What kind of physical examination does a young athlete need before participating in sports?

Recommendations exist for preparticipation physical examinations, but there is no national standard, and the recommendations are not widely followed. The most common reasons for denying clearance to play are musculoskeletal conditions, hypertension, and visual acuity problems. Although detecting potentially life-threatening conditions is an appropriate goal, preparticipation physical examinations have only a limited ability to detect cardiac abnormalities that dispose athletes to sudden death on the playing field; fortunately, these events are very rare.