ground with emphasis being placed on learning the basics of the game at an early age.

The clinic is being supervised by four adults, well-known soccer players Andrew and Herbie Bascome, North Village's Junior coach Derek (Rocky) Bean and his assistant Keith Jennings.

Sherwyn Dill, sports chairman at the club, said that it is more of a programme for the community and not in any way restricted to children associated with his club. It is for boys aged five to 14.

The programme, which will run for a few weeks, has attracted an average of 40 youngsters a day which is a number Dill regards as being comfortable for the supervisors to work with.

"It's been quite a successful programme, proof that something like this was needed. As of now we are looking at it becoming an annual event during the summer,'' said Dill.

The children are spending six hours a day at the clinic -- from 9 a.m until 3 p.m.

Dill and other club officials got the idea while touring Canada with the club's Mini Minor teams last month. "I was so surprised by the high standard of the under-12 players there. They had great knowledge of the sport and the ability to do the basics,'' he said.

He added: "For such a young age they showed the outstanding ability to shoot and defend and their general knowledge of the sport was superior to our players. All of this made me realise what our kids were lacking at a young age and I wondered why they were not getting the coaching at the age when they had the ability to learn.'' Many Bermuda youngsters are now reaping the rewards of that visit to Canada.

North Village are delighted by the progress shown so far, and are anxious to build on the programme.

Next week, they will extend their community development programme in another area with a summer camp for 100 children at Darrell's Island. They have been running the popular camp for six years.