See bottom of page for 2025/26 Academy player Talent Identification Sessions Information

The Basketball Ireland Academy Programme

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”.

What are the objectives of the Basketball Ireland Academies?

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.

What age groups are affected?

U14 Regional Academies

  • To be eligible for the U14 Regional Academies, players must not turn 14 before December 31st in the year they apply.
  • To be eligible for the U15 Regional Academies, players must not turn 15 before December 31st in the year they apply. 

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.

Basketball Ireland Academy Player Pathway

Under 14 Regional Academy

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 Regions

Counties

East North

Dublin North, Louth

East South

Dublin South, Wicklow

Midlands

Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford, North Tipperary, South Kildare

North

Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Meath, Louth, Cavan, Monaghan

Northwest

Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, North Roscommon

South

Cork

Southeast

Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, South Tipperary

Southwest

Kerry, Limerick

West:

Clare, Galway, South Mayo, South Roscommon

Under 15 Provincial Academy

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 FIBA U16 EuroBasket 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.


Basketball Ireland Academy | U13 Development Sessions

Basketball Ireland U13 Development Sessions

Dates
25/26th October TBC
28/29/30th December TBC
31st March or 1/2nd April TBC

Further information relating to the areas and times that these sessions are taking place will be available shortly.

Basketball Ireland Academy | U14 & U15 Girls Practice Dates - November

Basketball Ireland U14 Girls Regional Academy

Venue Day/ date Time
East - North St Oliver's Community College Drogheda Sat 1st Nov 1000-1300
East - South  Ballyfermot Leisure Centre Sun 2nd Nov 1300-1600
North St. Macartens, Monaghan Sat 1st Nov 1000-1300
North West Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town Sun 2nd Nov 1600-1900
West Corundulla Community Centre Sun 2nd Nov 1000-1300
South West Kerry Sports Academy Sun 2nd Nov 1100-1400
South Fr Mathews Arena Sun 2nd Nov 1400-1700
South East Scoil Ruain, Killenaule Sun 2nd Nov 1330-1630
Midlands  TBC    


Basketball Ireland U15 Girls Provincial Academy

Venue Day/ date Time
Connacht Corundulla Community Centre Sun 2nd Nov 1330-1630
Leinster Presentation Bray Sun 2nd Nov 1000-1300
Munster Upper Glanmire Community Hall Sun 2nd Nov 1000-1300
Ulster St. Macartens, Monaghan Sat 1st Nov 1300-1600
Dublin Castleknock Community College Sun 2nd Nov 1000-1300

Basketball Ireland Academy | U14 & U15 Boys Practice Dates - November

Basketball Ireland U14 Boys Regional Academy

Venue Day/ date Time
East - North TBC    
East - South  TBC    
North Cookstown Leisure Centre Sat 1st Nov 1100-1400
North West Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town Sun 2nd Nov 1300-1600
West Corundulla Community Centre Sat 1st Nov 1000-1300
South West Limerick Educate Together Secondary School Sun 2nd Nov 1500-1800
South Fr. Matthews Arena Sat 1st Nov 1000-1300
South East Scoil Ruain, Killenaule Sun 2nd Nov 1000-1300
Midlands  Colaiste Chiaran Athlone  Sun 2nd Nov 1100-1400


Basketball Ireland U15 Boys Regional Academy

Venue Day/ date Time
Connacht Coláiste Muire Máthair Sun 2nd Nov 1000-1300
Leinster St. Mary's Knockbeg Sat 1st Nov 1000-1300
Munster Fr Matthews Arena Sat 1st Nov 1400-1700
Ulster Colaiste Oiriall Sun 2nd Nov 1000-1300
Dublin Oatland's College Sun 2nd Nov 1400-1700

Basketball Ireland Academy | U14 & U15 Academy Selection Details

Basketball Ireland | U14 & U15 Academy Selection Policy

Basketball Ireland Academy | Cost

U14 Academy 

The cost of the Academy is €260 for the year up to the middle of June which includes the players academy vest, 8 academy sessions plus the Inter regional tournament at Christmas.

U15 Academy

The cost of the Academy is €280 for the year up until the end of May which includes the players academy reversible kit, a minimum of 7 provincial training sessions and 2 full academies get togethers as well as the end of program Interprovincial tournament.

Not Selected FAQs

My child was not selected, What next?

The aim is not to miss players so whilst we do have limited places on the academy if players are performing to a very high level at club level it will get noticed by coaches and players can be invited by regional head coaches to a future session as a trial.

My child missed one of the talent ID sessions, does this make a difference when coaches make selections?

Please read the selection policy. The aim is not to miss players that show signs of being a future elite level basketball player. We have two talent ID sessions to allow for players that may not be able to make a session for one reason or another. Attending 2 sessions allows coaches to view players more and get a better understanding of their level but that works both ways. Players just attending one session are judged on that session but there is no penalty or negative judgment if a player only attends one talent ID session.

My child was not selected, does this rule them out of the under 16 national team?

