The sports medical certificate certifies that a person is fit to practice a physical activity. In some situations, it is replaced by a health questionnaire. When is it mandatory? For minors? Adults? How to get it? How long is it valid?
The medical certificate is a document issued by a doctor allowing to certify that there are no contraindications of a person to the practice of a sport. In some situations, it is replaced by a health quiz. For which sports is a medical certificate compulsory? How get it ? What differences depending on whether you are minor or major ? What is the period of validity a medical certificate? Can we get it online? How ? Practical Guide.
What is a sports medical certificate?
A medical certificate allows to establish the absence of contraindications to the practice of sport or mentions the discipline or disciplines whose practice is contraindicated. It may relate only to one discipline or a set of related disciplines. If the sports license applied for gives the right to participate in competitions, the medical certificate must specifically mention the absence of any contraindication to the practice of the sport or discipline concerned in competition.
How long is a sports medical certificate valid for?
► Every 3 years for “competition” licenses (practice of a sporting activity with competitions)
►Every 3 years for “leisure” licenses (without competition) or at the choice of the sports federation concerned
► For occasional participation in competitions, there is no renewal necessary, but the certificate must be less than a year old.
► For disciplines with specific constraints (list above), the issue or renewal of the license is subject to the production of a medical certificate less than a year old.
Do you need a medical certificate for sport when you are a minor?
Children wishing to join a club or a sports association no longer need to present a medical certificate of no contraindication. This is replaced by a health quiz to facilitate their access to sport. The questionnaire includes 24 questions on the state of physical and mental health of the child. Three questions are addressed directly to parents who must also ensure that the questionnaire is correctly completed and follow the instructions according to the answers given. You can find the online health questionnaire on the government’s procedures website.
► If all the answers are negativeit is enough to present a certificate of information of this questionnaire to the club or to the sports association.
► If one or more answer(s) are positiveyou must consult a doctor to establish a medical certificate attesting to the absence of contraindications to sports practice.
The presentation of the medical certificate of no contraindication to the practice of sport remains compulsory for the following sports disciplines with particular constraints:
- mountaineering, scuba diving, caving;
- parachuting ;
- the rugby to XV, rugby league and rugby sevens;
- sports, practiced in competition, for which the fight can end by KO (English boxing, kickboxing, savate…);
- sports involving the use firearms or compressed air (shooting, clay pigeon shooting, biathlon);
- sports, practiced in competition, comprising the use of vehicles (motorsport, karting and motorcycling);
- the sports aeronautics practiced in competitionwith the exception of model aircraft (aerobatics, gliding, free flight, etc.).
Is a medical certificate compulsory to play sports at school?
► For compulsory courses in physical education and sports (EPS) : a school cannot require a medical certificate to take physical education courses. On the other hand, he can request a medical certificate of incapacity (total or partial) from any student wishing to be exempted from PE lessons.
► For optional sports activities in college and high school : to obtain or renew a license from a school sports federation (UNSS, UGSEL, USEP), you do not have to present a medical certificate. Except for some sports which are subject to a particular security requirement and require the presentation of a medical certificate dated less than 1 year :
- Mountaineering
- Underwater diving
- Potholing
- Sports, practiced in competition, for which the fight can end by KO (English boxing, kick boxing, savate, …)
- Sports involving the use of firearms or compressed air (shooting, clay pigeon shooting, biathlon)
- Sports, practiced in competition, involving the use of vehicles, with the exception of radio-guided automobile model making (motor sports, karting and motorcycling)
- Aeronautical sports practiced in competition, with the exception of model aircraft (aerobatics, gliding, free flight, etc.)
- Skydiving
- Rugby Union, Rugby League and Rugby Sevens
Is a medical certificate required to play sports in a club?
► If you are of legal age, your club may ask you to provide a medical certificate attesting to the absence of contraindications to the practice of the sport or discipline concerned. This is not a legal obligation, but a condition linked to the club’s regulations. The frequency of presentation of the certificate is provided for by the internal regulations of this structure.
► If you are a minor and that you practice one of the following activities, you must provide a medical certificate dated less than 1 year on the day of the license application:
- Mountaineering
- Underwater diving
- Potholing
- Sports, practiced in competition, for which the fight can end by KO (English boxing, kick boxing, savate, …)
- Sports involving the use of firearms or compressed air (shooting, clay pigeon shooting, biathlon)
- Sports, practiced in competition, involving the use of vehicles, with the exception of radio-guided automobile model making (motor sports, karting and motorcycling)
- Aeronautical sports practiced in competition, with the exception of model aircraft (aerobatics, gliding, free flight, etc.)
- Skydiving
- Rugby Union, Rugby League and Rugby Sevens
For other sports disciplines, children must complete the health questionnaire with their parents. According to the answers to the questionnaires, the child will have to provide:
- The completed health questionnaire (if the answers are all negative)
- A medical certificate attesting to the absence of contraindications to the practice of the sport concerned (if one or more answers are positive). The certificate must be less than 6 months old on the day of the license application.
Is a medical certificate required to practice indoor sports?
A gym may ask you to provide a medical certificate attesting to the absence of contraindications to the practice of the sport or discipline concerned. This is not a legal obligation, but a condition related to club rules. The frequency of presentation of the certificate is provided for by the internal regulations of this structure.
To obtain a medical certificate for sport, you must consult a general practitioner, an occupational doctor or a sports doctor. A physical examination is essential for the doctor to give you the document.
| The medical examination which precedes the issue of the certificate is a preventive medical act, the cost of which is not covered by Social Security. The consultation of a general practitioner is entirely the responsibility of the insured. |
To obtain a medical certificate of no contraindication to sports practice, a physical examination carried out by the doctor is essential. It is therefore not possible to obtain a medical certificate by teleconsultation.
Sources:
– Is a medical certificate compulsory to play sports? Ministry in charge of sports, Updated on July 11, 2022
– Sport: new rules for the medical certificate, Health Insurance, June 7, 2022
– Sports practice of minors: a questionnaire replaces the medical certificate, May 12, 2021, Service-Public.fr
– Is a medical certificate compulsory to play sports? Ministry of the Interior, May 10, 2021
– The medical certificate of non-contraindication to sports practice replaced by a health questionnaire for minors, May 8, 2021, Ministry of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games
– Medical certificate, French Federation Sports for All
– Medical certificate, Ministry of Sports, November 16, 2018