Applications open for Basketball Ireland's latest 'Women In Sport Leadership' course

Basketball Ireland is set to deliver its 5th Women in Sport Leadership Course to eight members in January and February 2026, continuing the hugely popular and successful roll-out of the project with our partner IWA-Sport.  

This course is designed and delivered by experienced consultants Lisa Clancy and Sarah O’Shea, who have worked at the highest levels in Irish sport and FIBA (The governing body of basketball). They also hold volunteer board positions as President of Paralympics Ireland and Honorary General Secretary of the Olympic Federation Ireland respectively.

Applications can made here.

The aim of the Basketball Ireland’s Women In Sport Leadership Programme is to provide training, guidance, and expertise to support women to thrive in leadership positions in sport. It will give women across the island the opportunity to learn additional skills, increase their confidence and build networks across sports.

The programme is specifically designed for female leaders over the age of 18, working or volunteering within sport (committee members, officials, volunteers, coaches etc.), but it is also suitable for women that are involved in sport and want to now pursue a position of leadership. Basketball Ireland are delighted to be in a position to offer this course to eight women involved in various roles within basketball on the island of Ireland. This programme has already proved to be hugely successful in creating a strong network of new female leaders in our sport and others. Participants have included club members, athletes, coaches, volunteers, board members and support personnel from a variety of backgrounds. 

Last year Basketball Ireland and IWA-Sport ran an extremely successful Women in Leadership course, with one participant describing the benefits they felt as a a participant: “As the weeks went on, I enjoyed the connection with the other women on the course. I learned a lot from the course content, but also from the open forum to engage with my peers”.

The course is designed to be an enjoyable experience for participants to learn in a relaxed supportive environment and build a network into the future.  It is a practical interactive course delivered over zoom and in person with participants expected to fully engage during the sessions and in various breakout groups as part of their learning experience.

The Basketball Ireland Women In Sport Leadership Programme will be delivered through a mix of online sessions and in-person sessions

Participants must commit to attending all sessions to participate in the programme.

Applications can made here.

Deadline for applications to be submitted will be Thursday 6^th of November at 5pm. Please note that places get booked up quickly.

Places on the course are limited to 8 and all applications received by the closing date will be reviewed based on the content of the application by the Women in Sport lead within Basketball Ireland to select the successful nominees for Jan 2026.

Topics on the course will include:

• Leadership
• Values
• Networking and Collaboration
• Challenging Situations and Resilience
• Conflict
• Crisis Management 
• Communications and Developing Your Personal Brand
• Influence and Change 
• Research and Governance.

Participants will also receive a one-on-one coaching session and support in producing their own Personal Development Plan. Modules will also include inputs from external speakers at national and local level relating their own personal leadership experiences.

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Dates: online 7-8.30pm

Jan 20^th, Jan 27^th, Feb 3^rd, Feb 10^th, Feb 17^th 

Final day (In-person, IWA Clontarf) - 28^th February