Sounders FC's training camp heats up with move to Arizona

RENTON — Soccer practice is always a little more fun in the sun.

With that in mind, Sounders FC heads off to Casa Grande, Ariz., on Sunday for the second stage of preseason training camp. The team will train there through Feb. 12, with weather in the 60- to 70-degree range awaiting.

"It is definitely easier to train in the warm, in the sun," said fitness coach David Tenney. "You recover a little faster, you feel better — there's a psychological component there."

But physical work represents just a portion of what the team hopes to achieve at the quiet and isolated Grande Sports World complex. Building fitness and getting practice games in against other MLS teams in attendance is important, but so is building team chemistry.

Recalling last year's trip to Arizona, defender James Riley said there are lots of creative ways to fill the down time.

"I think we're going to get an Xbox down there and a Kinect, some card games, movies — just have guys bond," Riley said. "We'll have the rookies and trialists do a couple skits, maybe sing a couple songs, give everyone a good laugh."

The time on the field will be less enjoyable.

Tenney said the first week of training camp was used to gauge fitness levels, but intensity will pick up in the next three weeks to get players in game shape. Coach Sigi Schmid said it's time to "get into the anaerobic" workouts — which are of the more grueling, maximum-effort variety.

It will help that the Sounders' conditioning is better than it was at the same point last year.

"We are really pleased with the overall level of fitness. Guys made some good jumps," Schmid said.

Now it's time to turn up the heat.

Nice to tweet you

Despite having only been a Sounder for a couple weeks, rookie defender Leone Cruz has already developed a unique relationship with Sounders FC fans through his Twitter account "LeoneTheLion." Cruz said he started tweeting more than a year ago, and back then he had "like four followers."

"Then I got drafted," he said, "and the fans from the Sounders just started saying, 'Hey, welcome to Seattle.' That was a very nice welcome. It was awesome."

Notes

• The trip to Arizona will be a homecoming of sorts for Brad Evans. The midfielder grew up in Phoenix, roughly 50 miles from Casa Grande.

• With Portland and Vancouver joining MLS in the Western Conference, the league relocated the Houston Dynamo to the East on Friday to have nine teams on each side. MLS plays a balanced schedule, however, so the move should have little impact.

Joshua Mayers: 206-464-3184 or jmayers@seattletimes.com