by professional players David Bascome and Shawn Goater are well underway.

The popular event, sponsored by the Bank of Bermuda, will be held from June 28 to July 4 at the Bermuda College field.

And parents are now being reminded that they can sign their children up for the event by obtaining registration forms at the bank's head office on Front Street on June 18 between 12 noon and 2p.m. when the two instructors Bascome and Goater will be on hand to receive them.

The clinic will be open to 180 males and females between the ages of five and 18.

The younger players (5-10 years) will be coached from 3.30-5.30 p.m. while the older players will be coached from 6-8 p.m.

Ten players aged 12-18 who show good leadership promise and good team skills during the clinics will then be selected to participate in the school of excellence -- a further two-week long session to be supervised by the two soccer stars who have just returned home for the summer.

Participants will be required to attend school classes in the morning, work in the afternoon and train for soccer in the early evening. The bank and other local Hamilton businesses will provide openings for the work sessions.

Bascome, who plays indoor soccer for Harrisburg Heat in the United States, and Goater, who is with the English side Manchester City, were both ecstatic about what was being offered.

"We are grateful to the bank for their generous support,'' said Goater. "The soccer clinic gives young Bermudians the opportunity to build on their soccer skills and have fun during the summer months.'' Bascome added: "We have designed the school of excellence to give soccer players a balance in sports, education and in the work place. Players will be monitored closely if they are late for training, work or school without a proper excuse. If this happens more than twice they will be dismissed from the programme. We want to encourage discipline and balance in players' lives.'' Karen Madeiros, Events and Promotions Officer at the Bank of Bermuda, was just as pleased.

"We are delighted to be supporting this wonderful opportunity for Bermuda's youth,'' she stated.

"I am sure that anyone who attends the soccer clinic will benefit greatly from working with David and Shawn. It is admirable to see Bermudians such as these come back to the Island to share their expertise.''