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Marching Band Physical Exam FAQ

The following rule concerning pre-participation physicals for marching band takes effect on August 1, 2019:

C&CR Section 1105:

(F) MARCHING BAND PRE-PARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. UPON ENTERING THE FIRST AND THIRD YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL AND UPON ANY 7th OR 8th GRADE STUDENT PARTICIPATING IN MARCHING BAND, A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION SIGNED BY A PHYSICIAN, A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSED BY A STATE BOARD OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT EXAMINERS, A REGISTERED NURSE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE BY THE BOARD OF NURSE EXAMINERS OR A DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC IS REQUIRED. STANDARDIZED PRE-PARTICIPATION PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FORMS, AVAILABLE FROM THE UIL OFFICE AND AUTHORIZED BY THE UIL MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ARE REQUIRED.

(G) MARCHING BAND MEDICAL HISTORY FORM. EACH YEAR PRIOR TO ANY PRACTICE OR PARTICIPATION A UIL MEDICAL HISTORY FORM SIGNED BY BOTH STUDENT AND A PARENT OR GUARDIAN IS REQUIRED. A MEDICAL HISTORY FORM SHALL ACCOMPANY EACH PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND SHALL BE SIGNED BY BOTH STUDENT AND A PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

Year 1 and 3: Physical Examination and Medical History Form Required.
Year 2 and 4: Medical History Form Required.

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Where is the physical examination form and medical history form?
The Physical Examination Form and Medical History Form are available on the UIL Marching Band webpage.
Who collects these forms and maintains compliance?
The school district.
How does UIL define who must meet this requirement?
This requirement is for any student that a school district determines is a member of the marching band.
Does UIL consider non-performing student groups such as a loading crew or field crew to be members of the marching band?
Each school district determines who is a member of the marching band; therefore, requiring a physical examination for non-performing students would be at the discretion of the school district.
Does a student in athletics and marching band need a separate physical examination for each activity?
No.
What does pre-participation mean?
Pre-participation means prior to starting any physical activities – marching or otherwise, inside or outside – associated with marching band practice and performance.
Our school district already requires physical examinations for marching band participation. Therefore, how do we phase in this requirement?
Since students in the first and third years of marching band participation are required to have a physical examination, if a student in the second or fourth year completed a physical in the prior school year, that student is not required by UIL to do so in the first year of the rule (2019-2020).
Our school district has not required physical examinations for marching band participation. Therefore, how do we phase in this requirement?
In the first year of the rule (2019 - 2020) all students are required to complete a physical examination. Therefore, in the second year of the rule (2020-2021) a third-year member would complete a physical examination in consecutive years. With this phase in process no student would be required by UIL to have more than two physical examinations in grades 9 - 12. 
Since the rule does not take effect until August 1, 2019 are students required to be compliant for any physical activities associated with a school’s marching band that begin prior to August 1, 2019?
Since the rule does not take effect until August 1, 2019 meeting compliance PRIOR to that date is encouraged by UIL, but not required. However, ALL students must meet compliance by August 1, 2019. Starting in the 2020-2021 school year all students are expected to meet compliance prior to beginning any physical activity associated with marching band, regardless of the start date. For example, if the 2020-2021 marching band begins practicing in May, all students (including incoming first year members) would be expected to meet compliance at that time.
Our school district requires physicals annually for marching band participation. May we still do so?
Yes. A school district may choose to have a policy more restrictive than UIL.
How does this requirement affect a student with physical limitations or special needs accommodations?
All students are expected to be medically cleared for the role they will perform with the marching band. Therefore, a student with any physical limitations or special needs accommodations may be permitted by the authorized medical professional to participate with the marching band in a modified or specific role. For example, if a student is unable to march, the medical professional would designate on the form “Not cleared for: Marching.” Further information on any limitations could then be listed by the medical professional in the “Recommendation” section of the examination form.
We are a 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, or 1A school and we have 7th and/or 8th graders in our marching band. How does this rule apply to those students?
A 7th or 8th grader must complete a physical examination and medical history form in the first year of marching band participation and then again starting in the first year of participation in high school marching band (High school is defined by UIL as grades 9-12). Therefore, an eighth grader in the first year of marching band participation would be required to have a physical examination in eighth and ninth grade. However, a seventh grader in the first year of marching band participation would be required to have a physical in seventh grade and not again until ninth grade.