Whether they're shooting hoops, kicking soccer balls or hitting the tennis courts, doctors say all kids playing sports have one thing in common. They need to get a sports physical.

"I play volleyball, soccer, track and I play basketball," said Shaeli Perkins.

From the way she's dressed, you can tell Shaeli Perkins is an active athlete. But she's also had a bad knee injury,  just one more reason for her to get a sports physical.

"If they've had injuries in the past season they might need a little bit of rehabilitation to make those muscles and such stronger before they play again," said Angela Fischer, M.D., family practice physician with the Alegent Health Elkhorn Clinic.

Dr. Fischer said athletes should get the physical six weeks before they want to play incase she finds something wrong. That will give the child time to correct the problem.

The sports physicals are a lot like the ones kids get for school.

"We look at pretty much the lungs, the heart, make sure that they don't have any masses in the abdomen," said Dr. Fischer .

But sports physicals also look for any condition that might cause a child to get hurt while playing sports.

"We just want to make sure that they're able to play but do so safely," Dr. Fischer said.

Doctors recommend kids start getting physicals at the start of middle school and continue to get one every year until they graduate high school.

Click here to find out more about sports physicals offered at an Alegent Health Clinic near you.