2013 is a major year for Triple Threat Academy (TTA) as it celebrates its 10^th Anniversary providing basketball camps and specialized basketball training in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded in 2002 with two camps in Danville, CA, TTA has grown dramatically in the last 10 years to over 30 annual camps and over 40 weekly sessions, helping thousands of Bay Area kids reach their basketball goals.

TTA’s first Summer Camp in 2002

TTA was started by Tony Freccero, who saw the need for a basketball camp focused more on skills and less on games.

Coach Tony with a young Damian Lillard

The first camp took place through the Town of Danville in the summer of 2002 with just fifteen kids attending. This was soon followed by a basketball camp held at Assumption School in San Leandro – a camp attended by eventual 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard.

At this point Freccero saw the need for more specialized training, partnering with Lou Richie, current Varsity head coach at Bishop O’Dowd high school in Oakland, to provide year-round, high-level basketball skills development training. Together Freccero and Richie implemented weekly training sessions at locations throughout the East Bay communities of the SF Bay Area to complement their annual camps.

In its early days, TTA focused primarily on training high-level athletes looking to receive basketball scholarships.  As Freccero spent time in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil working for club teams, this tactic changed – he saw that developing proper skills needed to start at a young age in order for players to truly see success and enjoy the game of basketball.  

Starting Early

As a result, Triple Threat Academy now offers skill development classes for kids, starting at age four, with the sole intention of creating a fun and energetic learning environment. Students are taught the correct way to play the game of basketball and the best way to pass, dribble, and shoot so they will have a positive first experience with the game. TTA focuses on the fundamentals needed to help students take their game to another level.

The philosophy of TTA has remained the same since the beginning: “Use basketball as a vehicle to teach life skills.”  Students, and parents, enjoy an environment that focuses on building confidence, improving skills, being good students, and having a positive impact on their communities.

High Levels of Success

Over the past ten years, Coach Freccero and Coach Richie have mentored more than 400 student athletes on their road to receiving college scholarships and beyond Triple Threat Academy graduates include: 4 players playing in the NBA; 3 McDonald’s College All-Americans; 8 TTA alumni coaching at the Collegiate Level and 2 TTA alumni currently working in the NBA. 

According to founder Tony Freccero, “It has been an amazing ten years and TTA is in full swing with Summer Camps and gearing up for our next round of Fall training sessions.  The future is bright with talented young students that continue to improve their basketball skills and more importantly, their life skills.”

For more information about Triple Threat Academy, visit their website at: www.triplethreatonline.com

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for live pictures and updates from the camp!  Also, feel free to upload your own pics and share with other parents.

Twitter:  @ttahoops and #ttahoops
Instagram:  @ttahoops and #ttahoops
Facebook:  /ttahoops

Here are a few of the things that the kids learned today:

• Go Step
• Jab Step Crossover
• 1 on 1 Moves
• Control Dribbling
• Step Back Jumpers
• The Runner
• Open Court Attack Moves

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The kids practiced how to introduce themselves to a large group (See pic below).

Coach Drew taught the young kids the importance of the Triple Threat stance–pass dribble and shoot (see pic below)

We like to recognize, on a daily basis, the campers that brought their A games.  Below are the winners from the first day of camp (names listed from left to right)

Jason Kidd 6th Man Award- Player that shows teamwork and help towards others:  Jarin E.
Kevin Durant Attitude Award- Player with the best attitude: Alexandra K.
Damian Lillard Hustle Award- Player that has enthusiasm and gives it their all: Isaac Z.
Steph Curry All Skill Award- Player who shows excels in the skill portions of the camp: Jalen E.
LeBron James Camp ALL Star- The all-around MVP of the day: Shane D.
Coach of the Day:  Coach Mike

Great first day of camp!!

Classes will resume in the Fall of 2013

When was the last time you beat your kid in a 1 on 1 basketball game?

Now it’s time to work on your basketball skills so you can keep up, get in shape and learn/re-learn the game we all love.

TTA will be offering monthly adult training classes, taking place Friday evenings in San Ramon.

Adult Basketball Classes will be split into 2 sessions that are all co-ed: Beginner/Intermediat and Intermediate/Advanced.

