Our main feature this month is a
Q&A with former USA U17 GK, U20 GK, 2008 MLS GK of the year and current San Jose Earthquakes Keeper Jon Busch. We managed to grab Jon for an interview, chat about his career as a pro Keeper, and his goalkeeping glove company HP Goalkeeping.
What was your path into the Pro game and to San Jose first team?
I spent 5 years in the USL getting games before the Columbus Crew drafted me. After 5 years in Columbus I was traded to the Chicago Fire. I spent 3 years in Chicago before I was traded to San Jose. I have been here for 3 years now.
What was the hardest transition from the college game to the pro game, if you can remember back that far?
Ha-ha it was a long time ago, over 16 years. The biggest thing was the pace of play. Everything was much quicker then the college game. It took me some time to get use to the pace of the game.
So you are 36 now Jon! How has your approach to the off-season and pre-season changed?
I have found, as I have gotten older I need to take a little time off right at the end of the season. I usually take 2 weeks away from any kind of working out. This allows me to decompress and step away from soccer. Once that time is done I start working out in the gym again. I really don't like to take too much time off because as you get older it takes longer to get going again after
a long break. I usually don't start any type of goalkeeper training until 3 weeks before preseason starts. Our preseason is 9 weeks long so that is plenty of time to get myself sharp so I don't need to do too much GK training before then.
We are sure you get this a lot, at 5'10" you are on the shorter end of what is typically thought of for a GK, has this effected your career, training or approach to the game?
Yes I have heard about my height since I was with the US U-17 National team. I have had to work very hard on dealing with crosses and having bodies around me and bumping into me.
I have constantly had to prove people wrong and show them that I could handle the high balls even with the lack of size.