Sassano takes over rocket program
Published 7:54 am Friday, May 11, 2018
NILES — The Niles Rocket Football League has a new director.
Vikings varsity football coach Joe Sassano has taken over the reins of the youth football program.
“We need to build a program that the community can be proud of,” Sassano said. “My goal was to assemble an executive board and an administrative board which will help provide sound advice, direction for the organization and help with the day to day operations. We have six executive board members and nine administrative board members and I am excited with the work we have done to this point.”
Joe Sassano
Sassano said he began meeting with people in the community that have some sort of connection to the Niles middle and high school programs, along with others who had a connection at one point or another with the rocket program.
Niles Rocket Football has begun an association with USA Football and its Heads Up program. That means all the coaches in the program will be required to go through an online football library.
“We want the best coaches possible working with our players,” Sassano said. “Niles Rocket Football is also the recipient of a recent $500 grant from USA Football to be use toward equipment purchases. One of our goals is to provide the best equipment possible and this grant will help us.”
Sassano said that the league is currently seeking sponsorships and donations to help offset the cost of operating a quality program.
“Communication will also be important element to our organization and with the help of Custom Computer Company here in Niles,” he said, “we will soon have a webpage that will give us a great platform to achieve communication with our community.”
The Rocket Football League is open to players ages 7 to 12. Registration dates have been scheduled for May 18 and June 7 in the lobby of the Niles High School gymnasium.
Registration will run from 5 to 7 p.m.
Anyone interested in coaching may pick up an application form during the registration.
Those who are unable to make it to one of the registration periods may contact the league at nilesrocketfootball@gmail.com and have an application emailed to them.
