Player Pathway – Basketball Ireland

The Basketball Ireland Player Pathway is a framework that supports the overall development of basketball players from Grassroots to Elite Level.

The pathway provides an opportunity for everybody to play, to have fun and play basketball for as long as possible, in the best environment possible.

We in Basketball Ireland understand that player development is non-linear. There is no one size fits all, so the pathway is designed from a perspective that is helpful to each player at that specific time. Our coaches will provide our players with player-centred training sessions, that are representative of the game. By using the concept of variability, it is the hope that basketball skills will emerge and improve from these positive environments.

The Basketball Ireland Player Pathway is a three-phased:

1. Green Shoots (U10-U13)
2. Basketball Ireland Academy (U14-U15)
3. International Teams (U16-Senior Level)

Basketball Ireland Green Shoots Programme - U10-U13

The Basketball Ireland Green Shoots programme introduces children 10-13 to fun and dynamic play.

This programme is led by a team of Basketball Ireland Development Officers and Green Shoots is rolled out through school visits and summer programmes.

Green shoots has three coaching manuals, that consist of a series of fun games and how to make the game of basketball as fun and enjoyable for young players.

Green Shoots Bronze – U10 + U11

Green Shoots Silver – U12

Green Shoots Gold – U13

The games and drills at this stage are designed by five main principles:

1. As many basketball touches as possible
2. As many basketball decisions as possible
3. Challenge the players
4. Make it fun
5. Looks like the game of basketball

Basketball Ireland Regional Academy - U14/U15

About the Academies

“More players, better players, playing for longer.”

The Basketball Ireland Regional and Provincial Academy structure is the foundation of a pathway for the development of players and coaches with an ambition and potential to play at the highest levels of our sport. It opens a development and performance pathway for more players across the country, at a time when there are more National League opportunities presenting themselves country-wide, as well as being the pathway to the international teams.

Open Talent ID sessions take place each September so please check the academy page of the website for more information.

What are the objectives of the Basketball Ireland Academies?

• To identify, recruit and retain players and coaches that demonstrate the talent and potential for future success in their basketball careers and to play into adulthood.
• 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.
• A 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?

• The U14 Regional Academy is for players U14 years of age at midnight on December 31^st of the current season.
• The U15 Regional Academy is for players U15 years of age at midnight on December 31^st of the current season.

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 high-performance players and increase competition and standard dramatically across the country.

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

The U14 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.

The U15 Academy is the route players that live and play in Ireland must take to be selected for the U16 Irish national team. Players without an Irish passport can join the Academy with the approval of the Elite Performance Committee (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 U16 National Squad under the current pathway programme system.

Under-16 international teams are selected from invite only Talent ID days. All U15 academy players regardless of if they were selected to the summer program will have the chance to attend a talent ID day for the u16 National team. during the summer programme of the Academy.

Each season, an inter-provincial tournament for the U15 Academy will take place, with academies playing against each other in May as part of the summer programme selections. The U16 national team squad will be selected in early October each year to play in European Championships the following summer.

The extended national team squad will be selected from the U15 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 U14 age group. Exceptional circumstances will always be considered and judged by the Elite Performance Committee (EPC) on a case-by-case basis.

U14 Regional Academies

The nine Under 14 academies are divided regionally as below:

South: Cork,

Northwest: Donegal, North Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, North Roscommon

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

East North: Dublin North, Louth

East South: Dublin South, Wicklow

Southwest: Kerry, Limerick

Northwest: Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, North Roscommon

Midlands: Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford, Kilkenny, Carlow, North Tipperary, South Kildare

West: Clare & Galway, South Mayo, South Roscommon

When will the U14 Regional Academies start?

Players will be selected from Talent Identification Sessions during September with the U14 Regional Academies starting in October. The announcement of the players that have been selected for each region will appear on the Basketball Ireland website academy pages in the week after the Talent ID Sessions. All training dates and venues for the season will appear on the academy section of the website in the coming weeks.

Under-15 Provincial Academies

The U15 Provincial Academies will operate from October to May during each season after Talent ID sessions in September. Details of the current Academy calendar can be found on the academy page of the Basketball Ireland website.

The Under 15 Academies are aimed at boys and girls of the qualifying age throughout the island of Ireland. The provincial squads will be selected following open talent identification sessions and will be published on the Basketball Ireland website.

When will the U15 Provincial Academies open?

Players will be selected from Talent Identification Sessions into the U15 Academies in September and October of each year.

International Teams

We have eight International teams that compete in the FIBA Youth EuroBasket competitions each season:

U16 - Men and Women.

U18 - Men and Women.

U20 - Men and Women.

Senior - Men and Women.

We have two international teams that are Development Squads: U17 Men and Women.

U16 International Teams

• Players are selected via the U15 Academy and the U15 Academy summer programme. Players are selected to this summer programme from the main under 15 Academy programme that runs throughout the season based on continued assessment during the programme.
• The summer programme will run from the end of May until the end of August with the finish being an Academy selection playing in a tournament against other nations.
• Players will be selected from Academy programme to the U16 international team squad in September via invite only Talent ID days that will take place in September of each year.   

Exceptions

• Players a year young may also be selected straight onto the Under-16 panel if they meet the standard required at the Head Coach’s discretion.
• Players living in other countries can be selected to the Under-16 squad after trial, or based on video provided to the Head Coach.
• Players of under 15 age group that did not attend the academy can be included in the Under 16 programmes if there was good reason for not taking part in the Academy and this will be decided by the EPC on a case-by-case basis.
• Players that did not make the original summer programme, or the final under 16 squad, can be brought back into the squad during the season if the Head Coach believes they have made significant improvements and would improve the standard of the squad.

U17 Development Squad

• Players will be selected to the Under-17 Development Squad after an open trial, or trials, to take place during the months of September and October. This squad will not be reduced until the start of May where the Head Coach can reduce the squad based on standard of play, but does not have to if they feel all players are of a standard to move onto the Under-18 squad.
• The summer programme will vary depending on availability of games, but Head Coaches will arrange development games for all players on this squad.
• All players that are of the correct age but were selected to the original under 18 squad will be automatically added to the Under-17 squad if they are deselected from the under 18’s at any point in the season.

U18 International Teams

• The Under-18 international teams will be selected from a closed trial that will include only players that were part of the Under-17 International Academy programme.
• This squad will then train throughout the year in preparation for the summer European Championships. It will be reduced at the Head Coach’s discretion during the season until the final 12 that will represent Ireland in FIBA Youth EuroBasket is selected.
• During the season the Head Coach will arrange preparation games.
• All players that take part in a full international against another FIBA country, where just 12 players are selected, will receive an international cap.

Exceptions

• Players a year young may be invited to the closed trial if they meet the standard required at the Head Coach’s discretion.
• Players living in other countries can be selected to the Under-16 squad after trial, or based on video provided to the Head Coach.
• Players of under 18 age group that did not attend the Under-17 programmes may be invited to trial if there was good reason for not taking part in the Under-17 Development Squad. This will be decided by the EPC on a case-by-case basis.
• Players that did not make the original selection, but were involved in the pathway programme, can be brought back into the squad during the season if the Head Coach believes they have made significant improvements and would improve the standard of the squad.