No, there will be open trials again at the under 15 age group. Players at this age group are growing, maturing, and gaining new skills every day so the door is never closed for players that have improved at any point during the pathway program. Players that are not selected to the under 15 academy can still be invited next year to National team trials based on performance within Basketball Ireland competition throughout the year.

What is the pathway program?

Basketball Irelands player pathway program can viewed via this link Player Pathway explained

Boys U14/U15 Academy Coaches

Boys U14 Regional Academy

Region Head Coach Assistant Coach Assistant Coach
East North Gareth Winders Andrew Brady  Alex Kiernan
East South Shane Byrne Eleanor Hosey Matt Kelly
Midlands Ciaran Kiveney Peter Mannion   
North Rolandas Bartkus John O’Brien  
Northwest Laura Deeney  Sean mcGettrick Tracey Flood
South Pat Curran Alberto Garcia  
South East Niall Berry Lar Murphy  
South West Dave Barry Thomas Walsh  
West Ciaran mcGroggan TBC  

Boys U15 Provincial Academy 

Province Head Coach Assistant Coach Assistant Coach
Connacht Jake Tiernan David Hormanseder  
Dublin Gareth O'Reilly Maitiu Heckmann Murray Baker
Leinster Sheena Moran Ray Armstrong Colin Maxwell
Munster Paul Kelleher Jason Barry  
Ulster Brendan McCoy  Michael Boening Simon Kennedy

Girls U14/U15 Academy Coaches

Girls U14 Regional Academy

Region Head Coach Assistant Assistant Assistant
East North  Conor Farrington  Cathal Clancy Dave Earley  
East South  Ger Jago Dave Doran Robert Bree Linda Joyce
Midlands  Alyssa Velles Megan Dunne Ruth O Brien  
North Stephen mcArdle Stephen Mc Geough Beth Winders  
Northwest Laura Deeney  Sean mcGettrick    
South Jenn Dinan Agnieszka Lukasiewicz Sara Persson   
South East Niall Berry Johnny Gleeson     
South West Kelly Ahern  Isabelle Whelan Denise Walsh  
West Paul O'Brien  Laura Lopez Caroline Walsh  


Girls U15 Provincial Academy 

Province Head Coach Assistant Assistant
Connacht Paul O'Brien  Laura Lopez Sylvia McDonagh  
Dublin Andrius Gerve / Elaine Scally Mia McPartling     
Leinster Ian Lynch Shauna Kavanagh Kate O'Flaherty  Sam McEntee
Munster Sara Persson  Niall O'Connell    
Ulster Stephen McArdle Elena Arutyunyan Eimear Brannigan  

U14 Regional Academy Structure

East North East South North North West West South West South South East Midlands
Dublin North Dublin South Tyrone Sligo Mayo Limerick Cork WAterford Laois
Louth Wicklow Antrim Donegal Galway Kerry Wexford Offaly
Meath North Kildare Down Leitrim Clare Carlow Westmeath
Fermanagh Roscommon Kilkenny South Kildare
Armagh Tipperary Longford
Derry
Cavan
Monaghan

U17 Academy Coaches

TBC

U17 National Academy Programme Training Dates

GIRLS

Day/Date Venue Time

BOYS

Day/Date Venue Time

Basketball Ireland | Academy Calendar 2025/26

Month Academy
October 25th U13 Academy Development Sessions
October 26th U13 Academy Development Sessions
November 1st U14/15 Academy training
November 2nd U14/15 Academy training
December 6th U14/15 Academy training
December 7th U14/15 Academy training
December 28th U14 Girls Inter regional academy tournament
December 29th  U14 Boys Inter regional academy tournament
December 30th  U15 Get together Girls 10 - 13:30 - Boys 14:00 - 17:30
January 31st U14/15 Academy training
February 1st U14/15 Academy training
March 7th U14/15 Academy training
March 8th U14/15 Academy training
March 21st U14/15 academy sessions -  Girls only to avoid AICC's
March 22nd U14/15 academy sessions - Girls only to avoid AICC's
April 8th U15 Girls get together 
April 9th  U15 Boys get together
April 18th U14/15 academy sessions - Boys only to avoid AICC's
April 19th  U14/15 academy sessions - Boys only to avoid AICC's
May 9th Academy u14 /U15 Academy training session. 
May 10th Academy u14 /U15 Academy training session. 
May 16th  U15 Boys Inter Provincial Tournament 
May 23rd U15 Girls Inter Provincial Tournament 
May 30th U14 Boys academy camp/ U15 Four Nations
May 31st U14 Boys academy camp/ U15 Four Nations
June 6th U14 girls Academy camp
June 7th U14 girls Academy camp
June 13th U14 Academy training Boys and Girls
June 14th  U14 Academy training Boys and Girls
June 27th Provisional U14 Four Nations (Wales)
June 28th  Provisional U14 Four Nations (Wales)

Basketball Ireland Academy Scholarship Programme

 Deadline for applications 20th of October 2025

Click Here For Scholarship Application Form

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. Please note the number of scholarships are limited and will be part scholarships for this coming season. 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. 



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