The Basketball Ireland Regional and Provincial Academy structure is the foundation of a development pathway for players and coaches with an ambition and potential to perform at the highest levels of our sport.
It opens a development and performance pathway for more players across the country in a time when there are more National League opportunities presenting themselves country wide as well as being the pathway to the international teams.
“More players, better players, playing for longer”.
To identify and recruit players and coaches that demonstrate the most talent and potential for future success in their basketball careers.
Early Intervention to better prepare players for participation and success in the U16 International programmes. The Basketball Ireland Provincial Academies are the primary route for all players that wish to be considered for the U16 National Teams along with providing the skills required to play basketball at the highest level.
The role of the academies is to widen the net for potential high-level players with the attributes to play at the highest level and to expose more players to high level coaching and playing. To give opportunities to players who are still developing or who are new to the sport but show many of the attributes required to develop into a high-level basketball player.
Investment in the long-term development of all players that show potential and commitment, propelling them towards success in local, regional, national, and international competition.
There are more talented athletes playing basketball than ever before and it is envisaged that this system – over the next three to five years - will produce a much larger group of international-standard players and increase competition and standard dramatically. Ireland has already shown that we can compete at all levels, but strength in depth has been an issue. Introducing international-standard concepts and skills to a wider group, at an earlier age, over a longer period will yield a stronger pool of players over time.
The Under 14 Academy is open to any player of any nationality. Skill development is the key objective for this age group and getting players ready for the advanced learning required for International Basketball but there is also a large element of supporting the work being done at club and school level to help all players reach their potential.
U14 Region |
Counties |
East North |
Dublin North, Louth |
East South |
Dublin South, Wicklow |
Midlands |
Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, , Longford, North Tipperary, South Kildare |
North |
Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan. |
Northwest |
Donegal, North Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, North Roscommon |
South |
Cork |
Southeast |
Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, South Tipperary |
Southwest |
Kerry, Limerick |
West: |
Clare, Galway, South Mayo, South Roscommon |
The Under 15 Academy is the route players that live and play in Ireland must take to be selected for the Under 16 Irish International team. Players without an Irish passport can join the Academy with the approval of the EPC but requires parents to start the process of naturalisation to make them eligible to play for Ireland under FIBA rules. For any questions on eligibility please contact the International Liaison officer Matthew Hall by email mhall@ireland.basketball. There will be no open talent ID sessions for the Under 16 international squad.
Under 16 International Teams are selected during August / September the season before the European Championships for which the squad will be taking part directly from the Academy sessions. for example, the 2025 squad is selected in August / September of 2024. The squad will be selected from the Under 15 Academy class except for players living and playing outside of Ireland who may be brought into the squad on trial and players that are from the Under 14 age group. Exceptional circumstances will always be considered and judged by the EPC on a case-by-case basis.
The cost of the Academy will once again be €240 for the year up until the end of May, which includes the players’ academy kit and all training sessions. Unfortunately, once again this year we will not be able to run the u15 2-day camp as venues with accommodation are not available before the end of May. We are still working on this so will let parents know if this changes.
We do have a scholarship program running again this year for economically disadvantaged families. The aim is to make sure no players with the talent to be selected miss out for financial reasons. Once selections have been made, we will send out information about payments and information on how to apply for a scholarship. If you have any questions or concerns in this area please get in touch after selections are made and we will do our best to help.
The cost of the Academy will once again be €220 for the year up until the end of May which includes the players’ academy kit and all training sessions. We do intend to hold a 2-day 1 night camp, which will be optional but will carry an extra charge.
This is booked for the university of Limerick on the weekend of May 25th/26th. We will provide details of this camp later in the year, but players will only be charged for the cost of accommodation and food.
We do have a scholarship programme running again this year for economically disadvantaged families. The aim is to make sure no players with the talent to be selected miss out for financial reasons. Once selections have been made, we will send out information about payments and information on how to apply for a scholarship. If you have any questions or concerns in this area please get in touch after selections are made and we will do our best to help.
