He was in the midst of a tournament game: the stakes were high, the scouts were watching, his team was depending on him. And that’s when it happened.

“My adrenaline was going and I mean, it was hurting and hurting and hurting, and I just let one go and I just felt a slight pop and just knew it,” John Michael Vidic remembers.

Vidic, a star high school baseball pitcher, had torn a ligament in his elbow — so badly that he needed reconstructive surgery.

“That year, I threw the most innings of my life,” he says. “My arm just wasn’t ready for it. I just didn’t give it enough rest sometimes.”

It’s estimated that half of all reconstructive surgeries (also known as Tommy John surgeries) are performed on high school and college athletes — particularly pitchers. Experts say many are kids with dreams of a college scholarship or professional career. The problem is, these kids often throw too hard, too often, starting too young.

Doctors say their arms need rest. “Certainly kids should be restricted,” says Dr. Gary McGillivary, an orthopedic surgeon at Emory University. “Most people feel you shouldn’t probably throw more than about a hundred pitches every five to seven days, so basically you’re looking at pitching once a week at the most.”

Dr. McGillivary says families should also know that surgery is not a “quick fix.”

“I’ve heard parents and athletes say, ‘well, I’ll just get [the surgery] done and…come back better anyway.’ That is far, far from the truth,” McGillivary says. “This is not a ‘get-fixed’ issue. This can be a career-ending injury for many, many of these kids. The truth of the matter is, the surgery is a big operation, the recovery is prolonged; you’re looking at a one-year recovery — minimum — before you can go back to throwing.”

After a nearly two-year recovery, Vidic’s ability to throw a 94-mile-an-hour fastball is slowly coming back. In the fall, he’ll go to college on a scholarship and he hopes his childhood dream of turning pro one day still comes true.

In the meantime, he has this advice for other young pitchers: “Just take your time. If you’re a big-time prospect, scouts will find you. When you throw, they will come. There’s no sense in trying to rush it.”

By Larry Eldridge, Jr.
CWK Network, Inc.

Many parents question why their children get hurt on the playing field. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), there are three main reasons why children are hurt during sports:

• Children are less coordinated and have slower reaction times than adults because they are still growing and developing.
• Children mature at different rates. Therefore, children of the same age can be substantially different in height and weight. When larger children play against smaller kids, even when their ages are the same, there may be an increased risk of injury.
• As children grow bigger and stronger, the potential for and severity of injury increase largely because of the amount of force involved. For example, a collision between two 8-year-old football players who weigh 65 pounds does not produce as much force as two 16-year-old high school football players who each weigh 200 pounds. There is also an increase in sports injuries as children get older. Children under age 10 are more likely to be injured on playgrounds or from bicycle riding, while injuries due to organized sports or overexertion tend to occur more frequently in older children.

By Larry Eldridge, Jr.
CWK Network, Inc.

Competitive sports have become a major part of American culture. Athletes are treated like heroes, entire television networks are devoted to sports, and fans spend millions of dollars every year attending games and supporting their teams. Because of the popularity of sports, however, many young athletes may take risks or push themselves without regard to future problems. Experts at SafeUSA have developed a list of preventative steps to protect your child from sports injuries:

• Before your child starts a training program or enters a competition, take him or her to the doctor for a physical exam. The doctor can help assess any special injury risks your child may have.
• Make sure your child wears all the required safety gear every time he or she plays and practices.
• Know how the sports equipment should fit your child and how to use it. If you’re not sure, ask the coach or a sporting goods expert for help. Set a good example – if you play a sport, wear your safety gear, too.
• Insist that your child warm up and stretch before playing, paying special attention to the muscles that will get the most use during play (for example, a pitcher should focus on warming up his/her shoulder and arm).
• Teach your child not to play through pain. If your child gets injured, take him/her to the doctor. Follow all the doctor’s orders for recovery, and get the doctor’s permission before your child returns to play.
• Make sure first aid is available at all games and practices
• Talk to and watch your child’s coach. Coaches should enforce all the rules of the game, encourage safe play, and understand the special injury risks that young players face.
• If you’re not sure if it’s safe for your child to perform a certain technique or move (such as heading a soccer ball or diving off the highest platform), ask your pediatrician and the coach.
• Above all, keep sports fun. Putting too much focus on winning can make your child push too hard and risk injury.

American Medical Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – SafeUSA
Sports Injury Clinic

After high school, Brad Peters went to a large university. He stayed less than year.

“It wasn’t the experience I was looking for,” says Peters. “I mean, I did learn a lot and it was great, but I just really didn’t get that experience that I was looking for.”

The school, Brad explains, was too big, too impersonal, and too expensive.

David Boyle says money was a factor for him as well.

“[Community college] is a lot less expensive than any four year colleges around here,” says Boyle. “And I can get a two-year degree here that would transfer anywhere for the price of one semester at most of the bigger colleges.”

According to the United States Department of Education, 40-percent of all high school graduates who go to college start in junior college. Experts say one big reason is a changing perception of two-year schools.

