July 13, 2008 11:37 pm
—
By Melissa Dunson
mdunson@joplinglobe.com
Students in the Joplin-area are gearing up for another fall sports season, and some local health-care professionals are making sure there isnt anything standing in their way.
Aug. 11 is the first day of practice for all Joplin High School fall sports, but before they head out onto the field, the school district requires all those students to have a physical. Freeman Health System in Joplin has been supplying that need for local athletes and their families every year since 1991, according to Heather Goff, Freeman media coordinator.
The free physicals will be given July 21 and 22 at the Freeman Sports Medicine Center at 1111 McIntosh Circle. Students are asked to arrive at the assigned time for their school and grade. Athletes should wear shorts and a T-shirt.
Goff said it will take individuals about 35 minutes to make it through the 10 health stations operated by specialists in a variety of fields testing vision, bones, heart, lungs, ears, noses and throats.
Its a pretty extensive exam; theyre going to get more than they would at a normal physical, Goff said.
Students younger than age 18 are asked to have a parent with them at the physical, or have a parent sign a consent form and send it with the student. Consent forms are available at the Joplin High School main office.
Physicals
Joplin High School juniors and seniors are scheduled for physicals at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 21, and freshmen and sophomores at 7 p.m. Eighth-graders are scheduled for 7:30 p.m., followed by seventh-graders at 8 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School students should arrive for their physicals at 6 p.m. on July 21. College Heights Christian School athletes are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22.
Student athletes of Ozark Christian College in Joplin will also receive free physicals from the Freeman team at 6:15 p.m. on July 21.
Goff said Freeman will give physicals to nearly 2,500 area student athletes by the time school starts.
Besides a physical, Joplin High School athletes are to complete a parent-permission/insurance form and a code-of-conduct form before coming to practice Aug. 11.
Globe efforts to obtain information about physicals for athletes at Neosho, Carthage, Webb City and Carl Junction were unsuccessful.
JHS practice sessions
Cross-country practice will run from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11, in the Joplin High School south parking lot by the band room. Students should wear a T-shirt, shorts and running shoes.
Football practice will run from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Junge field. Students should wear a camp T-shirt and shorts, a helmet for both practices and shoulder pads for the afternoon practice.
Girls golf practice will run from 3 to 6 p.m. at Twin Hills. Students should wear a collared shirt, khaki shorts and golf or tennis shoes. They are to bring their own golf clubs and balls.
Boys soccer practice will run from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the high-school soccer field. Students should wear a T-shirt, shorts, cleats, shin guards and tennis shoes.
Softball practice will run from 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 7 p.m. on the high-school softball field. Students should wear a T-shirt, shorts and cleats, and bring a glove.
Girls tennis practice will run from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Schifferdecker Park tennis courts. Students should wear a T-shirt, shorts and tennis shoes, and bring a racket and tennis balls.
Volleyball practice will run from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Kaminsky Gym at the high school. Students should wear a T-shirt, shorts, tennis shoes and knee pads.
Other schools
Times for Freeman physicals
for other area schools
July 21
6 p.m. Diamond High School and middle school
6:15 p.m. Sarcoxie High School and middle school
8:15 p.m. Columbus High School
July 22
6:30 p.m. Riverton High School
6:45 p.m. Riverton Middle School
7:15 p.m. Baxter Springs High School
7:30 p.m. Baxter Springs Middle School
8 p.m. Galena High School
8:15 p.m. Galena Middle School
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.