David Bascome believes Bermuda’s young footballers must learn to become “critical thinkers” in order to develop into well-rounded players.Bascome, the assistant coach of Baltimore Blast in the Major Indoor Soccer League, is adamant the Island’s most promising players have the talent but fears there’s an “educational component” missing from their coaching.The ex-Bermuda international wants to see a greater emphasis on educating young players, both on the pitch and in the classroom, to help raise the standard of the domestic game.He said: “Bermuda football will always have talent because we have young people who have no fear and so much ability.“But my concern is that the game has got so complex and there’s an educational presence that’s not being provided for the players’ development.“I think our players have the skill but when it comes to reading plays and learning more information like angles ... you only learn those things if you are focused at school.“If we don’t merge sports and combine it with education our young people will not be critical thinkers both on and off the field.“There’s a huge disconnect with the importance of education and how we play the game.”Due to a basic lack of understanding of the game at the club level, Bascome believes Bermuda’s Island-based players are often ill-prepared when it comes to the rigours of international football.And he reckons the national team coaches are having to focus too much on the fundamentals when they should be working on implementing tactics and the team’s style of play.“Are our young players educated? I’m not saying they need to go to college, I’m saying do they understand enough and do they retain information long enough so a coach can take them to the next level,” said Bascome, whose brother Andrew is senior national team coach.“I’m not sure our players can maintain the information. I don’t think the local clubs are doing a good enough job getting players prepared for the national team, so the (national) coach can get them prepared for the next level.“There’s too much work for the national coach to do and he doesn’t have enough time.”To combat these perceived player deficiencies, Bascome thinks Bermudian football should be restructured with all young players coached under one umbrella rather than at their local clubs.“The standard of football is low right now in Bermuda,” said Bascome, who returned to the Island this week to run the HSBC Pro Soccer Clinic at BAA Field.“A lack of funding is one reason, but you can't get funding unless you show product and we have to make sacrifices to get to that point.“There needs to be 2,000 of the top boys and girls under one umbrella — a youth association. The clubs will complain about it and say ‘these are our kids’, but we’re not moving fast enough. It’s all about structure.“They could still stay connected to their clubs and the club coaches would of course still be involved in coaching at this association, where you could really focus on the educational side of things.“Players could sign an agreement to say when they get to 16 they can play a North Village Under-18 team or whoever else, so the clubs wouldn’t be losing out.“I applaud the BFA for doing what they can with very little and the National Academy is a great outlet, but we’re still leaving 75 percent of the players behind who also need developing.”