RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Basketball schools play an important role in training future national players, coach Ghada Baboun said Monday.

Baboun teaches at a basketball school in Bethlehem at the Catholic Action Club, supported by the Pontifical Mission. Set up a year ago, it has attracted dozens of children aged 7 - 12 who are already playing against local teams.

The school's focus is on teaching children modern basketball techniques, Baboun told Ma'an.

Training children in basketball schools is in the interest of future national teams, she added.