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3-minute concussion breaks in European matches

By WTOP Staff

ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Referees have been given the power to stop matches in European competitions for three minutes to fully assess head injuries.

The proposal by FIFA medical committee chairman Michel D’Hooghe in response to concerns about the treatment of concussions in high-profile matches, was approved by the UEFA executive committee on Thursday.

“In the event of a suspected concussion, the referee will stop the game for up to three minutes, to allow the injured player to be assessed by the team doctor,” UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino said. “A player will only be allowed to continue playing on specific confirmation by the team doctor to the referee of the player’s fitness to do so.”

Football officials have been under pressure to better protect players after there were five concussion cases at the World Cup in Brazil, including several where the player tried to stay on the field. A lawsuit is also being brought in the U.S. chiding FIFA’s guidelines for players who receive serious head injuries.

D’Hooghe said last week that a concussion case occurs on average once in every 20 games.

Here are the other issues discussed at UEFA’s executive committee meeting on Thursday.

2016 STADIUMS CHOSEN: The San Siro will host the Champions League final on May 28, 2016, with European football’s showpiece match returning to Milan for the first time in 15 years.

St. Jakob-Park in the Swiss city of Basel was selected to stage the Europa League final on May 18, 20016. The Super Cup on Aug. 9 2016 will between the winners of the two UEFA club competitions will be in Norway for the first time at Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE: Football leaders from Russian and Ukraine remain at loggerheads over the fate of Crimean clubs. The Black Sea peninsula was annexed from Ukraine by Russia in March, prompting condemnation from Western political leaders. Ukrainian federation president Anatoliy Konkov, who didn’t sanction the Crimean clubs moving to the Russian league, called on FIFA on Thursday to suspend Russia from world football, decrying the country’s “howling infringement.”

But after Russian and Ukrainian football officials met at UEFA on Thursday, Infantino said “there is optimism that a solution can be found which allows football to be played in Crimea” that complies with the rules. “It was a constructive and ordered discussion with goodwill shown by both sides. As a result, a working group will be established and will report in approximately one month.”

UEFA has already decided not to recognize the results by Crimean clubs playing in domestic competitions.

MATCHES IN ISRAEL: UEFA has lifted the ban on Israeli teams playing European matches at home that was imposed during the recent Israel-Hamas conflict around Gaza, which ended three weeks ago. The decision should allow Israel to host its next 2016 European Championship qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina on home soil on Nov. 16 after being forced to postpone the match against Belgium this month. Israel has no teams left in European club competitions this season.

WINDFALL FROM FINES: UEFA confirmed that fines collected from Financial Fair Play penalties will be distributed among other clubs in Europe. Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Zenit St. Petersburg, who were among nine clubs sanctioned for overspending on player transfers and wages, paid almost all of the 24 million euros ($31 million) withheld from Champions League prize money last season.

LOOKING AHEAD: The executive committee on Friday will pick the 13 cities to host matches in the continent-wide European Championship in 2020. Wembley Stadium in London is the favorite to be awarded the semifinals and final.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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