The Avonworth and Northgate girls' basketball teams will be part of a research study this year that could help protect future players from injury.

Northgate School Board member David Natale reported at the board's Nov. 9 committee of the whole meeting that Dr. Sani Akhaven of Allegheny General Hospital has devised a jump training program that will help build core strength and reduce the occurrence of ACL injuries.

The Avonworth girls will receive the training, while the Northgate team will act as a control, Natale said. He said that if the research produces results, teams everywhere could receive the training.