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Originally published January 29, 2012 at 7:24 PM | Page modified January 29, 2012 at 9:58 PM
Sounders FC fit for the most part as camp heads to Arizona
The Sounders take training camp to Arizona on Monday, where one of the team's goals will be getting a handful of players in better shape
Seattle Times staff reporter
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RENTON — The first stage of Sounders FC training camp went well, according to coach Sigi Schmid. The team made its initial evaluations and started to determine new players' best positions, and mostly everyone showed up in great shape.
Mostly.
Even as the majority of the players adhered to their offseason training programs and collective fitness numbers were significantly improved from previous years, a handful of guys have some catching up to do.
The Sounders travel to Casa Grande, Ariz., on Monday for Stage 2 of training camp and the next nine days will involve a lot of extra conditioning for some.
"We've identified like five guys that we want to raise their fitness level still and we'll work with them ... to help them to bring that up," said Schmid, indicating that some of those players were "dead" after an intense practice Saturday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
That might entail running or work on an exercise bike before or after team sessions; conditioning drills on the side while the rest of the team practices; and other various workouts.
And even though the five or so players — whom Schmid refused to name — are behind the group fitness-wise, it's nothing that can't be made up with hard work, according to fitness coach Dave Tenney.
"That's why you need to identify it early, and that's what makes Arizona so important, is that the closer you get to (the first game of the season), the less you can try to get big gains in fitness," Tenney said. "You're going to get the big gains in fitness by working hard in the next two weeks."
There's an extra urgency in getting the whole group in shape as soon as possible. Schmid wants the team to improve its defensive pressure, which will require better conditioning as a group.
More important, the Sounders kick off a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against Santos Laguna, a Mexican team that will be in season form, on March 7 at CenturyLink Field.
To best prepare, Schmid hopes to establish a starting lineup earlier in preseason than usual to get those players in a rhythm of playing together.
"Part of that evaluation is going to be based on the fitness level of some of the guys," the coach said earlier in camp. "That might affect who we play or how we start in that first game."
Joshua Mayers: 206-464-3184 or jmayers@seattletimes.com
On Twitter: @joshuamayers
