Four professional overseas football coaches will be putting local youngsters through their paces next month at the UK International Youth Development Camp at Whitney Institute.

Hosted by the Hamilton Parish Youth Soccer Programme (HPYSP), the camp will return for a third year from February 9-13.

Leon Othen, who assisted at last year's edition, will again be on the Island to help out with local coaches.

Organiser and vice-president of the HPYSP, Traci Burgess, said she was ecstatic about the upcoming camp and said the number of children had increased every year, with this year having at least 50 more applicants accepted than in 2008.

"This is our third year hosting the camp with Leon and his coaches, and we're looking forward to this being our best camp yet," said Burgess.

"We have 165 kids registered and four UK International coaches coming down this year and a staff of 14 local volunteer coaches, along with several other volunteers to help with the administration of the camp.

"All of the UK international coaches have experience either playing or coaching at the semi-professional or professional level of English and European football."

The week-long programme will look to help youngsters progress with their knowledge of the game along with discipline.

The ages of the children ranges from five to 16, and as part of the UK International Camp Week each child will receive a certificate of participation, special gift bag, T-shirt and football.

After the inaugural camp, 21 of the 60 youngsters enrolled were invited to attend a Major League Soccer (MLS) advanced residential camp in Connecticut after impressing talent scouts.

Burgess is hoping to see a few more promising players given the opportunity to learn more about the game.

"It's really a fantastic opportunity for young Bermudians to gain experience with professionals from outside of Bermuda," she said.

"We have secured both fields and the auditorium for the week and we're all looking forward to it.

"I've been organising the camps on my own for the past two and a half years and Mark Jennings has come onboard in the past few weeks to assist with wrapping up a few administrative details of organising the camp, which has been a tremendous help with all of his football connections.

"Mark has secured Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne to visit the kids for lunch one of the days.

"Bermuda technical director Derek Broadley has offered to speak at the opening of this year's camp and invited us to do our special awards ceremony during half- time at the Clyde Best tournament."

Barritt's will be donating sports drink mix and 10-gallon drink jugs while Crawl Hill Esso are offering ice for the week.