The soccer spotlight will fall on Bermuda's women over the next few weeks as touring teams from the US come to take on the Island's best.

Five female teams will be on the Island during the Spring Break for the event which is to be held at the National Sports Centre and has been put on with the assistance of the Bermuda Department of Tourism.

The University of Pittsburgh and Holy Family College will be the first challengers when they line up against Royals and Robin Hood respectively tonight at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m..

On Thursday Holy Family take on Dandy Stars at 7 p.m. and the University of Pittsburgh meet a League Select at 9 p.m..

On March 12 Pace University will play Royals at 8 p.m. and on March 14 they take on Rude Girls at 8 p.m..

The following night Pace meet a League Select at 8 p.m..

Grove City are the opposition for PHC Zebras on March 26 at 7 p.m. to be followed at 9 p.m. by a match between Dominican College and Dandy Stars.

Two days later Dominican play Prospect at 7 p.m. and Grove City and Robin Hood clash at 9 p.m..

Women's national coach Vance Brown said there were huge benefits locally in bringing the sides over.

"With colleges on their Spring Break they are always looking for places to go and this year five of them have decided to come to Bermuda," he said. "It should be good for our programme and I think we can gain a lot from the exposure as everyone will be involved."

Brown said he believed the standard of the womens' game in Bermuda was on the rise.

"I think it is getting better. It is developing and the players are definitely working harder," he said. "This season Rude Girls have won the league for the fifth consecutive year, but it wasn't by the landslide that it has been in other years. Other teams are getting better."

In a bid to widen the circle further an Easter camp is also being scheduled with the aim of setting up a youth programme.

Brown said there was no reason why some of the girls on the Island could not make a name for themselves like John Barry Nusum and Damon Ming had for the men.

"Just this Saturday we had a coach from the US trying to scout some players," he said. "He was impressed with a couple of them and it is a great opportunity for them. Women's soccer is growing and the opportunities are far better now than they were a few years ago. If these girls can put their all into it and really excel they should go along way."

Brown said the matches had the full backing of the BFA and he hoped for big crowds.

"All the matches will played at National Stadium so we will have a good surface to play on and there should be some good games," he said. "I would invite the public to come out, watch and support."