“I think the biggest misperception is that it isn’t really college. Nothing could be further from the truth,” says Rob Jenkins, Associate Professor and Department Chair at Georgia Perimeter College in Atlanta. “The academic courses that students take [at community colleges] are for the most part every bit as rigorous as what they would face at your typical four-year institution. The quality of education is much better than people imagine.”

Still, experts say, there can be some disadvantages to attending a two-year institution.

“[Such as] not being a residential campus, not being able to move out of the house, not being able to get away from mom and dad, not being able to join a fraternity or whatever students define as freedom. That might be a little bit of a drawback.”

Is a junior college right for your child? They’re often easier to get into, cost less and usually are closer to home. In many cases, academic credits will transfer to a four-year university but admissions counselors say ask to be certain.

“All students and their parents should at least consider the community college option. Look at what it has to offer, see if it’s something that would be attractive to you and your student and then make your decision based on that and not on some misconception that you may have,” says Jenkins.

The decision to attend community college is one Brad and David say they do not regret.

David says, “This is just a great place to learn and get your feet wet.”

Like many Americans, Howard “Buck” McKeon is growing weary of the rising costs of higher education. Unlike most Americans, however, Congressman McKeon is in a position to make a change in the system. McKeon (R., Calif.) has suggested a new college-affordability index, which would track any increases in college tuitions. Using this index, McKeon wants the eligibility for financial aid eliminated for any university that has tuition increases more than double the national rate of inflation for two years in a row. McKeon, who also serves as the chairman of the House Education subcommittee, believes that if tuition costs continue to escalate, college will no longer be an option for many Americans.

According to the College Board Annual Survey of Colleges, tuition for a four-year private school averages about $22,500. According to Jim Larranaga, executive vice president of Priority Publications, parents of a newborn would be paying $55,320 a year for their child’s degree from a private institution if costs rise five percent per year. Given the expense, the smartest course is to use all the saving, financing and tax breaks available, says Larranaga.

What can parents do? First, create a college fund and make regular contributions. The size of the contributions and the kinds of investments you select depend on your goals, risk tolerance and the age of your children.

• Children under 10: Consider a mix of 80 percent stocks and mutual funds and 20 percent in bond funds. Look into an education individual retirement account (IRA) or a traditional IRA, which can be tapped to pay college costs, penalty-free.
• Children 11 to 14: Your timeline is still long enough to continue investing somewhat aggressively. You may want to invest 70 percent in stock funds and 30 percent in bond funds. But diversify your holdings to reduce risk. Also, see if your preferred college has a prepaid tuition plan, which allows you to save for future college expenses at today’s prices.
• Children 15 and older: Consider shifting some investments to less risky choices, such as certificates of deposit. Look for financial aid, too.

Though education costs are rising, the financing options available are numerous.

• Federal Stafford loans go to students with demonstrated need. These low-interest rate loans are government-insured. With a subsidized Stafford loan, the government pays the interest while the student is in school, and students may defer payment until six months after graduation. An unsubsidized Stafford loan allows students to defer payments until after graduation, but interest begins to accrue immediately.
• Federal parent loans for undergraduate students (PLUS) help parents cover the difference between the total cost of education and any financial aid awarded by the school. The government considers credit history, not financial need, when awarding these loans. Repayment must begin within 60 days of disbursements.
• Private and insured loans can supplement federal loans and scholarships. They usually offer better rates or terms than other consumer loans and are distributed according to creditworthiness rather than need.
• Scholarships are gifts from organizations to students who demonstrate certain merits and/or financial need. Search local employers, civic and fraternal organizations, foundations and corporations for scholarship opportunities.
• To apply for federal and many state aid programs, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can submit a FAFSA using the Internet (www.fafsa.ed.gov) or a paper application (see your high school counselor).

Several tax breaks also lower the cost of higher education.

• Custodial account in your child’s name – This is an account that a custodian (usually a parent) controls for a child. Earnings may be taxed at the child’s lower rate, depending on the child’s age and earnings. Once the child reaches legal age, funds in the account are his or hers to spend.
• Education IRA – Contributions of up to $500 a year may be made for children under age 18 into an education IRA. Earnings accumulate tax-free and are tax-free upon withdrawal as long as they are used for college tuition, fees, books and room and board.
• Traditional IRA – Withdrawals prior to age 59-and-a-half for education are penalty-free, but taxable. Contributions are limited to $2,000 per year.
• Lifetime learning tax credit – Taxpayers with undergraduate and graduate students may claim a tax credit of up to 20 percent of qualified, out-of-pocket college expenses annually. Again, check with your financial advisor for exact numbers.
• Student loan interest deduction – Borrowers may deduct interest paid on any college loan for the first 60 months of repayment. The maximum deduction is $2,500.

Some states now sponsor qualified state tuition programs. Under these programs, taxpayers can make contributions on behalf of a designated beneficiary. The contributions grow tax-free and the beneficiary can withdraw the funds as needed for higher education expenses. Eligibility for any of the education tax breaks depends on your income level. Consult a tax advisor for more information.