U17: Saturday 23rd or Sunday 24th – Academy Session
Easter Holidays: ROI: Schools close on Friday March 22nd and reopen on Monday April 8th
NI: March Thursday 29th – Monday April 8th
U14: Monday 1st to Friday 5th – Academy Session
Saturday 13th or Sunday 14th – Academy Session – Girls Only
Saturday 20th or Sunday 21st – Academy Session – Boy’s Only
U15: Monday 1st to Friday 5th – Academy Session or Camp
Saturday 13th or Sunday 14th – Academy Session – Girls Only
Saturday 20th or Sunday 21st – Academy Session – Boy’s Only
U17: Saturday 13th or Sunday 14th – Academy Session – Girls Only
Saturday 20th or Sunday 21st – Academy Session – Boy’s Only
U14: Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th – U14 Academy Camp
U15: Saturday 11th or Sunday 12th – Academy Session
Saturday 18th – Girls Inter Provincial Tournament – End of Programme
Sunday 19th – Boy’s Inter Provincial Tournament – End of Programme
U17: Saturday 4th or Sunday 5th – Academy Session
Saturday 11th or Sunday 12th – Academy Session
U14: Saturday 8th or Sunday 9th – Academy Mini Tournament – Regions will be combined
Note: Summer Programme Details will be finalised later in the year
Region | Head Coach | Assistant | Assistant | Assistant | |
East- North | Gareth Winders | Andrew Brady | Zoran Stankovic |
BIU14eastnorthboys@gmail.com |
|
East - South | Ian Lynch | William Lynch | Shauna Kavanagh | Alex Kiernan | |
North | Gavin Garland | John O’ Brien | northboysu14@gmail.com | ||
North West | Laura Deeney | Johnny Fierstein | northwestu14boys@gmail.com | ||
West | Ciaran McGroggan | Declan Fahey | biu14westboys@gmail.com | ||
South West | Dave Barry | Jordan Hehir | Kevin Moran | Biu14southwestboys@gmail.com | |
South | Keith Daly | James McSweeney | bisouthboysu14@gmail.com | ||
South East | Brian O'Neill | Matt Biernat | |||
Midlands | Ciaran Kiveney | Mickie Gormley | bimidlandsboysu14@gmail.com |
Head Coach | Assistant | ||
Connacht | Ben Kelly | Keighlum Ledwith | biconnachtboysu15@gmail.com |
Ulster | Laura Deeney | Brendan McCoy | biulsterboysu15@gmail.com |
Munster | Paul Kelleher | Jack Curran & Jim Hughes | bimunsterboysu15@gmail.com |
Leinster | Ciaran Kiveney | Sheena Moran & Jack Scully | uboysacademy@gmail.com |
Head Coach | Assistant | |||
East - North | Elaine Scally | Orla Brennan | Andrius Gerve | BIU14eastnorthgirls@gmail.com |
East - South | Robert Bree | David Doran | BIU14eastsouthgirls@gmail.com |
|
North | Gavin Garland | Stephen McGeough | northgirlsu14@gmail.com | |
North West | Laura Deeney | Johnny Fierstein | Emer Healy | northwestgirlsu14@gmail.com |
West | Paul O'Brien | Laura Lopez | biwestgirlsu14@yahoo.com | |
South West | Kelly Ahern | Aoibhinn Morrissey | Rachel Creedon | Bisouthwestgirlsu14@gmail.com |
South | Dominic Foster | Sara Perrsson | Jen Dinan | Bisouthgirlsu14@gmail.com |
South East | Niall Berry | Johnny Gleeson | Biu14southeastgirls@gmail.com | |
Midlands | Alyssa Velles | Megan Dunne | Jessica Fressle | bimidlandsgirlsu14@gmail.com |
Head Coach | Assistant | ||
Connacht | Paul O'Brien | Mikaela Dodig | biconnachtgirlsu15@gmail.com |
Ulster | Laura Deeney |
Stephen McArdle |
biulstergirlsu15@gmail.com |
Munster | Paul Kelleher | Niall O'Connell & Sara Perrsson | bimunstergirlsu15@gmail.com |
Leinster | Dave Earley | Conor Farrington & Emer Branigan | bileinsteru15girls@gmail.com |
Boys Regions - U14 | Day / Date | Venue | Time |
East - North | Friday April 5th | Portmarnock Community School | 10:00-13:00 |
Sunday April 21st | St. Vincent's Secondary School | 15:00-18:00 | |
East - South | Mon April 1st | Colaiste Eanna | 13:00-16:00 |
Sunday April 21st | St. Columba's College | 14:30-17:30 | |
