be notified of any delay. Upon receipt of additional information a clearance letter (one per school year) will be sent to your home.

2. For Students with a valid physical on file:

         A. White Forms:

              Consent for Athletic participation, Athlete Code of Conduct, Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct, & Random Steroid Testing must be completed/signed by the parent/guardian/student.

         B. Green Forms:

               WHRHS Health History Update Form to be completed by parent/guardian no more than sixty days prior to the first day of practice for each sport your child participates in during the school year. If you answer "yes" to any questions you must give a detailed explanation. Failure to do so or to complete this form will result in a delay in your child's ability to participate.

All packets must be returned to the Health office. Forms are reviewed & processed by the school nurses & trainers at WHRHS. In some cases additional information regarding your child's health may be required resulting in a delayed clearance. You, your child and the coach will be notified of any delay.

Academic Eligibility

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Rules and Regulations regarding eligibility are mandatory. In addition, the WHRHS District Board of Education has adopted the following guidelines for students participating in high school athletics.

A student entering 10th, 11th or 12th grades will be required to achieve 27.5 credits in the year prior to participation in the first semester of a school year. To be eligible in the second semester, the student must have achieved 13.75 credits in the first semester of that year.

A 9th grade student automatically is eligible in his/her first semester. To be eligible in the second semester, he/she must have achieved one half of 27.5 or 13.75 credits for participation in spring activities.

These academic requirements apply to all cheerleaders, student managers, student trainers and athletes. Additional information regarding eligibility may be obtained upon request from the Athletic director or Principal.

Injuries/Illness

Students who have sustained an injury/illness must be medically cleared by the treating physician before returning to sports. A written note is required.

Injuries must be reported immediately to the coach, trainer, and Health Office so that accident reports may be completed. The timing of this is crucial so that an evaluation may be performed and appropriate medical referrals may be be arranged. Delays in reporting an injury or illness may jeopardize insurance coverage.

School Insurance Coverage

Injuries are a part of athletics that at times are unavoidable. If your child sustains an injury during any part of the season, you can expect to be informed by one of the Athletic Trainers and/or the school nurse regarding the injury and the course of treatment. When your son/daughter sustains an injury during a school sponsored sport event the following steps must be taken for other coverage:

Submit your Insurance Plan to the physician's office for initial coverage.

Upon receipt of your EOB (Explanation of Benefits), notify the Health Office at WHRHS at 908-647-4800 Ext. 4877 or 4878.

You will receive a copy of the Accident/Incident report filed at the time of injury, school insurance forms and a cover letter with instructions. Please complete all forms and submit as directed.

If your son/daughter is seen by a physician for an injury or illness sustained at a school sponsored athletic event, whether or not he/she has been evaluated by the athletic training staff, he/she must submit a letter to the athletic trainer from the treating physician stating the diagnosis, treatment, restrictions and estimated time out of athletics before he/she is allowed to return to athletic participation.

Supplements

WHRHS is very concerned that some of our student athletes may be tempted to use over the counter supplements including, but not limited to creatine and androstenedione. Use of these supplements is strongly discouraged. WHRHS does not endorse the use of any supplements and has adopted the stance of the NJSIAA, National Federation of High School Association, NCAA, Association of Professional Team Physicians and many other professional organizations regarding their use. School personnel should not dispense, endorse or recommend any drug, medication or food supplement to athletes. WHRHS recommends a well rounded diet, including all the food groups in recommended daily allowance amounts, combined with an appropriate training program.