Physicals
All student athletes on intercollegiate teams must have a physical examination before participating in practice and/or competition. Student athletes may obtain this required exam when they arrive on campus. Physical exams for winter and spring sports teams are in early September. The charge for the exam is $20, which will be billed to your student account. Physical exams will be at 5 p.m. for football and 6 p.m. for other fall sports teams on the evening of your arrival date.

Student athletes interested in getting a physical exam from their own physician before coming to campus must file a Student Athlete Physical Form (PDF). For more information about this form, contact Scott Sunderland, Head Athletic Trainer at 309-341-7378.

All student athletes planning to participate in intercollegiate athletics must fill out and return their Emergency/Medical History Information (PDF). For more information, contact the Office of Student Development.

NOTE: If a student athlete has had orthopedic surgery within the past 24 months, one of our team orthopedists must administer an exam prior to competing in practice and/or competition. The exam will be done at the same time as the physical exam at no additional cost.

Athlete Insurance Information
Knox College will provide a group accidental insurance policy for all Knox student-athletes. The group accidental insurance plan will allow the College to satisfy an NCAA requirement stipulating that the College must certify that all students who participate in intercollegiate athletics have insurance coverage up to the NCAA Catastrophic Insurance Plan, which starts at $75,000. This group policy, which has a $1,000 deductible and pays secondary to any other insurance a family may have up to $75,000, will cover Knox student-athletes from the first day of practice until the end of the season. This policy will cover costs incurred within 52 weeks from the date of the athletic accident up to $15,000 and for 104 weeks up to $75,000 when the NCAA's coverage begins. If you are a member of an HMO, permission from them for non-emergency treatment must be granted, otherwise the athletic insurance will not apply. Coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of the master policy. Neither Knox College nor the athletic insurance company assumes responsibility for costs not covered by the contract including, but not limited to, pre-existing injuries or health conditions, chronic injuries and/or stress fractures.

To pay for the cost of this plan, each student-athlete will be billed $100 annually (regardless of the number of sports in which they participate) to their student account once it has been determined that the student-athlete has used a year of eligibility. According to NCAA legislation, a year of eligibility is used if a student-athlete is on a team roster for the first practice after the first regular-season game. A student-athlete who does not use a year of eligibility will be billed $100 only if they have a claim towards the athletic insurance policy from an injury that occurred during preseason practice prior to using a year of eligibility. This plan ensures that every Knox student-athlete has adequate insurance coverage up to the NCAA catastrophic plan.

The Athletic Insurance policy has a $1,000 deductible and pays secondary to any other insurance a student athlete or their family may have. The responsibility for this initial $1,000 rests with the individual participant. Any student who participates in intercollegiate athletics, is strongly encouraged to enroll in one of the supplemental Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plans offered by the College that will cover the first $1,000 of the medical costs.

Athletic injuries are not covered through the Student Health Service. It is important that the student athlete and parent/guardian have a clear understanding of how their personal insurance, student insurance, and the athletic insurance will cover an athletic claim.

Questions about athletic insurance should be directed to Scott Sunderland, Head Athletic Trainer (309-341-7378 or ssunderl@knox.edu), or Dawn Witz, Claims Processor for First Agency, Inc. at 616-381-6630.

Remember, those participating in intercollegiate sports will not be allowed to start practice or competition without having returned the Emergency/Medical History Information Form (pdf) which may be printed off the following Web page: www.knox.edu/fallathletes.xml