Adam Metcalf '25 Recruiting Profile

I graduated from high school in 2025, and had offers to play at several schools with excellent aid packages.  However, I opted to take a gap year to work on conditioning and focus on my game.

I’m participating in a ten month soccer program in Madrid with NextEra.  We work out and train together daily, study Spanish, and are placed on Spanish league teams according to skill level.  

I have my FICHA card, though a delay in my visa means a delay for competition video, which I’ll upload as soon as it’s available.

My program and housemates are from all over the world, so I’m exposed to different styles of play, and have already gone through the equivalent of a college transition period.  Most importantly, I’m surrounded by players who are as ambitious as I am.

I’m pushing myself harder than I ever have before.  I have more strength, speed, and skill; more maturity and creativity and drive and discipline. 

I understand that having gone to high school in midcoast Maine is perceived as a handicap, as the population is small and the closest MLS Next team is in another state.  As a result, coaches and recruiters haven’t had a chance to see me compete in person. 

But in Madrid, I’m on an international stage.  

My roommate is on the U-20 Dutch national team; another friend attended an academy in Barcelona last year and has been recruited by Madrid, but wanted to take time to develop his game, since he’s young. Some program alums have decided to delay college to play professionally in Europe.

I’m clear on my priorities and goals:  soccer is as important to me as my academic program.  I want to play at the highest possible competitive level for as long as possible, in college and beyond.

I'm a play maker. An aggressive center defensive midfielder, I control the middle and contribute strategically to both offensive and defensive plays.

I'm versatile, strategic, creative, adaptable, and physically and mentally tough.

An extremely physical player, I use my whole body to move through players and to protect my territory. 

I play defense offensively, and offense defensively.

Unselfish, I'm great at passing, have strong vision, and do whatever it takes to win.  I don't need credit for the goal or the assist, though I'm often the one who makes the pass that leads to the assist.

As a teammate, I'm playful, generous, and supportive.  I'm articulate, and offer feedback to teammates diplomatically.

My drive motivates my teammates and elevates everyone's levels of passion and determination. 

Coaches see me as coachable, smart, thoughtful, level headed, growth oriented, communicative, able to internalize and act on constructive criticism, and ready to offer insightful suggestions for strategy based on my experience on the field.

Having played club since I was four years old, I've developed a high degree of maturity as a player. While losses are difficult, I always learn from them.

An astute and passionate student of the game, I watch European leagues, documentaries on important players and on the history of the game, and tutorials on conditioning and skill building. I also watch game footage of opposing teams when available.

My head coach at GSA wrote me this note at the end of the regional champion winning 2023 season:

Adam,

Thank you for all you bring to a great team. Your creativity, toughness, and leadership made all the difference!

Playing the 6 masterfully is a thing of beauty and highly appreciated.

- Mark Hundhammer

I put my whole head, heart, and body into the game.  My goal is to always move forward and keep growing in spite of setbacks, and to continue in my quest to master the beautiful game.