Bermuda's Under-15 players gained valuable experience from competing against established professional academies FC Sochaux and Colorado Rapids during the Clyde Best Tournament, according to coach Scott Morton.

The talented squad was split into two teams and had a first hand visual of the standard of players their own age from other countries, and what they must work on to reach the same level.

Dandy Town coach Morton, who coached Bermuda's A side, was buoyed with his team's performances, especially considering the short amount of time they had to prepare for the annual tournament.

"It was a beautiful experience for the kids," said Morton. "We didn't have the kids for that long, maybe three weeks before the tournament, so we tried to keep it basic as to not overload the players and keep them in their comfort zone.

"As teams go into tournaments, the players put enough pressure on themselves, so we just wanted them to be relaxed and comfortable."

The highlight of the tournament for the island was Devarr Boyles' Bermuda B team's backs-to-the-wall draw against FC Sochaux, whose first team play in the French First Division, while Morton's side, narrowly lost to Colorado Rapids 4-3.

Playing in meaningful matches against teams of a higher standard is the only way Bermuda's young players can stretch themselves, and Morton wants the Under-15s training regularly and competing against more quality opposition in the future.

The squad is soon set to be cut from the 40 players involved in the tournament and Morton reckons the coaches have a clearer idea of what improvements need to be made.

"We got a good look at the players and see how they handle match situations and playing with players they wouldn't normally play with week in week out. So we had a chance to see how they would gel," he said.

"It gave us a real good look as to how we should go forward.

"With the French team, they are a very technical, a lot of one-two touch passing and movement off the ball, whereas our players like to have unnecessary time on the ball.

"With the Rapids, we were on par with them in certain areas. But they always have the 'never give up' attitude, a lot of fighting spirit.

"We need to learn from our opponents, no matter who they are and take some of their qualities and enhance ours to be a better team.

"We are going to form one team from the players that played in the tournament.

"Moving forward we will look to have a full-time team that trains together on a regular basis."