{"id":121982,"date":"2024-09-05T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/?p=121982"},"modified":"2024-09-04T16:20:15","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T20:20:15","slug":"building-a-bright-future-for-riverhead-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/2024\/09\/121982\/building-a-bright-future-for-riverhead-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a bright future for Riverhead football"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rasheen Moore, a Riverhead High School alum and star wide receiver from the 2008 football team<\/a> that posted a 12-0 record and won the Long Island Championship \u2014 considered one of the best teams in school history \u2014 has dedicated his time and energy the last six years toward rebuilding the local youth football program from its grass roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moore was the No. 1 option in the passing game during the championship run with his natural speed and ability to create space through precise route running. He caught 34 passes for 684 yards to go along with his 10 touchdowns en route to hoisting the trophy. With his passion for the game still overflowing, Moore wants to impact the area\u2019s youth, giving them the football tools necessary to succeed once they hit the middle school level and beyond. In addition to coaching, Moore is now offering individualized training sessions to any kid who wants it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot of parents are starting to feel that Riverhead isn\u2019t the place to be anymore as far as sports goes,\u201d Moore said. \u201cThey\u2019re moving to other areas where they see not just the community coming together but just being one family from the top down. Riverhead has lost that part of it \u2014 a part that I grew up with. When I was growing up the whole community was behind everything we did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dwindling numbers on the varsity football team can be directly correlated with participation in the town\u2019s youth programs. The more kids who get involved at an early age, the more they\u2019re willing to see out their careers through the high school level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re a parent and you\u2019re watching your kid not learn, not grow, not get any better in a program, would you keep them there?\u201d Moore said. \u201cThat\u2019s the question we as coaches have to ask ourselves as far as what we\u2019re doing here at the youth levels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moore was thrust into youth coaching seven years ago because nobody else wanted to do it. Over time, seeing the results of his efforts has only encouraged him to push harder to try to impact more young players in the area. He\u2019s been coaching the 10- and 11-year-old football teams<\/a> exclusively, putting a final imprint on them before they head to the higher levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe first year I got involved, I was shocked to see how bad it was,\u201d Moore said. \u201cThe coaching staff I had with me at the time decided to just call it quits. They didn\u2019t want to do it anymore. It was too much of a headache for them. I just have too much passion for the game to give up on these kids.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing up in a winning environment, Moore wants to regain the parents\u2019 trust in the program. He knows that it all starts in the peewee leagues and he\u2019s dedicated to teaching the knowledge he\u2019s gained over his many years of playing football. He went on after high school to play flag football at the highest levels because his passion for the game just never went away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n