Just like our youth classes, we will spend 45-50 minutes doing fundamental skill work and 10-15 minutes of organized scrimmage/competition.  Energy will be high and classes will be fun.

You will receive professional instruction and individual attention in a class that is specific to your skill level.  This is not your typical group exercise class where an instructor stands in front and you follow along–this is something totally new! 

The skill focus will be:

• Ball Handling
• Footwork
• Scoring at the basket
• Moves to the basket
• Defensive Footwork
• Shooting
• and more

Space is limited in these classes and you must register for the entire month (4 sessions) to reserve your spot.

Dates:  Classes will resume in the Fall of 2013
Ages:  All Adults Welcome
Location:  24 Hour Fitness San Ramon

If you like this post, here are some others you may enjoy (click title to read):

1. Six Tips To Improve Your Jump Shot

2. Warm-Up Week: Five Drills To Get You Game Ready

3. Five Tips To Get Open Off The Ball

4. What To Get The Basketball Player On Your Holiday Shopping List

Caitlin Walsh and Marco Zepeda

TTA  has always emphasized that  “We use basketball as a vehicle to teach life skills” and this article helps sum that up:

If you like this post, here are some others you may enjoy (click title to read):

1. TTA Rookie Round-Up: Lillard, Cunningham, Johnson, and Gordon

2. Coach Tony’s 4 Tips to Stay Motivated

3. Adult Training Classes

With summer almost upon us, it’s time to fill the calendar and make sure you are making the most of the off season.

TTA is happy to announce that 2013 marks our 10 year anniversary!

Throughout the year we will be offering  new programs and fun events to help celebrate.  Thank you for your continued support!

Quick Links:  Elite Competition Training  |  Spring and Summer Camps  |   Adult Classes  |   P3 Gear

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Elite Competition Training

We are back for another round of our sold out Elite Level Training in Oakland.  This will begin Sunday, March 17th with Coach Orlando Watkins.  Orlando has worked with the top talent that has come through the Bay Area over the last 5 years, including Portland Trailblazers Rookie sensation and TTA alum Damian Lillard.

This is geared for AAU level kids who are looking to take their competitive juices to a new level.

This program will begin on Sundays in Oakland and will consist of ”College Style” training for 60 minutes followed by 30 minutes of competition:

Skill emphasis will be placed on ball handling and offensive moves to the basket.  Set in a fast paced/high fundamental environment, this block is designed for rapid skill development and game type speeds.

The competition block will consist of varying high level competitive games:

• 3 on 3 Half Court
• Finishing with 5 on 5 Full Court

SESSION 1- Girls Only
Ages 11-14
Sundays: 12-1:30pm
Ages: 11-13 March 17th-April 28th(6 weeks- no class Easter Sunday March 31)
Cost: Special Pricing: $149

Our complete Spring and Summer Camp Schedule is now online and open for registration.  We are offering huge discounts when you sign up for multiple summer camps ($49 per camp) and will again be offering camps all over the Bay Area.

Also see our special Spring Break Pricing for our San Ramon and Oakland Camps.  Click here to see

• San Ramon

• Oakland (Bishop O’Dowd High School and 24 Hour Fitness)

• Alameda

• Danville

• Piedmont

• Orinda

• Pleasanton

Click to see full schedule

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Adult Training Classes- San Ramon

We will now be offering classes for adults in our San Ramon location starting in April! 

Space will be limited to 10 per class and we will have a variety of levels to choose from. 

Registration will begin mid-March and all classes will be on a monthly basis.

Friday Nights (all classes are co-ed)

• 5pm:  Beginner

• 6pm:  Intermediate

• 7pm:  Advanced

Cost:  $75 per month

More details to follow

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Point 3 Basketball Gear

As a follow up to our announcement last week, we are proud to announce our partnership with Point 3.

They offer the highest quality shorts and gear for true basketball performance.  You will see the TTA coaches wearing the shorts with sewn in towels to keep your hands dry while playing/training and awesome long sleeve hoodies designed to shoot around or play in.

