At just 19 years old, John Pulskamp has already launched a career in professional soccer as a promising goalkeeper for Sporting Kansas City and the United States youth national teams.
Pulskamp’s dedication to the sport of soccer is evident—very few teenagers are good enough to turn pro—but it’s another skill that will thrust him into the national spotlight this week.
Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT, Pulskamp will appear on the newest episode of MLS Idle: Soccer’s Hidden Talents, streaming on the MLS Twitter and Facebook platforms. During the program, Pulskamp will showcase the impressive balancing act of slacklining, walking the tightrope from his own backyard.
An integral component of MLS Idle asks fans to vote for their favorite talent on each episode. Fan voting will open during Thursday’s episode and close Sunday at 11 p.m. CT. Supporters can cast a vote for Pulskamp by posting #MLSIdle Pulskamp on Twitter or in the Facebook Live comments section during the voting window.
So how did Pulskamp get into slacklining?
“I started doing this the first week we stopped training and went into quarantine,” said Pulskamp, who purchased a slackline on Amazon in mid-March. “I always had an interest in slacklining, just from my background skiing and rock climbing in California, so I figured this would be a good time to give it a try.”
A native of Bakersfield, California, Pulskamp grew up participating in several outdoor activities with his family. In addition to skiing and rock climbing, he regularly went hiking and mountain biking in his free time.
Slacklining was another staple activity for the outdoor community in California, but he never got around to adopting the hobby until MLS players began training individually from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I couldn’t even stand on it longer than a few seconds when I first got into it,” Pulskamp said. “Your knees are shaking like crazy and your legs are all wobbly at first. But I gradually progressed and got to the point where I could stand on it with one foot for 10 seconds. Then I pushed it to 15 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds and so on. Then you get both feet on the line and eventually start taking one or two steps.”
The main reason Pulskamp has stuck to slacklining in recent weeks is to build core strength and improve his balance—both of which are integral for goalkeepers.
“One of the biggest reasons I wanted to do this was for the physical benefits, not just the entertainment. To balance on that type of rope takes a ton of core stability, which is really important and something that I actually wanted to improve on. It really helps me in the sense of being able to control my body using my core and putting my weight exactly where I want it.”
Pulskamp signed for Sporting as a Homegrown Player in February—becoming the second-youngest goalkeeper in club history—one month after making his debut for the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team in a friendly against Mexico. He joined the MLS ranks on the heels of a 2019 USL Championship season in which he led Sporting KC II goalkeepers in starts (14), minutes (1,260), wins (four) and saves (45).
