Summertime will soon end and the new school year will begin before we know it. Now is the time to schedule your child’s school or sports physicals as appointments are expected to fill up quickly.
“Every kid should have a school physical and a sports physical if they play organized sports, ideally from their pediatrician,” said Michael Endris, MD, a pediatrician at OSF HealthCare. “This includes everyone from the high school basketball player and the junior high performer in the school musical to the skateboarding middle-schooler.”
The real benefits
Seeing your pediatrician for routine well-child visits and sports physicals helps keep your child’s medical records and health history up to date. Pediatricians are trained to identify and treat medical, bone and joint problems commonly seen in children and adolescents who play sports.
“Early in your child’s life, the physical is an opportunity to monitor developmental milestones, monitor growth and ensure healthy habits,” Dr. Endris said. “As your child ages, your pediatrician can provide further guidance in social and emotional development, monitor changes that arise in puberty and provide safety advice on a myriad of topics.”
In addition, Dr. Endris encourages you to keep up with your child’s vaccinations.
“New measles outbreaks or influenza can cause severe illness or be life-threatening and should not be taken lightly,” he said.
Scheduling an appointment
Easy and convenient.
It is a good idea to get your child’s physical scheduled as soon as possible before the start of the new school year or the start of summertime practices and sports tryouts.
“Planning for your child’s return to school starts with scheduling their school physicals, depending on their age or grade level,” Dr. Endris said. “It also could mean your child is required to have a sports physical if they participate in their school’s sports program.”
Schedule now because appointments are already filling up! You can schedule with an OSF provider online or through OSF MyChart.
Last Updated: June 5, 2025