MADISON, Wis. — UW Health Kids is providing free sports physical clinic for uninsured high school athletes next week.

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) requires athletes to have completed a pre-participation physical exam before the first day of sports practice. UW Health said to ensure there are no barriers for kids to participate, the free clinic will allow uninsured athletes to get the medical clearance to play sports.

The free clinic will be held from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at Access Community Health Center in Madison. No pre-registration is required.

The clinic is run by pediatric, family medicine, sports medicine and orthopedic medical experts.

Last year, the free clinic saw a record number of student-athletes, but UW Health Kids noted that half were students who had insurance but could not get in to see their primary care doctor in time because they waited too long to make an appointment or the wait time was too long.

“We were able to meet the needs of all student-athletes last summer, but we also encourage families to book appointments with their own providers in advance if possible,” UW Health Kids pediatric sports medicine physician Dr. David Bernhardt said.

He said pre-participation physical exams, which include a review of health history and examination of the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, are used to detect conditions that predispose the athlete to injury or illness.

“Participating in sports offers great physical and mental health benefits, so we want as many kids involved as possible,” Bernhardt said.

UW Health Kids said to check in on Wednesday based on the following:

• Last names A-I (check in at 6 p.m.)
• Last names J-R (check in at 7 p.m.)
• Last names S-Z (check in at 8 p.m.)