for the CAC Games in Venezuela in August.

Average age of the squad is a little below 21, with six juniors -- those aged under 18 -- set to travel as Bermuda Hockey Federation plan for the future.

Half of the team featured in the Junior Pan-Am Games in Chile in January, 1997.

At the other end of the spectrum the most experienced player is Brenda Smith who has represented Bermuda at two previous CAC Games -- in 1986 and 1983 -- and the Pan-American Games of 1987.

Michelle Ming and Fiona Doe have also competed in past CAC tournaments.

Ironically, the squad was selected with a strong focus on playing ability on astroturf. But, said assistant manager Karen Turner, they have since learned that the competition will be played on grass.

However, Turner said: "It won't have a great effect. The team was really selected on the basis of adaptability to astroturf. All the ladies play on the bumpy grass pitches at Nationals. But we are planning for the future -- specifically next year's Pan-Am Games which will be played on astroturf.'' The format of the hockey tournament in the CAC Games, which begin on August 2, is not yet known.

The full squad is: Sam Adams, Chrisanthi Bartley, Caroline Black, Kirsten Butterworth, Fiona Doe, Hannah Ellison, Helen Farrington, Bonnie Leibowicz, Alex Lewis, Suella Matthews, Michelle Ming, Sarah Northcott, Elizabeth Osborne, Danielle Skinner, Brenda Smith, Megan Spurling.