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Goalkeeper Hart aware how costly a blunder can be

By WTOP Staff

ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — In an instant, with one blunder, a goalkeeper can go from world class to calamitous. England’s Joe Hart knows that only too well.

Having established himself as one of the game’s most assured and agile stoppers to become his country’s No. 1 at the 2012 European Championship, Hart experienced an unexpected setback in his club career.

Dropped by Manchester City last season, paying the price for a sudden bout of shakiness between the posts with high-profile mistakes, Hart’s international place suddenly seemed less certain.

“I am well aware that (opportunities) can change really quickly,” Hart reflected at the England’s team World Cup base.

But Hart is in Brazil with his status unquestioned, a certain starter in Roy Hodgson’s team. While City manager Manuel Pellegrini lost his faith in Hart, Hodgson kept his with a goalkeeper who conceded just four times in qualifying for the World Cup.

“I’d like to think that I repay that faith by working hard and giving my best,” Hart said ahead of England’s opening game against Italy on Saturday. “Sometimes my best isn’t good enough. Sometimes all of our best isn’t good enough. That’s life.”

Although Hart’s manner might make him seem too self-satisfied at times, such confidence is vital for a goalkeeper, who knows just how precarious his place in the team can be. Possessing mental strength is a vital trait also for a goalkeeper.

“If you don’t, there’s a good chance you’ll get trampled to the wayside,” Hart said. “That’s because there’s so many good goalkeepers out there. It’s a position where you need to be strong and focused.”

City and England teammate James Milner watched at close hand how Hart coped with being dropped. Rather than agitating, Hart fought to win his place back in the team and was stronger following the adversity, helping his side to win the Premier League for the second time in three seasons.

“He just kept his head down at the time, which was the right thing, and it might now be a blessing,” Milner said. “Everyone has to go through these sorts of episodes in their careers, and I’m sure he’s a lot stronger and a better ‘keeper for it. He’s experienced that so, mentally, it’ll have helped him for anything else that happens in his career.”

Hart emerged as England’s top goalkeeper following the team’s woeful 2010 World Cup, a tournament defined in the first game by calamitous goalkeeping for Fabio Capello’s side against the United States.

Hart watched from the bench as Robert Green allowed a routine shot from Clint Dempsey to slip through his grasp as England was held to a 1-1 draw. Hart still didn’t get a chance to play when Green was dropped for David James — already known as “Calamity James” — to regain his place in goal.

“Stuff happens,” Hart said. “You’ve got to be aware of that as a ‘keeper. Incidents happen all the time. We try to move on and be positive.”

Since that tournament, the 27-year-old Hart has done much to help restore the reputation of English goalkeepers, back to an age when Gordon Banks, Ray Clemence and Peter Shilton were admired throughout the world.

Fraser Forster and Ben Foster accept they are playing a supporting role for Hart in Brazil.

“We know that Joe’s No. 1,” said Foster of West Bromwich Albion. “Our duty is to get Joe not only mentally but physically prepared for that first game against Italy.”

Forster broke the Scottish Premiership record for minutes without conceding last season but the Celtic goalkeeper but knows Hart deserves his place in goal after being on the losing team just three times in 41 England appearances.

“You can see the performances he has put in for club and country,” Forster said. “He’s one of the finest in the world.”

___

Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris

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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