Hamilton Parish have struck up a partnership with David Bascome to improve the First Division club’s youth football programme.

Dalton Burgess, who oversees Parish’s youth set-up, confirmed that Bascome is helping them take their programme to the next level.

“David has laid out some guidelines that we are following and has been very helpful in providing us with a junior curriculum,” Burgess said.

“David looked at our programme and although we are a football programme we want the children to leave it with more than just football skills. We want them to also have life skills and that’s what we’re trying to transform the programme into.

“We want to have some input in shaping the individual.”

Bascome, the brother of Bermuda coach Andrew Bascome, is a former professional indoor player with Baltimore Blast and now serves as the team’s assistant coach.

He also played for Bermuda, North Village and Boulevard as a forward.

“David brings a wealth of experience and contacts and has committed to us for a year and after that he will still be consulting with us,” Burgess added.

Bascome is presently putting 15 of Parish’s youth players through their paces at a weeklong football clinic in Baltimore.

“It’s been great, they have a had a great time and are just enjoying it,” Burgess said. “It’s been all positive.

“We are not just going there to play football, it’s an all-round camp. It is a football camp but is also a leadership camp where they are developing social skills and leadership qualities.”

Parish’s under-8 players are also broadening their horizons at a Barcelona-sponsored clinic in Atlanta.