New rule kicks in Aug. 1
UIL
Starting Aug. 1, the University Interscholastic League will require all middle and high school students who wish to participate in marching band to be medically cleared by a doctor before they can participate in any activities.
The new rule is similar to existing rules for student athletes. If a student participates in both marching band and athletics, they do not need separate physicals.
“We (SSISD) have not required physicals for marching band students in previous years,” said high school band director Spencer Emmert. “This is new for us. We had doctors donate time to offer physicals for students earlier this summer. Those students who weren’t able to attend will have to get physicals from their healthcare providers on their own.”
Students can participate in preseason practices through July 31 without a physical. Medical history forms must be turned in by Aug. 1, and the UIL’s official medical history and physical evaluation forms must be used. They can be downloaded at https://www.uiltexas.org/files/athletics/forms/PrePhysFormRvsd1-19.pdf.
For the 2019-20 school year, all marching band students must have physicals before participating in any marching band activities unless they had a physical during the last academic year. In future school years, incoming seventh and eighth graders, freshmen and juniors will be required to obtain medical clearance.