There's no denying the many benefits of playing sports as a child or teenager. It’s great for physical and mental health, helps build lasting friendships, and can even improve academic success.

And yet every year we hear tragic stories of student-athletes who suffer sudden cardiac arrest and death during a sporting event. The question is, could those deaths have been prevented?

“EKG screenings pick up the vast majority of hidden cardiac issues that could potentially be fatal,” says Thomas Forbes, MD, chief of Pediatric Cardiac Services at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. “It's a simple test that could make all the difference.”

What Causes Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Student-Athletes?

There are several possible causes of sudden cardiac arrest, both on and off the playing field. Even seemingly healthy and fit young athletes can have potentially serious, undiagnosed heart conditions.

“These are otherwise healthy kids who typically exhibit no previous signs of heart problems,” explains Dr. Forbes. Or they may have experienced mild symptoms (i.e., dizziness, shortness of breath, fainting, or fatigue) that are easily written off as nothing serious.

Some of the conditions that can be detected during a sports EKG include:

• Arrhythmias: Problems with the heart's electrical system, such as long QT syndrome or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, can cause heart rhythm disorders called arrhythmias.
• Congenital heart disease (CHD): CHD is an abnormality in the heart that’s present at birth.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): HCM is a thickening of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the organ to pump blood.

The Benefits of Sports EKGs

Thankfully, tragic cardiac events are rare in children and teens. But having a sports EKG is a step toward making them even less likely.

“About 70 to 80 percent of these hidden heart conditions will be picked up by an EKG screening,” says Dr. Forbes.

These screenings could not only save children’s lives, it may also benefit other family members. HCM, the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in healthy kids, tends to run in families.

“It’s not uncommon for a parent or sibling to also have HCM,” says Dr. Forbes. “So, screening one kid might pick up a family issue.”

If an EKG detects a heart condition, it doesn’t necessarily mean your child has to abandon their favorite sport. They will need to see a pediatric cardiologist for more testing and possible treatment. With the right treatment and monitoring, they may be able to play safely.

What to Expect During an EKG Sports Physical

Having a heart screening might sound scary, but an EKG (also called an electrocardiogram or ECG) is a very simple, noninvasive test. You’ll lie on a table while a technician attaches stickers containing electrodes to your chest. Then, wires (also called leads) are attached to the electrodes. The other end of the wires is connected to the machine that records your heart’s electrical activity. A cardiologist trained to detect heart problems reviews the EKG and sends the results directly to your pediatrician.

“There’s no preparation needed, and the test itself only takes about five minutes,” says Dr. Forbes.

EKG Sports Physicals Are Now the Law in Florida

In 2025, Florida became the first state to pass a law, called the Second Chance Act, mandating EKGs as part of a sports physical for high school students. The law takes effect July 1, 2026. Without EKG screening, high school athletes cannot be cleared to participate in sports.

“Athletes need to have the test every two years,” says Dr. Forbes. “So, if you get one as an incoming freshman, you’ll need to have a repeat EKG in your junior year.”

How to Find Sports EKG Screening

As EKGs become more popular for student athletes (and are required in Florida), there are more options for getting low-cost or no cost tests.

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital provides sports EKG screenings at no cost at office locations in:

• Hollywood
• Jupiter
• Miramar
• Port St. Lucie
• Wellington

We also partner with area schools and other organizations to hold free community EKG screening clinics.

You can also find EKG screening clinics in Florida and around the country through Who We Play For, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac death in young athletes.

“Getting your child screened for a hidden heart condition can be fast, simple, and free,” says Dr. Forbes. “And it could save you a lifetime of regret.”