Remember to use this discount code when ordering to receive 15% off your order:  P3TTA

Check our all the Point 3 Gear at www.point3basketball.com

1. Make Sure Your Cuts are Tight.  Whether doing a V-Cut, L-Cut, Backdoor Cut, or an cut, make sure you are cutting very tightly.  This means direct, straight line movements and if you are using a screen, make sure to go right off the screeners shoulder.  Round cuts make it easier for the defender to recover and stay with you.

2. Stay Active, Keep Moving.  Whenever you stay still it gives the defense a chance to recover.  If you keep moving around without the ball, eventually your defender will get tired, slow down, and create an opening for you to catch a pass and score.

3. Change Directions. If you stay moving the same way your defender can guess where you are going.  By continually changing directions you leave your defender guessing and open up more space for yourself.

4. Read The Defense and Find Open Space. You want to cut to open spaces, so see where the other defenders are situated and cut away from them.  If you see a big man slide up towards the three point line, cut backdoor to the hoop.  If you see the far corner is wide open, cut over there.  Keep an eye on the defense and open spaces.

5. Maintain Eye Contact With the Ball Handler.  If whoever has the ball can’t lock eyes with you or see where you are going, you won’t get passed to.  Make sure you make eye contact with whoever has the ball so they always know you’re ready to catch a pass.

If you want learn about off ball movement directly from our experience trainers, sign up for our Spring Session Classes!

If you like this post, here are some others you may enjoy (click title to read):

1. Six Tips To Improve Your Jump Shot

2. A Guide To Rebounding Part Two: Boxing Out

3. A Guide To Rebounding Part One: Proper Positioning

4. Coach Tony’s 4 Tips to Stay Motivated

5. Warm-Up Week: Shooting Drills

All Day Hoops - 

*******  Register Now for a Winter Camp-  Dec 26-28 and Jan 2-4  *******

Professional Coaches - Many of our coaches are former college or pro players as well as coaches at high schools and colleges.  Come get coached and developed by people that really know basketball.

Organized Fun - Red light green light dribbling game, shooting competitions, dribbling competitions, knockout, and other basketball games that are way more fun playing with a giant group of fellow hoopers.

Awards- Won a “Best Camp in the Bay Area” Award every year since 2009.  Fun + Basketball + Skill Development = Great Camps.

BASKETBALL! - We already said it but we’ll say it again, you get to play basketball ALL DAY!  Hoops with friends, in a giant gym, with great coaches, and tons of fun.  It’s a summer basketball camp in the middle of winter.  For a true lover of basketball, this can’t be missed.

If you like this post, here are some others you may enjoy (click title to read):

1. Ten Ways To Earn More Playing Time and Improve Your Game

2. The Ten Best Ways To Help You Tryout And Make Your Basketball Team

3. Coach Tony’s 4 Tips to Stay Motivated

4. Warm-Up Week: Five Drills To Get You Game Ready

NBA Jam - Everyone remembers the arcade version but now you can play it on any video game system out there.  Don’t deprive any son or daughter in the family of a ”Boomshakalaka!” or a ”He’s On Fire”.

Nike KD V – In the end, it’s all about the shoes.  So why not get a pair for that special someone from one of the NBA’s best scorers, Kevin Durant.  They’ll enjoy the extra confidence on that next dunk attempt.

Damian Lillard Jersey - There are a lot of NBA jerseys to chose from but why not rep Oakland’s own and former TTA player Damian Lillard.  It also doesn’t hurt that the red background colored Blazer jerseys are some of the smoothest in the league.

Hoop Dreams Dive into the greatest basketball documentary of all time.  You get inside the lives of two Chicago area hoopers as they go through high school.  Breath taking and a must watch for any up and coming player.

G-Board Basketball Dry Erase Board - Have a coach in the family?  Go the extra mile and get him or her a customized basketball dry erase board.  Name, school, team colors, whatever they want.  No more just plain white background.  Come on, it’s the holidays.

Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Tickets – The surging Warriors look like a playoff team and there is not a more fun team to watch in the NBA than the Thunder.  January 23rd the Thunder come to town and it’s sure to be an offensive showcase with Durant, Russell Westbrook and the crew.

NCAA Tournament Tickets - March Madness is coming to San Jose and it might be worth it to get in on the action.  You, and the person you give this gift to could be part of college basketball history.

