Open Talent Identification Sessions

Dear Clubs,

In preparation for the forthcoming international season, dates have been set aside for Open Talent Identification sessions for the U14, U15 and U17 Basketball Ireland Academy programmes.

New for this season, Basketball Ireland will also run Unseen Player Talent Identification sessions for the U16 and U18 national team programmes. This is the first time these sessions have been offered and full details are outlined further down this email.

U20 talent identification sessions will be announced later in the year, as they will not start before the end of December 2026.

If you wish to learn more about the Basketball Ireland Pathway Programme, our objectives and what to expect, you can do so here: Player pathway

Registration is now open

Registration for the below age groups’ Talent Identification Sessions is now open. All information is on the website story linked below and is also available on the Academy page of the Basketball Ireland website.

Can you please circulate the relevant links to all players of the appropriate age within your club.

Links to information and registration — please forward these to players and parents

U14 / U15 Regional Academy: U14 / U15
U17 Boys and Girls Open Talent ID days: U17
U16 / U18 Unseen Player Sessions: registration opens Friday 28th August. U16 / U18

Please also see the Basketball Ireland Calendar of Events: BI National Calendar

Link to – U14 Selection Policy

Link to – U15 Selection Policy

U16 & U18 Unseen Player Talent Identification Sessions

What are these sessions?

The U16 and U18 national team programmes are part of the International Player Pathway Programme, which runs on a two year cycle.  Historically, entry to these squads has been through the Academy programme only, and there were no open talent identification sessions at U16 and U18 level.

This year, for the first time, Basketball Ireland is running dedicated Unseen Player sessions at U16 and U18. These are open sessions designed to give players who are not currently in the Academy or national team pathway an opportunity to be seen by our national team coaching staff.

Who should attend?

Any player of the correct birth year who is not currently part of the Basketball Ireland Academy or national team programme.

Players who have never attended a Basketball Ireland session, players who previously left the pathway, and players who have recently developed or returned from injury are all encouraged to register.  

Players who are currently part of the Academy or national team pathway should not register for these sessions.  Those players will be contacted directly with their own session details.

Clubs are the best judge of who these sessions are for. If you have a player you feel has been missed, please encourage them to register.

Session details

All Unseen Player sessions take place at the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght, Dublin.

Places are limited and registration is required in advance. Players cannot attend on the day without registering.

Registration opens Friday 28th August. The link can be found here: Registration Link

What happens after the session?

Players will be assessed by Basketball Ireland national team coaching staff. Players identified from these sessions may be invited to a call back session in late September. All players who register will be added to the Basketball Ireland talent identification database, which allows us to track players and maintain a feedback loop with clubs going forward.

U17 Open Talent Identification Sessions

The U17 open sessions are split by province. Please ensure your players register for the correct session.

Registration for U17 boys and girls Open Talent ID days: U17 Link

Call back sessions for all age groups will take place on the weekend of 26th and 27th September. Players will be contacted directly if they are called back.

Below is an outline of the Academy to share with your club committees, and in particular with coaches of teams in these age groups.

Basketball Ireland U14 & U15 Academy – Club Information Update

Dear Club Officials & Coaches,

We are pleased to share some key information about the Basketball Ireland U14 and U15 Academy programme and how it can work hand-in-hand with your club to develop young talent and support coaching standards across the country.

What is the Basketball Ireland Academy?

The U14 & U15 Academy is a national player and coach development initiative run by Basketball Ireland. The programme is designed to:


     Identify and nurture talented players.
     Provide them with additional high-performance training environments.
     Offer development opportunities for club and academy coaches alike.

Our goal is to raise the standard of Irish basketball by improving individual player fundamentals, decision-making and game understanding, while supporting clubs in the long-term development of their athletes.

How can clubs benefit?

We recognise that clubs are the heartbeat of Irish basketball. The Academy is not designed to compete with club work but to complement and enhance it. Here’s how your club and coaches can benefit:

Access to the Academy syllabus — Club coaches will be provided with the same player development syllabus used in the Academy, which can be integrated into club training plans.

Open access to sessions — Coaches are welcome and encouraged to attend Academy sessions to observe and learn. These are valuable opportunities for CPD (Continuing Professional Development).

Elevated standards — Players bring Academy learnings back to their clubs, raising the standard of training and gameplay.

Information on the syllabus and directions for coaches who wish to attend sessions should be available by the end of September, ahead of the start of the Academy programme.

Scheduling & fixtures – avoiding calendar clashes

In order for the Academy to run smoothly, and for players to get the full benefit of both club and Academy commitments, we ask for your cooperation in avoiding fixtures on Academy weekends.

Key calendar guidelines:

Clubs will receive a calendar of Academy weekends well in advance. Please see the dates attached to this email.

Ideally, 4 weeks’ notice will be given for each session for exact session times and days, via the Basketball Ireland website Academy page.

The absolute minimum notice will be 2 weeks.  

If you are unsure whether a session is on a certain day of the calendared weekend, we advise: “If in doubt, do not schedule a fixture.”

Players themselves are the best point of contact for up-to-date session information. Encourage them to inform you, and especially their coach, of upcoming Academy weekends as early as possible.

By working together on scheduling, we can ensure players attend both club games and Academy sessions without conflict or burnout. Players need games to put into practice what they are learning, so missing games or Academy sessions both impact player development.

Working together for Irish basketball

This Academy is not just about individual development.  It’s about building a stronger foundation for the entire Irish basketball community, and we can only succeed with your support.

“Together we can improve the level of Irish players — but one does not work without the help of the other.”

We all share a common goal: to see our players reach their full potential. By supporting the Academy, you’re supporting your players’ futures, and the future of Irish basketball.

Regards,

Basketball Ireland Academy Team