Seitz’s Big Goals Are Within Reach
Some teenagers enjoy creating their own sports fantasies, imagining themselves in the major leagues or NBA before they’ve turned 15.
Chris Seitz doesn’t dream of playing in the Super Bowl or driving in the Indianapolis 500. He has a more Brazilian-like quest: To play in the World Cup.
His teammates on the San Luis Obispo boys’ soccer team tease him by saying, “You better hook me up with tickets.”
Except Seitz is a lot closer to fulfilling his dream than most.
He’s a 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior goalkeeper who’s considered among the best in the nation for his age group.
Last week, he was chosen the Gatorade player of the year for California. He received two Golden Glove awards last year for his goalkeeping skills when his club and Olympic Development Program teams won national championships.
By next season, every top collegiate soccer school in the nation could be pursuing him.
“He’s physically dominating and physically impressive,” said Alberto Bru, director of SoCal United, the club team Seitz plays for. “He’s a shot stopper. He’s great in the air. He kicks it like a monster.
“A lot of kids have the potential to be great, but he’s got it.”
Greg Folk, who signed a letter of intent with UCLA this month and plays on Seitz’s club team, said, “His reactions are amazing.”
Seitz started playing soccer when he was 6. His travel outside the United States, to such countries as Brazil and England, provided him with a renewed appreciation for soccer.
“It’s given me a different respect for the sport,” he said. “It’s like football in America times two.
“They live it. Every single day, that’s all they think about.”
Seitz is in demand by the youth soccer establishment.
He has played for state and regional teams and is a member of the under-18 national team pool. He’s set to travel to Germany in March as part of a Western region all-star team.
Each step of the way, he watches, listens and learns from his coaches. He studies opponents and keeps trying to develop the skills that will allow him to move up each level of competition. And he spends hours watching international soccer on Fox Sports World.
“In South America, they want their goalkeepers to be part of the play, pass with their feet and play way out of their goal,” he said. “In England and America, they want a mixture of both. They want the goalie to be the last line of defense.”
One of Seitz’s strengths is his communication skills. He likes to talk and direct defenders during games. He understands the influence a goalkeeper can have on a game.
“In other positions, if someone screws up, they have someone behind them,” he said. “There’s no second chance for you. You have to do it right the first time and stick through your decision.”
Seitz has missed several games for San Luis Obispo this season because of outside soccer commitments. He makes a weekly three-hour round trip to Westlake Village to practice with his club team.
And he needs a calendar to keep track of his travels set for spring and summer. During spring break, he’ll be in Dallas competing with either his club team or the under-18 national team.
All the while trying to obtain the necessary international experience that will move him closer to his goal of one day playing professionally in Europe.
He’s grateful to the club coach who told him as a 14-year-old to “stick with soccer.”
“He thought I could go somewhere,” Seitz said.
Armed with his U.S. passport and his exceptional goalkeeping skills, Seitz is a 16-year-old on the move in the world of soccer.
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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
