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.
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 | Saturday May 25th | St. Lawerence College, Loughlinstown | 11:00-14:00 |
East - South | Saturday May 25th | Colaiste Eanna | 11:30-14:30 |
North | Saturday May 11th | Queen's University, Belfast | 11:30-14:30 |
North West | Sunday May 26th | Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon | 10:00-13:00 |
West | Saturday May 25th | Corandulla Community Centre | 10:00-13:00 |
South West | Sunday May 12th | Limerick Educate Together Secondary School | 14:00-17:00 |
South | Sunday May 26th | Neptune Stadium | 09:00-12:00 |
South East | Saturday May 25th | De la Salle College, Waterford | 10:00-13:00 |
Midlands | Saturday May 25th | St Mary's Portlaoise | 15:00-18:00 |
Boys Provinces - U15 | Day / Date | Venue | Time |
Connacht | Sunday May 12th | Coláiste Iognáid | 14:45-17:45 |
Leinster | Saturday May 11th | St Mary's Portlaoise | 11:00-15:00 |
Munster | Sunday May 12th | Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG | 17:00-20:00 |
Ulster | Sat May 11th | Coláiste Oiriall, Monaghan | 10:00-13:00 |
Girls Regions - U14 | Day / Date | Venue | Time |
East - North | Saturday May 25th | St. Aidan's Whitehall | 12:30 - 15:30 |
East - South | Sunday May 26th | Scoil Iosagain, Stillorgan Road | 11:00-14:00 |
North | Saturday May 11th | Queen's University, Belfast | 14:30-17:30 |
North West | Sunday May 26th | Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon | 13:30-16:30 |
West | Saturday May 11th | Corrandulla Community Centre | 10:00-13:00 |
South West | Sunday May 12th | St Munchins | 1100-1400 |
South | |||
South East | Sunday May 12th | Mercy Secondary School Waterford | 10:00-13:00 |
Midlands | Sunday May 26th | SHS Tullamore | 10:00-13:00 |
Girls Provinces - U15 | Day / Date | Venue | Time |
Connacht | Saturday May 11th | Corrandulla Community Centre | 13:00-16:00 |
Leinster | Saturday May 11th | St. Aidan's, Whitehall | 10:30-15:00 |
Munster | Sunday May 12th | Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG | 14:00-17:00 |
Ulster | Sat May 11th | Coláiste Oiriall, Monaghan | 13:00-16:00 |
Coach | Coach | Coach | Coach |
TBC | Andy Gill | Ger Jago | TBC |
Coach | Coach | Coach | Coach |
Ciaran Kiveney | Jason Barry | Nollaig Cunningham | Elijah Faapito |