2025–2026 Athletic Clearance – Gaither High School Football

To participate in the Gaither High School football program, all students must have an approved and verified athletic clearance packet.

⚠️ You must be enrolled at Gaither High School before starting the athletic clearance process.
This clearance is required before participating in any athletic activity at any Hillsborough County Public School—including conditioning, tryouts, practices, games, and off-season programs.

Clearance Deadline

ALL football players (new and returning) must have a current and approved athletic packet to participate in workouts starting June 9, 2025. No exceptions.

Physical Exam Guidelines

• Ideally, your EL2 Physical Form should be dated on or after May 15, 2025 so it remains valid through both the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 football seasons.

• Physicals are valid for 365 days.

• If your physical is dated before May 15, 2025, it may still be used, but a new physical will be required before the old one expires to avoid any interruption in eligibility.
  
  

Required Documents for Upload

Before beginning the online process, make sure you have digital copies of the following:

✅ EL2 Physical Form

• Use the version dated 2/25.

• Must include doctor’s stamp and signature on all applicable pages.
  Download EL2 Form
  
  

✅ Certified Birth Certificate

✅ Two (2) Proofs of Residence

• Must be dated within 30 days of your application.

• Must show the same address as your parent/guardian’s government-issued ID and what’s on file at the school.

• Acceptable: TECO bill, water bill, lease (with occupants listed), mortgage statement.

• Not Accepted: Cable, phone, or credit card bills.
  
  

✅ Four (4) Required FHSAA Video Certificates

Watch these videos at nfhslearn.com after May 15, 2025 and download the certificates under the student’s name:

1. Concussion for Students
   
   

2. Sudden Cardiac Arrest
   
   

3. Heat Illness Prevention
   
   

4. Sportsmanship
   
   

✅ Parent/Guardian Government-Issued Photo ID

• Must include photo and address.
  Address must match the proofs of residence and school records.
  *Passports are not accepted.
  
  

✅ School Insurance ID Card

• Purchase required insurance at https://hcpsathleticprotection.com/
  
  

• Select Group A: Football
  Download/print the insurance ID card after purchase.
  
  

✅ Enrollment & Residential History Form

• Download the HCPS Student Athlete Enrollment & Residential History Form.
  Fill out completely and sign (no electronic signatures).
  Download Form
  
  

Completing the Online Athletic Clearance

All submissions must be done online at:
🔗 https://athleticclearance.fhsaahome.org/

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Create or Log In to Your Account

• If you already have an account, log in (do not create a new one).
  
  

• Use the parent/guardian's email to create a new account, not the student’s.
  
  

• The student-athlete and parent/guardian must sign all forms.
  
  

2. Start a New Clearance

• Click “Start Clearance Here”
  
  

• Year: 2025-2026
  
  

• School: Gaither High School
  
  

• Sport: Football (11-man)
  (Add any additional sports as needed. Ignore any prompts about spring football.)
  
  

3. Student Information

• Existing students: Select your name from the list.
  
  

• New students: Enter your information, then save and continue.
  
  

4. Parent/Guardian Information

• Complete all fields accurately.
  
  

• If asked about NCSA College Recruiting, it’s optional—your coach or school counselor can also assist with recruiting.
  
  

5. Medical History

• Complete the medical questionnaire.
  
  

• This info generates your medical release card.
  
  

6. Insurance Info

• Select the Insurance Group you purchased.
  
  

• Choose the group for the sport with the highest fee if playing multiple sports.
  
  

7. Signatures

• Both the parent/guardian and student must sign.
  
  

• Names must match the names entered earlier.
  
  

• If student and parent have the same name, differentiate (e.g., John Doe Sr. / John Doe Jr.)
  
  

8. File Uploads

Upload scanned documents to the correct categories:

• EL2 Physical
  
  

• Birth Certificate
  
  

• Proofs of Residence (2)
  
  

• FHSAA Course Certificates (4)
  
  

• School Insurance ID
  
  

• Parent/Guardian ID
  
  

• Enrollment & Residential History Form
  
  

After Submission – When Am I Cleared?

• Once your application is reviewed by the Assistant Principal for Administration (APA), you will receive an email indicating whether you are approved or denied.
  
  

• If denied, the email will explain what needs to be corrected. You can fix and re-submit.
  
  

• You may NOT participate until cleared.
  
  

• Provide your coach with a copy of your approval email once received.
  
  

If you have any questions or need help, please contact the Gaither Athletics Office.

Please see YouTube Video below for Guidance on Gaither Football Athletic Clearance