PRE-PARTICIPATION

Athletic Medical Screening
  • All prospective student-athletes and transfers will complete a Athletic Medical Screening Questionnaire once they have officially committed to Lehigh University.
  • Additional medical documentation may be requested at the discretion of the Sports Medicine team or Lehigh University team physicians based on the responses provided.
  • Expectations for committed recruits and transfers with significant pre-existing conditions will be established based on the diagnosis and review of medical records.
  • The Sports Medicine team will maintain periodic communication with the identified prospective student-athletes and transfers to offer guidance and support in preparation for a safe and healthy intercollegiate career.
Pre-Participation Paperwork
  • All student-athletes must complete pre-participation paperwork before they are cleared to participate in any team activity. 
  • University pre-participation paperwork for first year student-athletes and transfers includes:
    • Incoming Student Health Form
    • Sickle Cell Trait Blood Test Results
    • Immunization Records
  • Athletics pre-participation paperwork (completed online via SportsWare) includes:
    • Demographics – General, Address, Emergency, and Insurance (first year student-athletes and transfers only)
    • Pre-Participation Questionnaire
    • Insurance Information Acknowledgement
    • Prescription Drug Information Acknowledgement
    • Concussion Information Acknowledgement
    • Alcohol and Other Drug Information Acknowledgement
    • Mental Health Resources Information Acknowledgement
Sport Physical Exam
  • All first-year student-athletes and transfers must pass a sport physical exam before they are cleared to participate in any team activity. 
  • Sport physicals are conducted by the Lehigh Athletics primary care team physicians, sports medicine fellows, and their respective physician assistants during the months of July and August. 
  • The physical examination is effective for the duration of four years.  However, additional sport physical exam(s) may be required in subsequent years due to changes in a student-athlete’s medical history. 
  • Walk-on student-athletes will complete their sport physical exam after they have been added to the official roster and before their first competition.
Blood Pressure Check
  • All returning student-athletes except for current first years and transfers must have a blood pressure check before they are cleared to participate in any team activity. 
  • Blood pressure checks are conducted by the Lehigh University Health Center medical team during the month of April. 
Functional and Orthopedic Screening
  • All first year student-athletes and transfers must complete a functional and orthopedic screening before they are cleared to participate in any team activity. 
  • Functional and orthopedic screenings are conducted by a member of the Sports Medicine team during the months of July and August.
  • Walk-on student-athletes will complete their orthopedic screening after they have been added to the official roster and before their first competition.
Concussion Baseline Testing
  • All student-athletes must complete concussion baseline testing before they are cleared to participate in any team activity. 
  • Concussion baseline testing is conducted by a member of the Sports Medicine team during the months of July and August.
  • Walk-on student-athletes will complete their concussion baseline test after they have been added to the official roster and before their first competition.
Mental Health Screenings
  • All first year student-athletes and transfers are strongly encouraged to complete a mental health screening to assist with their University transition.  
  • Mental health screenings are conducted by a member of the University Counseling and Psychological Services (UCPS) team during the first month of the semester. This process is not required for clearance to participate in team activity.
Insurance Coverage
  • All student-athletes must be covered under a primary insurance policy. 
  • Insurance demographics and a photocopy of insurance card must be uploaded to the SportsWare patient portal before they are cleared to participate in any team activity. 
  • This information must be provided even if the student has purchased the University accident and illness insurance policy. 
  • If a student-athlete will be out-of-network while attending Lehigh University, we recommend adding an addendum/rider to their primary insurance policy or changing to a primary care provider in the Lehigh Valley (HMO), allowing coverage outside of the area of permanent residence.
Special Conditions
  • Student-athletes with special conditions may be examined by the appropriate specialist when referred by the medical staff.  All pertinent medical documentation should be submitted to the Sports Medicine office as soon as possible.
  • Any failure to report special conditions releases Lehigh University from any liability in the event of another injury caused by the unreported condition. 
  • Loss of one of the paired organs (kidney, eye, etc.) may disqualify a student-athlete from participation in intercollegiate athletics. 
  • Student-athletes will be required to sign, along with their parents/guardians, a waiver form written by Lehigh Counsel.     
Summer Requirements for Incoming First-Year and Transfer Student-Athletes

Incoming first-year student-athletes and transfers participating in on-campus voluntary strength and conditioning workouts must submit the following documentation to Sports Medicine before they are cleared to participate:

  • Incoming Student Health Form/Immunization Records
  • Sickle Cell Trait Test Results 
  • Copy of Insurance Card (Front and Back)