YOUNG people are being given the chance to try their hand at basketball with professional coaching to help develop their skills.

The Kent Active Sports Partnership is running coaching for boys and girls aged 11-16, with places still available and more venues planned for 2003.

Radmila Turner, Kent Active Sports basketball co-ordinator, and former Olympic athlete, says: “We have three England and four county coaches, and this is reflecting in the calibre of young people coming through.”

The Active Sports programme, which was launched last November, has already talent-spotted several young people from the county, with the Talent Camps held in the summer this year identifying two girls from the county who now play for England and three boys who have joined the London Towers Club.

Hayesbrook School in Tonbridge is being developed as a centre for basketball excellence. Radmila Turner said: "Basketball is being played so much in schools now and our aim is to move this forward by providing a good club structure where young people receive the highest standard of training.

“Events such as the Kent Youth Games are extremely important to us, building a platform from which we can choose our county teams and identify new talent.”

Courses presently being offered are at Homewood School, Tenterden, on Tuesdays 4pm-5.30pm, for boys and girls aged 11-13; at the Becket Sports Centre, Dartford, on Thursdays, 5.30pm-7pm, for boys aged 11-13; Astor of Hever School, Maidstone, on Mondays, 4.30pm-6pm, for girls aged 11-13; Minster College, Sheppey, on Thursdays, 4pm-5.30pm, for boys aged 11-13; Ramsgate Sports Centre, on Sundays, 10.30am-noon, for girls aged 11-13; Dover Leisure Centre, on Saturdays, 10.30am-noon, for boys and girls, aged 11-13; at Gravesend, for girls, aged 11-13; times and venue to be confirmed.

For further details of this and other courses contact Radmila Turner, 07786 191563; or Shelley Eaton, Active Sports manager, 01622 605062.