Skip to Navigation | Skip to Content

Sports Medicine: Athletic Physicals

Table of Contents

All students wishing to participate in varsity or junior varsity intercollegiate athletics must pass an annual pre-participation physical exam and provide proof of current health insurance prior to any team participation, including tryouts or non-traditional seasons. This physical examination must be provided by Dr. Edwin Kornoelje, Calvin College Team Physician. Physicals are completed in the athletic training room prior to the beginning of each sport’s season.

Approval for participation is based upon a satisfactory physical examination and a thorough review of the prospective student-athlete’s medical history. The final decision on physical qualification or disqualification is solely the responsibility of the Calvin College Team Physician. Additionally, the team physician has the final authority regarding participation subsequent to an injury or illness.

New student-athletes & transfers

All prospective student-athletes must complete a thorough physical examination with Calvin College’s Team Physician prior to the start of his/her competitive season. You must contact Jodi Bird in the Calvin College HPERDS office (616-526-6176) to schedule your physical (dates and times for individual teams are listed below). There will be a $15 charge assessed to your campus miscellaneous account to cover the cost of the physical. If you are unable to be present during your team’s scheduled physical time, please contact the athletic training staff to make other arrangements.

If you have had surgery in the past twelve months or have a medical condition that may impact your participation status, please contact us immediately so that we can secure the necessary paperwork and/or testing that will be necessary to receive clearance for participation. This will ensure that you will not have to be held out of practices or competition while waiting for clearance.

When you report for your physical, please bring the following:

Men's schedule for new student-athletes

Team 2009-2010 Time
Soccer Saturday, August 22 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Golf Saturday, August 22 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Cross Country Tuesday, August 25 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
Soccer (Group #2) Tuesday, August 25 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
Swimming & Diving Friday, September 4 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Track and Field (Indoor AND Outdoor) Friday, September 4 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Baseball Friday, September 4 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Tennis Friday, September 4 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Basketball Monday, October 12 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

Women's schedule for new student-athletes

Team 2009-2010 Time
Volleyball Thursday, August 20 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Soccer Thursday, August 20 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Cross Country Tuesday, August 25 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
Golf Tuesday, August 25 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
Swimming & Diving Friday, September 4 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Track and Field (Indoor AND Outdoor) Friday, September 4 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Softball Friday, September 4 4:40 p.m.-7:40 p.m.
Tennis Friday, September 4 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Basketball Monday, October 12 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

Returning student-athletes

All returning student-athletes must complete a follow-up physical examination annually prior to returning to participation in their sport. These follow-up physicals will be available in the athletic training room after you return to campus. You do NOT need to call and schedule an appointment; rather, please report to the athletic training room during your team’s time slot listed below:

Men's schedule for returning student-athletes

Team 2009-2010 Time
Soccer Saturday, August 22 9 a.m-10:30 a.m.
Golf Saturday, August 22 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Cross Country Tuesday, August 25 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Tennis Tuesday, September 8 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Baseball Tuesday, September 8 10 a.m.-2 p.m
Swimming & Diving Tuesday, September 15 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Track & Field (Indoor AND Outdoor) Wednesday, September 16 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Basketball Tuesday, October 6 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Women's schedule for returning student-athletes

Team 2009-2010 Time
Volleyball Thursday, August 20 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Soccer Thursday, August 20 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Cross Country Tuesday, August 25 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Golf Tuesday, August 25 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
Softball Thursday, September 10 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Tennis Thursday, September 10 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Swimming & Diving Tuesday, September 15 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Track & Field (Indoor AND Outdoor) Thursday, September 17 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Basketball Thursday, October 8 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

If your insurance has changed, if you or your parents/guardians have moved or changed contact information, or if you have experienced significant injury/illness since your last participation in intercollegiate athletics at Calvin College, please bring that information with you at that time.

Also, if you currently take a stimulant (e.g. Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta) for diagnosed ADHD, please refer to the section regarding ADHD stimulants below.

Guidelines for student-athletes with ADHD taking prescribed stimulants

Beginning on August 1, 2009, the NCAA will begin requiring stricter documentation procedures for student-athletes seeking a medical exception to allow the regular use of a medication that contains a banned substance. A major aspect of these new regulations includes drugs which are commonly prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), such as Adderall and Ritalin, which are stimulants containing substances currently banned by the NCAA. The NCAA bans stimulants, not only because they may enhance athletic performance, but because they may pose a health risk by potentially contributing to heat illness or placing additional stress on the heart.

However, in cases where these drugs are necessary, a medical exception for a positive drug test can be granted. As such, beginning on August 1, 2009, Calvin College (per NCAA regulations) will be requiring documentation that confirms that the student-athlete has undergone a clinical evaluation to diagnose the disorder, is being monitored routinely for the use of the stimulant medication, and has a current prescription on file.

Student-athlete document responsibility

The student-athlete’s documentation from the prescribing physician to the sports medicine staff should contain a minimum of the following information to help ensure that ADHD has been diagnosed and is being managed appropriately.

  • Description of the evaluation process which identifies the assessment tools and procedures

  • Statement of the diagnosis, including when it was confirmed

  • History of ADHD treatment (previous/ongoing)

  • Statement that a non-banned ADHD alternative has been considered if a stimulant is currently prescribed.

  • Statement regarding follow-up and monitoring visits.

  • Copy of the most recent prescription (as documented by the prescribing physician).

To ensure that the proper documentation is collected, the use of the Adult ADHD Evaluation Summary PDF is recommended, but not required.