May 8, 2026 – Beginning July 1, 2026, any Florida student who wishes to play high school sports for the first time will be required to have an EKG screening.
The requirement is part of a Florida law known as the Second Chance Act. Named after Chance Gainer, a student-athlete who died from sudden cardiac arrest while playing football with Port St. Joe High School in Florida, the law aims to help families detect any potentially undiagnosed heart conditions.
While heart screenings typically cost between $50 and $100, Duval County Public Schools is partnering with the nonprofit “Who We Play For” to provide free heart screenings for students.
To learn more, families are asked to contact their school’s athletic director or District Athletic Director Tammie Talley at talleyt@duvalschools.org.
The Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program, in partnership with Who We Play For, is hosting a community screening on Monday, June 1:
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: The Players Center for Child Health; 3563 Philips Hwy. Suite 52, Jacksonville, Florida, 32207
Link to register: https://whoweplayfor.jotform.com/261276360532050
Additionally, the following screenings have been scheduled for eighth grade students attending Baldwin, Kernan, Ribault, and Highlands middle schools. Families are asked to use the links provided to sign up their students and provide consent for the screenings.
Baldwin Middle School, May 12th: http://whoweplayfor.org/form-redirect?id=261094766283061
Kernan Middle School, May 18th: http://whoweplayfor.org/form-redirect?id=261244949438063
Ribault Middle School, May 19th: http://whoweplayfor.org/form-redirect?id=261244644669061
Highlands Middle School, May 21st: http://whoweplayfor.org/form-redirect?id=261245542476055
Families can also hear more about the new law by watching this video message from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Bernier: