Student EKG screenings in Florida are becoming an important part of high school sports safety. Beginning July 1, 2026, under the Second Chance Act, incoming ninth-grade athletes and new student-athletes in grades 10-12 must submit an electrocardiogram screening before participating in FHSAA-sanctioned sports. For families in Collier and Lee Counties, the goal is simple: find hidden heart conditions before a child steps onto the field, court, track, or mat.
The law was inspired by the death of Chance Gainer, a Florida high school football player who died from sudden cardiac arrest in 2024. Experts knew he was not the first student athlete with an undiagnosed heart condition to lose his life during sports.
Now, Florida is the first state to require this type of heart screening for many high school athletes.
Why are student EKG screenings required in Florida?
The Second Chance Act was created to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes. Some heart conditions have no symptoms. A child can look healthy, feel strong, and still have an issue that may not show up during a basic physical exam.
“I have always been a believer that there are certain conditions that are asymptomatic,” said Levi Novero, pediatric cardiologist with KIDZ Medical Services in Collier County. “You see the stories of a young, healthy athlete dying on the field. It is not something that happens often, but it does happen.”
Novero said an EKG can help reveal hidden conditions that may put a student at risk during intense activity. The key action for parents is to schedule the screening early, before tryouts, practices, or paperwork deadlines.
- Ask your school when EKG screenings will be available.
- Check whether your child’s primary care provider can complete the test.
- Keep a copy of the results and any required clearance forms.
What is an EKG heart screening?
An electrocardiogram, also called an ECG or EKG, is a quick, painless test that checks the heart’s electrical activity and rhythm. It can help detect irregular heart rhythms and signs that a child may need follow-up care.
During the test, small sticky patches called electrodes are placed on the chest and sometimes on the arms or legs. These patches connect to the EKG machine and record the heart’s rhythm.
There are no needles, no shocks, and no electricity is sent into the body. The recording usually takes only a few minutes.
Parents can reassure children that the test is noninvasive. The hardest part for many students is simply lying still while the machine records.
What should families expect during a student EKG?
Most EKG screenings follow the same basic process. Your child will be asked to lie down quietly on an exam table while the electrodes are placed on the skin.
The student will need to stay still and breathe normally while the machine records the heart’s electrical signals. After the test, a medical provider reviews the results.
If something unusual appears, your child may need additional evaluation. The law prohibits students with abnormal EKGs from participating in interscholastic athletic competition until written medical clearance is submitted to the school.
- Your child lies down for the test.
- Small sticky patches are placed on the skin.
- The machine records the heart’s rhythm.
- A provider reviews the results.
- Follow-up may be required before sports participation.
“The current standard was just asking some questions about family history and doing a physical exam,” said Eric Eason, a pediatric cardiologist with Lee Health. “When you add on the EKG it is much more sensitive in picking up disorders. This is one extra layer that is proactive to detect cardiac issues.”
How are Collier County schools handling student EKG screenings?
In Collier County, public high schools will have access to EKG machines. A coach or school nurse will be trained to use them, helping make student EKG screenings in Florida easier for local families to complete.
NCH and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital donated 13 EKG machines so every public high school in Collier County has one, according to Mark Rosenbalm, director of interscholastic athletics and student activities for Collier County Public Schools.
“Obviously, anytime you can protect student athletes and get them additional screenings, it is a good thing,” Rosenbalm said. “While it is rare for them to have [a heart condition], it does happen.”
Rosenbalm said he would like students to go to their own doctor when possible. When that is not possible, students may be able to receive a free screening at school.
How are Lee County schools handling student EKG screenings?
Lee County Schools has partnered with Lee Health and Who We Play For to provide free screenings to its athletes, according to Rob Spicker, a spokesperson for the district.
Who We Play For is sending health professionals into Lee County high schools to test students. The nonprofit also visited middle schools to evaluate students heading into high school.
Sofia Johnson works with Who We Play For in Lee County and hopes screenings eventually reach more than athletes. She lost her best friend to sudden cardiac arrest right after high school graduation.
“We are definitely encouraging anyone who wants a screening,” Johnson said. “We don’t just screen athletes. You don’t have to be an athlete to have a heart condition. It is not as rare as people make it seem.”
When Who We Play For goes into a school, Johnson said other students may also request the test. “We don’t ever want to turn away a child,” she said.
Who is helping pay for EKG screenings?
Cost has been one of the biggest obstacles to requiring EKG screenings statewide. Schools around Florida have worked with Who We Play For and local medical partners to help fund testing.
Evan Ernst founded Who We Play For after his friend, Rafe Maccarone, died on a soccer field at age 15 in 2007.
“There have been families that have been trying to do this for 30-40 years,” Ernst said. “There are so many kids who lost their lives because of undetected heart conditions.”
Who We Play For has raised more than $8 million to help fund testing. Ernst said several Florida counties, including Orange, Osceola, and Highlands, had already required EKGs before the statewide law.
“This will end up saving lives across Florida,” Ernst said.
What happens if an EKG is abnormal?
An abnormal EKG does not always mean a child has a dangerous heart condition. It does mean the student needs follow-up before participating in interscholastic athletic competition.
If a screening shows a concern, the student is referred to a cardiac specialist. A medical provider may order more testing, review family history, and decide whether the student can safely play.
“It would be a case-by-case discussion,” Eason said. “After you know what the disease is, you can make a decision.”
Parents should not ignore an abnormal result. Follow the school’s clearance process and ask questions until you understand the next step.
- Ask who will review the EKG.
- Find out whether your child needs a pediatric cardiologist.
- Request written clearance when your child is approved to play.
- Share clearance paperwork with the school before practices begin.
Where can Southwest Florida families get a screening?
Families can start with their child’s primary care provider, school athletic office, or WhoWePlayFor.org to find a low-cost screening near them.
Upcoming Who We Play For screening:
- Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
- Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Location: ARHI, 1172 Goodlette-Frank Road, Suite 201, Naples
- Cost: $20 (Free for prospective Florida student-athletes who are required to obtain an ECG under the Second Chance Act and cannot afford the screening.)
- Registration: Advance registration is available through Who We Play For’s website.
Healthcare Network is offering free screenings on June 26, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nichols Community Health Center, 12655 Collier Blvd., Naples. Screenings are open to students starting grades 8-12 this fall who will be playing a high school sport. Call 239-658-3000.
What should parents do before sports season?
Start early. The new requirement adds one more step to high school sports paperwork, and students may need follow-up if results are abnormal.
Equillar “Gal” Gainer, Chance’s mother, said she is grateful the law was passed in her son’s name.
“I just wanted them to pass it so no other family would have to go through what my family went through,” she said.
Before your child participates in high school sports, confirm whether an EKG is required, where it can be completed, and how results should be submitted. For student athletes in Collier and Lee Counties, that small step may provide life-saving information.
Families should schedule their student’s EKG well before fall sports begin to avoid last-minute delays. It can also be a good time to complete other back-to-school health preparations before the new school year starts.
Some content contributed by After Hours Pediatrics Urgent Care