A new initiative run by The British Basketball League Foundation (BBL) will enable thousands of teenagers between 16 and 19 to take up basketball.

BBL will offer a range of three on three basketball activities organised by franchised clubs in Newcastle, Chester, Leicester, Guildford and Worcester.

Players will be offered a mix of basketball sessions including: indoor and outdoor; mixed and single sex; self organised and coach-led; and turn-up & play competitive options.

Sport England's investment of £200,700 will allow the foundation to test which settings and formats are most popular among the teenagers.

A survey, carried out by TNS-BMRB on behalf of Sport England, shows good potential to get more young people playing basketball regularly.

The survey found that more than 50,000 16- to 19-year-olds are playing at least once a month, but less than once a week, while more than 150,000 adults in England say basketball is a sport they would be interested in taking up.

Sport England's director of sport, Phil Smith, said: "This investment will open up more opportunities for young people to get involved in this great sport and build on the momentum created by the inspiring summer of Olympic and Paralympic sport.

"We know many young people are interested in playing basketball and this partnership will help us understand more about the best ways to turn interest into participation and then keep them coming back week after week."