youngsters beyond 16 years old. And local community clubs must get out and lead the way.

That's the opinion of Bermuda's overseas professional David Bascome, currently involved in the running of the fourth annual Bascome/Goater Pro Soccer Clinic at Bernard Park.

Bascome, a starter for National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) finalists Harrisburg Heat, suggested yesterday that it was simply not enough for youngsters to have to depend on he and partner Goater to return home to conduct clinics while sports clubs did little or nothing inbetween.

"The whole structure must be evaluated as there must be another programme for the 16-year-olds plus which will allow them to last longer in the game,'' said Bascome, preparing for another hectic period with the 80-odd young players who attend his afternoon sessions.

"I'm hoping that other clubs can look at our clinic and make the decision to provide a similar outlet which can aid in their community.

"You now have kids at 15 and 16 talking about playing in the First Division and doing it and then at 20 they've already got all the fame and been in the papers and all, and have no incentive left. So they leave the game...basically, a lot of them get too big for their britches.

"Also, everything's money now. We live in a money society and a lot of these kids would rather work and make money -- whether to help their family or otherwise -- and have less time for entertainment things.'' Bascome noted the current outlook for the 16-19 age bracket appeared bleak, with the Under-19 Premier Division having been abandoned in the 1994-95 season because of the lack of teams and there was no word as to whether it would be revived for the upcoming season.

From a flourishing league offering matches that often served as opening acts for the First Division, the league crumbled from a position of strength with over 10 teams throughout the 1980s to just four by the end of the 1993-94 season.

Bascome estimated that just 12 out of the 80 youngsters at his clinic were in the 14-16 age group and the reason was a change in values, partially caused by today's society, which, he said, tended to promote materialistic ideals.

He added that home life, with its increased financial pressures for many still feeling the effects of the recession, was also a factor in the decline of soccer players who had reached the legal working age.

"It's a big difference from when myself and Shawn were coming through. It's been caused by the change in society and you can't expect things to be the same, but (we need) to approach it in a way according to how present society dictates.

"Nowadays we have to stress discipline more because it's not always coming from home, as opposed to when we were coming up. Now it's us trying to give and instil the discipline for them to take home and to their everyday life.'' For 26-year-old Bascome, the clinic has been satisfying with the knowledge that at least for two weeks he has been able to keep so many youngsters off the streets and in a constructive environment.

But the forward/midfielder expressed dissatisfaction at the vast numbers of talented youth who choose to sit on the roadside rather than use their gifts as a tool for self enrichment.

"Sports and education have been a way out for a lot of kids and I just can't understand why we seem unable to do things to enhance and make them know this,'' he said. "There's a lot of talent out there, but many possess laid back attitudes and lack incentive. They are going nowhere which to me is very upsetting.

"I see it, you see it, Government must see it, so why aren't things being done to solve it.'' Tomorrow is the final day of the first segment of the clinic, with the second part set to start on Monday (4.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m.).

DAVID BASCOME -- critical of Bermuda's sports clubs.