Invitation to participate in U13 Academy Development Sessions for boys and girls

Clubs are invited to nominate their most talented players born in 2014 and advance talented players born in 2015 to participate in session one of the 2026/27 U13 Academy Development Sessions. The deadline for registration is Friday October 23rd.

The sessions are designed to foster skill development and they serve as an introduction to the Basketball Ireland Academies at U14 & U15 for Boys & Girls. There are five regional sessions and each of the head coaches are current or former international head coaches.

There is a limit of three players per club for boys and three players per club for the girls and registration can only be done by a club representative. These sessions are not open to U13 players already on the U14 Academy during season 2026/27. The cost of each session is €10/£10 per player, which is payable in cash on the day. All players must have an active BIPIN and they need to bring a ball with their name on it (if they have one), drinks and small snacks.

More information related to the 2026/27 Academy Development Sessions has been circulated to clubs.  For any additional queries related to the 2026/27 Academy Development Sessions, please contact Paul Kelleher on cptk24@gmail.com.

2026/27 U13 Academy Development Sessions 

All regions, times and coaches are listed below. All of the dates and venues will be updated on the Academy page of the Basketball Ireland website and details will be sent by email to the club member that registers their players. The Basketball Ireland Academy page can be viewed here. 

Region - South East/Midlands

Date -  Saturday October 31st, 2026

Head Coach - Niall Berry, Ireland U18 Men's National Team Coach, Current Academy Coach

Venue - Scoil Ruain, Killenaule, Tipperary.  E41 XY95

Girls Times - U13 Girls @ 10:00am-1:00pm

Boys Times - U13 Boys @ 1:30pm-4:30pm

Region – West

Date -  Tuesday October 27th, 2026

Head Coach - Paul O' Brien, Current U16W National Team Coach And Basketball Ireland Academy Coach.

Venue - Corrandulla Community Centre, Corrandula, Co. Galway, H91 R94H.

Girls Times - U13 Girls @ 10:00am-1:00pm

Boys Times - U13 Boys @ 1:30pm-4:30pm

Region - East

Date - Monday October 26th, 2026

Head Coach - Ian Lynch, U18W National Team Coach and Academy Coach.

Venue - National Basketball Arena, Tymon Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 N449.

Girls Times - U13 Girls @ 10:00am-1:00pm

Boys Times - U13 Boys @ 1:30pm-4:30pm

Region -  North

Date - Sunday 25th October, 2026

Head Coach -  Andy Gill, Former U16W & U18W National Team Head Coach, Current U18W Assistant Coach

Venue - De La Salle,  Edenmore Drive, Belfast, BT11 8LT.

Boys Times - U13 Boys @ 1pm-4:00pm

Girls Times - U13 Girls @ 4:30pm-7:30pm

Region - South/South West

Date - Saturday October 24th, 2026

Head Coach - Paul Kelleher, Former U16M & U18M National Team Coach, 3x3 Uderage Head Coach w/ Senior Men & Women Head Coach, Current Academy Coach & Senior Men's National Team Assistant Coach

Venue – Neptune Stadium Cork, 95 Gerald Griffin Street, Blackpool, Cork, T23 HK30

Girls Times - U13 Girls @ 9:30am-12:30pm

Boys Times - U13 Boys @ 12:45pm-3:45pm

COACH REGISTRATION FOR CPD

As part of the 2026/27 U13 Academy Development Sessions programme Basketball Ireland is inviting club coaches to attend and help out at the sessions. Attendance is by pre-registration only, full details, including a registration link, has been circulated to clubs.

All sessions will be led by current and former onternational head coaches, providing an excellent opportunity for club coaches to learn new drills, share ideas and develop their coaching skills. For any queries related coaching on the 2026/27 Academy Development Sessions, please contact please contact Paul Kelleher on cptk24@gmail.com.