Athletics South Africa is going back to basics to encourage more schoolchildren to take part in cross-country in partnership with the government.

ASA board member Hendrick Ramaala said ASA was introducing cross-country series in various parts of the country starting this weekend.

Ramaala said they were targeting provinces like Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Limpopo and some parts of Pretoria and Sedibeng.

"We have identified areas where we feel sport needs serious intervention. The series will start on Saturday and continue until the end of the month.

"We have decided to adopt the approach of athletics powerhouses like Kenya and Ethiopia, where cross-country features in their talent-identification programmes. Cross-country is cheap, you don't have to spend a lot of money. We are targeting youths between the ages of eight and 20 to participate in the series."

Ramaala said the series will cost R600,000. "We have received funding from the Department of Sports and Recreation to run the series."