Rookie Seitz sets his aspirations high

For Chris Seitz, the fourth overall selection in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake, college wasn't really necessary as far as a payday in professional soccer was concerned. Scouts have had their eyes on this rare talent from San Luis Obispo, Calif., for years. It took wisdom for Seitz to recognize that he wasn't quite ready to be a professional and all that comes with it, and that the college game would be a good place to continue to learn his craft.

Andy Mead/WireImage

Chris Seitz was a star at Maryland before turning pro.

After a spectacular pair of seasons at Maryland, including a national championship in 2005, he made the decision that he was ready to take on a new challenge. No one can blame the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder for leaving early, but the decision to turn pro was not an easy one.

After the Terps' loss to Notre Dame in the 2006 NCAA Tournament, he dwelled on the season for the next few weeks. It was then that he, along with his college coach Sasho Cirovski, started the process of gathering information on becoming a professional.

After receiving all the data, Seitz just needed some time to absorb it all.

"I took a week by myself to figure out what I really wanted to do," he says. "I talked to a lot of people -- people who had helped me get to where I am today and had my best interests at heart -- and got their opinions on everything. I talked to my parents about it, and we decided to take advantage of this opportunity."

What was different this time around? Seitz would have been a top draft pick in the MLS since he was 18. Because of that fact, Seitz had been able to put off the pros until the time was right for him.

"I think I was more developed after this year," Seitz says. "I had two years of college experience, two years of learning on my own and growing individually -- on and off the field. There's more for me to obtain in college soccer, but I had met my main goal of winning a national championship, so I felt like it was time to move on. I don't think I would be nearly where I [am] now if I had left after my freshman year or even before, so it was the right time."

No matter how ready a young player is to take on the challenges of a professional sport, the biggest concern is usually the adjustment to life outside of the stadiums. For Seitz, college was the right step to help him make that transition. He packed up and moved across the country to go to the University of Maryland -- no going home to mom and dad's on the weekend for a home-cooked meal. While there weren't huge amounts of free time with practice, games, study halls, etc., Seitz was introduced to the responsibility of time management.

"It's tough being on the college scene," Seitz says. "There's a lot of stuff going on. You need to know when to say yes and when to say no. You have to learn, and learn from your mistakes and find your own route. Whether that happens in high school or college -- it happens at different times for some people. You have to have time to mature with friends or learning how to live on your own, and a couple years of college did that for me."

For Seitz, his rookie season has already been a challenge. Real Salt Lake has endured a coaching change, going from John Ellinger to Jason Kreis, with Seitz battling for playing time with incumbent Nick Rimando.

"I'm thankful because without John Ellinger I wouldn't be here and have this opportunity," he says. "At the same time, we're rallying around Jason and his idea and vision for our team. Different coaches play different styles, and I just am listening and adapting to what he wants."

Seitz didn't turn pro to be a spectator, and he already became the second-youngest goalkeeper to start in MLS history with his start against Colorado on April 30. (Tim Howard was a few months younger when he got his nod.)

"I think it was good to get a little stint in there and see what it was like [to] know what I can work on and get better at," he says about playing in MLS. "As far as being the second-youngest [keeper] to start an MLS game, it shows me that I'm on the right track."

A longtime member of U.S. youth national teams, he will be between the pipes for the U.S. this summer in Canada at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. For Seitz, playing domestically is the right path for him to help him accomplish his long-term goals because he can play more.

"You don't get better unless you're playing," he says. "You can only do so much through training. My goal is to make the full men's national team. I know I have a lot to learn, but I feel I can develop in the MLS as well if not better than going overseas."

Young and talented American soccer players being able to develop in a professional league in their own country? Man, times really are changing.

Adam Zundell is a contributor to ESPNsoccernet. He can be reached at azundell@yahoo.com.