North | Tuesday April 2nd | Queen's University, Belfast | 11:00-14:00 |
Saturday April 20th | Queen's University, Belfast | 12:00-15:00 | |
North West | Wednesday April 3rd | Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon | 10:00-13:00 |
Sunday April 21st | Abbey Vocational, Donegal Town | 13:00-16:00 | |
West | Friday March 29th | Corrandulla | 10:00-13:00 |
Saturday April 20th | Corrandulla | 10:00-13:00 | |
South West | Tuesday April 2nd | University of Limerick Arena | 11:00-14:00 |
Saturday April 20th | Limerick Educate Together SS | 14:00-17:00 | |
South | Wednesday April 3rd | Neptune Stadium | 13:00-16:00 |
Sunday April 21st | Neptune Stadium | 09:00-12:00 | |
South East | Wednesday April 3rd | De La Salle College, Waterford | 14:00-17:00 |
Sunday April 21st | De La Salle College, Waterford | 13:00-16:00 | |
Midlands | Friday April 5th | St. Mary's Hall, Portlaoise | 12:00-15:00 |
Sunday April 21st | SHS Tullamore | 10:00-13:00 |
Boys Provinces - U15 | Day / Date | Venue | Time |
Connacht | Tuesday April 2nd | Gormanston Park | 11:00-17:00 |
Sunday April 21st | Salerno Secondary School | 15:00-18:00 | |
Leinster | Tuesday April 2nd | Gormanston Park | 11:00-17:00 |
Saturday April 20th | Presentation College, Terenure | 17:00-20:00 | |
Munster | Tuesday April 2nd | Gormanston Park | 11:00-17:00 |
Friday April 19th | Neptune Stadium | 19:00-22:00 | |
Ulster | Tuesday April 2nd | Gormanston Park | 11:00-17:00 |
Wednesday April 3rd | Colaiste Oiriall, Monaghan | 13:00-16:00 | |
Saturday April 20th | St. Macartan's College, Monaghan | 10:00-13:00 |
Girls Regions - U14 | Day / Date | Venue | Time |
East - North | Tuesday April 2nd | Balbriggan Sports Centre | 11:00-15:00 |
Saturday April 13th | Balbriggan Sports Centre | 14:00-17:00 | |
East - South | Friday April 5th | Marian College | 16:00-19:00 |
Saturday April 13th | Marian College | 15:00-18:00 | |
North | Tuesday April 2nd | Queen's University, Belfast | 14:00-17:00 |
Sunday April 14th | Our Ladies Castleblaney | 17:00-20:00 | |
North West | Wednesday April 3rd | Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon | 13:30-16:30 |
Sunday April 14th | Abbey Vocational, Donegal Town | 13:00-16:00 | |
West | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Saturday April 13th | Corrandulla Community Centre | 10:00-13:00 | |
South West | Friday April 5th | NCW Community Hall | 11:00-14:00 |
Sunday April 14th | Kerry Sports Academy | 11:00-14:00 | |
South | Thursday April 4th | Neptune Stadium | 10:00-13:00 |
Saturday April 13th | Neptune Stadium | 10:00-13:00 | |
South East | Thursday April 4th | Old Leighlin Community Hall | 16:00-19:00 |
Sunday April 14th | Mercy Secondary School Waterford | 10:00-13:00 | |
Midlands | Wednesday April 3rd | SHS Tullamore | 17:00-20:00 |
Saturday April 13th | SHS Tullamore | 10:00-13:00 |
Girls Province - U15 | Day / Date | Venue | Time |
Connacht | Thursday March 28th | Gormanston Park | 11:00-17:00 |
Saturday April 13th | Corrandulla Community Centre | 13:00-16:00 | |
Leinster | Thursday March 28th | Gormanston Park | 11:00-17:00 |
Saturday April 13th | Marian College | 12:00-15:00 | |
Munster | Thursday March 28th | Gormanston Park | 11:00-17:00 |
Friday April 12th | Neptune Stadium | 19:00-22:00 | |
Ulster | Thursday March 28th | Gormanston Park | 11:00-17:00 |
Wednesday April 3rd | Colaiste Oiriall, Monaghan | 10:00-13:00 | |
Saturday April 13th | Colaiste Oiriall, Monaghan | 10:00-13:00 |
Coach | Coach | Coach | Coach |
TBC | Andy Gill | Ger Jago | TBC |
Coach | Coach | Coach | Coach |
Ciaran Kiveney | Jason Barry | Nollaig Cunningham | Elijah Faapito |