SCORES of young football players have been flying into Bermuda over the last two days for the second annual Clyde Best Invitational Youth Tournament which kicks off at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning at the National Sports Centre.

And to add to a jam-packed football weekend, the New England Revolution have arrived for their pre-season training and warm-up games. In fact the youth teams from the US and Bermuda's four national youth teams along with the Revs and Bermuda's senior national team will be on show tomorrow at the NSC.

Organisers of the Best tournament wanted to have their competition coincide with the Revs tour and it has worked out. "We hope the kids stay around on Saturday after their games and watch the Revolution play Bermuda at 7 p.m.," said Best yesterday.

"I hope all the kids enjoy themselves this weekend. We are going to have 22 games on Saturday and Sunday involving Under 15, Under 14 and Under 13 teams. I hope the people come out and watch and give these kids a lot of encouragement. I think people will appreciate the skill that these kids have ¿ I know that the Bermuda youth national teams can hold their own against nearly anyone ¿ especially those in the very young age groups."

Richard Calderon from the Bermuda Football Foundation which is staging the Best tournament, said: "We have managed to secure three Olympic Development Programme teams from Rhode Island and the Connecticut Olympic Development Programme will return again this year with three teams. Additionally, we have secured the Westchester FC U-15 team out of eastern Pennsylvania. Moreover, to bolster their squad they have included several guest players from one of America's top youth club programmes, FC Delco.

"Bermuda will also enter four national youth teams in this year's tournament ¿ two teams entered at the Under 15 age bracket along with one team in the other age brackets."

Shaun Bailey, the coach of the Connecticut ODP Under 13 team, said this week: "Last year's tournament was great. The competition was very good, it was very well organised and I am looking forward to coming back. We train indoors this time of year so we will looking to get outside."

This will be the first time Bailey has managed to get the whole team together. "Our training (at this time) is based on individual development. Training is based on individual needs. This will be our first team tournament this year and it is nice for them to get together and see how they do as a team. This trip is not just about soccer either. This is a great time to get them together and for them to understand what being away from home and their parents is like. If they want to go to the regional level and national level they have to understand those concepts ¿ that is part and parcel of being a soccer player. We are also representing our state and the US when we come over. For these kids to go to a different country and play in the national stadium is great for them. It is an education.

"Last year was a great experience for everybody. I hope this tournament will be an ongoing thing ¿ the whole concept is great."

And Bailey makes sure that the kids know who Clyde Best is.

"Last year I told my guys who Clyde Best is ¿ I grew up watching him on TV (with West Ham). He was such a great player."

Bailey was also very impressed with Bermuda's national teams when he came for the first tournament last year. "When I came over last year (with the Connecticut Under 14 side) I was so impressed with all your national teams. The development of your kids is very good. It looks like your coaches are coaching your kids to attack. And that is what soccer should be ¿ especially for kids. We should be teaching the kids to go forward and attack. They have to understand the concepts of defending but the best form of defence is attack and that is what I am trying to get my kids to understand. Soccer should be a fun game ¿ just go and attack people."

Bailey said that while many coaches get "caught up" teaching the kids different positions, he preferred to teach them everything. "I want my kids to learn how to be a soccer player," he said. "If you are a forward or midfielder or defender the principles of the game are the same."

Calderon said: "One of our main objectives has always been to expose our youth players to a higher level of competition and in particular against American teams. We at the BFF want to assist our young boys and girls with obtaining scholarships in American colleges and universities. It's no secret that the US have made significant improvements in the standard of their game since the days when Bermuda competed favourably against them."

Games will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and play will finish at 7 p.m. each day.