VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Soon, student-athletes will officially be in season — but before hitting the field, court, or track, they need to be cleared by a doctor. And this year, there are some important changes to that process.

The pre-participation exam form, which was previously four pages, has now expanded to six pages. The update is part of a new Virginia law designed to make the process easier for families and more thorough for athletes.

The new requirements focus on joint and bone health, heart health, and also for the first time, mental health.

Dr. Greg Cugini, a pediatrician with Sentara Pediatric Physicians, has been busy seeing students for their pre-performance physical exams. He said from his experience, students have been very honest when answering questions about their mental

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