Basketball Ireland U14/U15 Academy Programme 2026/27

Basketball Ireland U14 Boys and Girls Academy selections

Basketball Ireland U15 Boys and Girls Academy selections

Basketball Ireland U17 Academy Programme 2026/27

Basketball Ireland U17 Academy Programme Selections 

Read the Basketball Ireland Selection Policy Documents

Basketball Ireland U14 Academy Selection Policy

Basketball Ireland U15 Academy Selection Policy

U14 / U15 Academy Programme — Talent Identification 

Not every player who attends a Talent ID Day is offered a place on the Academy — places are limited, and it's a hard message to receive. Below are answers to the questions parents and guardians ask most often about what a 'not selected' outcome means, and what happens next.

My child wasn't selected for the Academy — what happens next?

Selection is not the end of the road. The aim of the process is never to miss a promising player, but places on the Academy are limited. Players who continue to perform at a very high level at club level will get noticed — Regional Head Coaches can invite a player to a future session or trial at any point during the season, not only through the official TID days.

My child only attended one of the two Talent ID sessions — does that affect their chances?

Please also see the full Selection Policy for details. Two TID sessions are offered in each region for exactly this reason — so no player misses out because they couldn't make one date. Attending both gives coaches more opportunity to assess a player and build a fuller picture, but there is no penalty for attending only one. A player who attends a single session is simply judged on that session, with no negative weighting for not attending the second.

Does not being selected to the Academy rule my child out of underage national team selection?

No. Open trials are held again every year at the next age group, and players are growing, maturing and developing new skills throughout the pathway, so the door is never closed. A player who isn't selected to the Academy can still be invited to national team trials later on, based on performance in Basketball Ireland competition throughout the year. At U16, Basketball Ireland also runs open 'Unseen' Talent ID sessions specifically for players who are not in the U15 Academy, giving another route into the national team pathway.

Can my child still join the Academy later in the season if they keep improving?

Yes. While most players join through the TID process, Regional Academy coaches and staff continue to watch players throughout the season. A player who shows exceptional talent or significant development can be invited to join at a later stage — though late additions are expected to be performing at a top-half level for their region or province.

Will we get feedback on why my child wasn't selected?

You're welcome to request feedback using our feedback request form. Coaches are happy to provide feedback where they can, but with high numbers of players at Talent ID days this isn't always possible in every case.

Can we appeal the selection decision?

Appeals are only considered where there has been a procedural error in how the process was run. Disagreeing with a coach's assessment of a player is not, on its own, grounds for an appeal.

My child is still developing physically — does that count against them?

No. Coaches assess players holistically — technically, tactically and psychologically, not just physically — and physical maturity is considered relative to each player's own growth stage. Selection to the Academy at this age is one step on a long pathway, not a final verdict on a player's future in the game. Players not selected now can, and regularly do, come back into the pathway as they develop.

Is there a fee if my child isn't selected?

No. The Talent ID fee is the only charge for taking part in the TID sessions. The Academy programme fee only applies to players who are offered, and accept, a place.

Will there be more Talent ID opportunities next year?

Yes. Talent ID Days are held every year in September, and players not selected this time are welcome to attend the open sessions again at the next age group. Outside of these TID dates, there isn't a way to request a one-off trial — any additional opportunity during the season comes from a coach noticing a player's form and inviting them in, not the other way around.

What is the Player Pathway Programme?

Basketball Ireland's Player Pathway sets out how players can progress from club basketball through regional and national programmes. You can view the full pathway explained here.

Boys U14 Regional Academy

Boys U15 Provincial Academy