LA Galaxy goalie Donovan Ricketts grew up in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in a family of soccer lovers.

Donovan Ricketts got comfortable in the box during his first season as goalkeeper for the Los Angeles Galaxy of the Major League Soccer (MLS). What’s comfortable for Ricketts wouldn’t likely work for most, though. He brings strong defensive dives, flips and flying saves to every match.

It’s worked for Ricketts and his team. The Galaxy has gone from worst to first on defense. In 2008 they gave up 62 goals. They cut the total to 31 this year, when they finished first in the league’s Western Conference with a regular-season record of 12-6-12 regular season record.

Ricketts contributions earned the team’s Defender of the Year honors, although he’s got other things on his mind right now.

“It was nice winning the trophy,” he said recently. “But more important, my eyes are on the MLS Cup.”

CaribPress caught up with Donovan Ricketts after one of his training sessions at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

CaribPress: Describe a typical practice session from the time you get up in the morning to when you conclude your practice.

Donovan Ricketts: I get up in the morning, take a shower, play my Xbox game and eat breakfast.  I get to practice.  Head Coach Arena takes the outfield players, and we go with the goalkeeping coach, Ian Feuer.  We work with Coach Feuer for 4o minutes, then we merge practice and train for 20-25 minutes, and then that’s it.  When practice is done, I go home and relax.  I am a home person.  I cook dinner — mostly my favorite, which is curry chicken and white rice.

CaribPress: What was the impetus behind you playing the position of goalkeeper?

DR: I grew up in Montego Bay, Jamaica, with thirteen brothers and seven sisters.  My love for soccer came from my dad – he was a big soccer man.  All my brothers played soccer.  I started playing as a striker, but did not have the talent.  I played in the under-12 league at Catherine Hall Primary School in Montego Bay.  I wanted to be around my older brothers, who were on the team, so I tried out for the team but did not make it as a striker.  While I was waiting for my older brothers, the coach asked me to stand in as a goalkeeper, and the rest is history.

CaribPress: You always seem to be in the right place at the right time to block the ball.  What is your strategy?

DR: It comes with experience and years of playing soccer.  For the first years, you might get it wrong.  After years of playing, it falls into place and you will make the right decisions.

CaribPress: What are the keys to succeeding as a goalkeeper?

DR: Basically, work hard everyday.  You cannot rely on what you did last week.  Everyday is a new day.  Every game is a different game.  So, you play one game, come back to practice and start working hard again.

CaribPress: What is your secret for the success you have attained playing soccer with the Galaxy?

DR: I would say the consistency that I have displayed throughout the season.  The goalkeeping coach (Ian Feuer) is a big part of that consistency.  He watches tapes of the teams that we are going to play.  He studies how the strikers attack and how the winners cross the ball.  In practice we work on a variety of soccer drills, so basically it comes down to consistency.

CaribPress: Mentally you are tough, where do you think that came from?

DR: I think it comes with years of playing.  I admit that when I first started playing soccer, I made mistakes.  I beat myself up and kept making the same mistakes.  As I got older, I became mentally tough and learned from my mistakes.  I know where I have gone wrong and know how to make adjustments, so over-time I became mentally tough.

CaribPress: What do you say to those who may not be interested in watching U.S. soccer as opposed to European soccer?

DR: It comes down to preference.  If you love the game of soccer, you will watch any soccer.  Once I turn the TV on and I see soccer, I will watch soccer.  From long balls, to short balls or slow moving games. The bottom line is that if you are a fan of soccer and like soccer, you will watch any form of soccer.

CaribPress: Besides playing soccer, what other sports have you played?

DR: While in high school, I played cricket.  I was a ‘wicket-keeper’…. laughing.  The cricket ball is very hard, so my cricket playing days are over.

CaribPress: Tell the public something about you that they would not know.

DR: Smiling…..I am a very quiet person and enjoy time by myself.  That’s it!

CaribPress: During the off season, do you have plans to help the youth locally or in Jamaica?

DR: When the season ends, I go home to see my family in Jamaica.  Locally, I do what I can during the regular soccer season, so if someone would like me to get involved in a soccer clinic, I am available.

Galaxy fans celebrated at the Home Depot Center with a 1-0 victory over Chivas USA on Sunday evening, November 8th.

Next up for the Galaxy soccer team is the two-time MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo in the opening match of the Western Conference final on Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Home Depot Center.  The Galaxy defeated Dynamo 2-0 and will take on Real Salt Lake in the 2009 MLS Cup on Sunday, November 22nd at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Photos courtesy of the L.A. Galaxy Communications Office.