Success On & Off the Field: The 2016-2017 High Impact Boys’ Soccer Team of the Year

Old Saybrook Boys' Soccer is the NFP High Impact Team of the Year for boys' soccer for the 2016-17 school year.

The Old Saybrook Rams boys’ soccer program had a tremendous season in 2016 and it started with their fundraiser. The team raised over $6,000, selling the NFP Sports “Rams” Premium Discount Card, which was the most out of any boys’ soccer team in the state during the 2016-17 school year.

The Old Saybrook Boys’ Soccer team has fundraised using NFP Sports products for 17 years. Coached by Old Saybrook High School Alum, Sam Barnes, the team sees a correlation between their fundraising efforts and their efforts on the field.

“Everything we do extra in the program is paid for by the benefits of the Rams Card,” said Barnes.  “We always set goals and push them to be the best they can be”.

Throughout these years, the team has created a connection between the players, the local businesses and the community overall. Barnes is a member of the Old Saybrook police department and has deep connections in the community.

“Most of [the businesses] are interactive and like seeing the kids come in. Everyone who comes in loves the discount”, said Barnes.

Sam Barnes is going into his 22nd season as the head boys’ soccer coach at Old Saybrook High School, with a career record of 213-134-43. 2017 was the best season in the program’s history, going 16-0-2 in the regular season, winning their first ever Shoreline Conference Championship and making it to the Class S State Championship Game.

“It’s not a surprise that this team was #1 for boys’ soccer. Coach Barnes has a high standard for his teams and understands that whether it’s fundraising, off season conditioning, in the classroom or on the field, that commitment is universal,” said said NFP Sports’ James Thomson.

After working with Coach Barnes for 17 years, Thomson mentioned that, “NFP consistently see our best performing teams translate that success over to the field or court. It was a real treat to have a small share in the special season that they had. It truly makes what we do that much sweeter. We appreciate the support from all of the participating businesses and members of the Old Saybrook community that supported the team by purchasing a Rams card.”
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The Old Saybrook Rams will start their fundraising campaign for this season at the end of August. We look forward to kicking off another great season with them!