Participation in Sports
Home-Schooled, Full-Time Virtual, or Charter Students:
If home-schooled, full-time virtual school, or charter school (charters with no athletic teams) students wish to participate in sports at the public high school they are zoned for, the parents must notify the principal and/or the athletic director. All FHSAA paperwork and eligibility requirements must also be completed before the students can begin any activities associated with that team. View the practice start dates below.
If home-schooled, full-time virtual school, or charter school (charters with no athletic teams) students wish to participate in sports at another public school other than their zoned school, parents must complete the district controlled open enrollment form for participation only. This form will only be available during the district-approved time period; no other applications after the deadline will be considered or approved.
Private School Students:
If private school students, who attend a private school that is not a member of the FHSAA and has 125 or fewer students in grades 6-12, wish to participate in sports at the public high school they are zoned for, the parents must notify the principal and/or athletic director BEFORE the first day of practice for that sport in order to be eligible to participate in that sport. All FHSAA paperwork and eligibility requirements must also be completed before the students can begin any activities associated with that team. View the practice start dates below.
If private school students, who attend a private school that is not a member of the FHSAA and has 125 or fewer students in grades 6-12, wish to participate in sports at another public school other than their zoned school, parents must complete the district controlled open enrollment form for participation only. This form will only be available during the district-approved time period; no other applications after the deadline will be considered or approved.
Athletic Clearance
Pre-Participation Physical Examination - EL2
A student must have a physical evaluation each year and be certified as being physically fit to participate in interscholastic athletic programs prior to participating in interscholastic athletic competition or engaging in any practice, tryout, workout, or other physical activity associated with the student’s candidacy for an interscholastic team. Physical exams for the upcoming school year can be obtained no earlier than June 1. All physical exams obtained on June 1 or at any time during the school year will expire on May 31, regardless of the date of the physical exam. The student cannot be allowed to participate in any activity related to interscholastic athletic programs until the fully executed physical evaluation form is on file in the school (§ 1002.20(17)(b), F.S.).
Consent & Release – EL3
Student must provide school with signed consent and release form to participate. A student must have the consent of his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to participate in interscholastic athletic programs at a member school prior to participating in interscholastic athletic competition or engaging in any practice, tryout, workout, or other physical activity associated with the student’s candidacy for an interscholastic team. The student and his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must also release the FHSAA, its member schools and contest officials from all liability for any injury or claim that may result from the student’s participation in interscholastic athletics. This consent and release from liability must be provided in writing on a form developed by this Association for that purpose. The form must be signed by the student and his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s). The student cannot be allowed to participate in any activity related to interscholastic athletic programs until the fully executed consent form is on file in the school.
Parents should contact the school athletic director to determine if special arrangements have been made for athletic physical exams by local physicians or medical facilities before making an appointment with their family physician.
These forms are required by the FHSAA before a student-athlete can participate in any type of conditioning, workout, practices or contests and are ONLY AVAILABLE AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. These forms must be turned in directly to the athletic director. These forms contain additional statements that are specific to Polk County Public Schools and require the signatures of the parent/guardian and student-athlete.
For that reason, please do not download the EL2, EL3 forms from the FHSAA website.
To acquire the EL2 and EL3 forms, please email your school’s athletic director from the contact list below.
Athletic Resources
PCPS, in partnership with the American Sport Education Program (ASEP), offers high school coaches the opportunity to take the ASEP online courses Coaching Principles, Sport First Aid, and Coaching [Sport] Technical and Tactical Skills to meet the Florida Department of Education Athletic Coaching Certification and Endorsement. Certification is earned by successfully completing the three required online courses and passing each course exam with a score of 80 percent or better. Visit the ASEP Website
If you would like to leave our website and visit outside resources, please follow the links above. These third-party resources are listed for only information purpose and no endorsements are implied.
Athletic Directors