Prospective Athletes
Messiah has won national championships in five out of the last eight years.
The recruiting questionnaire is at the bottom of this page. Go there now.
One of the distinctives that sets Messiah apart as a college is its effort to be a campus that takes seriously the Christian faith. The men's soccer program is a Christian program, seeking to attract top-level players who are also committed to embracing Christian principles for living and integrating those principles into all that we do on and off the field.
A GREAT LEVEL OF PLAY
We are really looking for Division I-caliber players who choose to be part of our program because of the quality they see here, the excitement that surrounds the program on campus, and the chance to have a great college soccer experience in a Christian environment. There is a standard of excellence in the program that isn't limited in terms of its vision to being a "Division III" team. Messiah seeks to excel and compete at the national level in Division III. Messiah also expects to compete well against NCAA Division I competition, as well as professional teams both in the US and in Europe. Opponents in the past have included Delaware, Bucknell, Penn State, Lehigh, St. Francis, and Maryland; A-League sides Hershey Wildcats and Charlotte Eagles; and Dutch professional clubs Herenveen, BVO Emmen, RKC Wallwijk, and Veendam. Players at Messiah are committed to high standards in training to be able to compete as a program at these levels.
THE RECRUITING PROCESS
We are committed to finding top level players who fit Messiah as a Christian college. The team is chosen through the recruiting process as opposed to open tryouts when school starts, so it is important for interested high school seniors to understand that process. For interested players, we would suggest the following:
1. Contact Us. Fill out the recruiting form below so we will have your information. In addition, feel free to contact Head Coach Dave Brandt via e-mail at dbrandt@messiah.edu.
2. Attend a camp. Come to either our June Jr/Sr Advanced Weekend camp, or our July week-long Resident camp. Attending a camp is the best way for you to learn more about us and allow us to see you play while we work with you as a player.
3. Make a visit to campus with your parents. You can schedule through our Admissions Office at 717-691-6000, and make an appointment through them to talk with the coaches while here on campus. Check out Messiah At A Glance (PDF) to find out more about the college.
4. Show us video. Send a game or highlight tape of you playing, particularly if you can't make it to camp here. We can't get out to see everyone who would like us to see them play. Looking at a tape of you allows us at least something to go on, which may be helpful in evaluating your ability to play here.
Mail to:
Dave Brandt
Messiah Athletics
1 College Avenue
PO Box 4501
Grantham, PA 17027
5. If possible, plan to see us play. While it is sometimes difficult for me to meet with you on game days, it is of great benefit for you to see us play and get a first hand look at the level of play, the team's style, and the atmosphere surrounding a game.
Timing: We spend portions of the spring and summer of a player's junior year, as well as the fall of a player's senior year in high school, to evaluate players and their fit for Messiah and our program. We try to narrow the group we're interested in to approximately 25 players by the summer/fall, and then spend a significant amount of time getting to know those players better. We are normally done recruiting between January and February, having by that time offered roster spots to potential players.
Think you're ready to play for Messiah men's soccer? Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch.