FreeDarko Shirts - It doesn’t get much more funnier or original than the FreeDarko shirts. Go for it and get your niece or nephew a Stephen Jackson For Mayor shirt.

Heaven Is A Playground - Still the greatest hoops book ever.  Rick Telander lives in Brooklyn for a couple summers following the New York City basketball game.  The stories, the passion, and the players become a story of their own.  Worth more than one read.

White Men Can’t Jump Because it’s still great and is a movie that needs to be passed on from one basketball generation to the next.

TTA Winter Camps - You’re already here on the site, the best thing to give your basketball player in the family is an opportunity to get better.  Our camps are fun, a way to develop skills, and a way to play some competitive basketball.  We’d be happy to have you.

*******  Register Now for a Winter Camp-  Dec 26-28 and Jan 2-4  *******

If you like this post, here are some others you may enjoy (click title to read):

1. Why Sign-Up For A TTA Winter Camp?

2. Adult Training Classes

3. Ten Ways To Earn More Playing Time and Improve Your Game

If you keep having problems with your follow through, use mental notes to help you.  Remember to “reach into the cookie jar” after you shoot or another note that will help you remember.

*******  Register Now for a Winter Camp-  Dec 26-28 and Jan 2-4  *******

2. Keep Your Eyes Locked In. This is extremely important as even if your shot is perfect, if you put too much or little on the ball it’ll miss.  Whether dribbling or waiting for a pass, keep an eye out for the rim.  That extra second or so you have to eye up the shot will mean the world.  Now when you get the ball or when you’re ready to pick up your dribble for a shot, your eyes and mind will already be ready to shoot.  A good way to practice this when shooting free throws is to always keep an eye on the basket, not on the dribbling ball.  Or when dribbling into a shot, have a count in your head.  Count at least two seconds that you are starting at the rim before you shoot.

3. Maintain Your Balance.  When shooting you should land in almost the exact same spot as where you jump from to start your shot.  This will help you keep your balance and steady and the ball on a straight trajectory.  For practice put a piece of tape down and jump from that when you shoot.  Look where you land.  If you are not directly on the tape then try to jump more straight up and down.

4. Keep Reminding Yourself. There is memory involved with all these steps.  Notice if you didn’t look at the rim before you shot last time, didn’t follow through, or ended up in a different spot than where you started your shot.  When practicing just think for a second if you did all the right steps and if not, focus on that one step you missed the next shot.

5. Shoot Game Shots In Practice.  When shooting around often you shoot three pointers or couple dribble pull up shots.  Shoot more like game situations.  Run off a fake pick to get a shot, pull up for a bunch of foul line jumpers in a row, pop up from the block for a shot.  Shoot the shots you seem to take during the game.  Warning you may need a partner for some one the off-ball shots.

6. Be Fluid. Shooting is all about doing the same thing every time once you develop the right mechanics.  Your shot usually missed because you did something differently than you normally do.  Be relaxed but confident at the same time.  And practice shooting as many times as you can so you get consistent shooting the same way.  Even bad form can become a good shot if they practice it so the shot is perfectly the same every time.  Soon enough you shouldn’t even think when you shoot, just react and shoot the way you’ve practiced.

If you like this post, here are some others you may enjoy (click title to read):

1. A Guide To Rebounding Part One: Proper Positioning

2. Warm-Up Week: Five Drills To Get You Game Ready

3. Five Tips To Get Open Off The Ball

4. A Guide To Rebounding Part Two: Boxing Out

Kentucky Shooting Drill - Have two lines lined up under the basket on either lane.  One person in the front of a line starts out by running a loop around the free throw line to the opposite block where they catch a pass from that line for a shot.  Then the passer starts his loop for a shot on the other block.  This drill focuses on shooting, passing and communication.  After you make five in a row, move the shot farther back.

Three Man Weave with Shot -  Run a basic three man weave drill, get the whole body nice and warmed up from running and take jump shots instead of layups.  This will get you ready to shoot on the move or on the fast break.  Great practice drill and a good way to get the whole body moving.

Beat Larry Bird Drill - If you are alone and want to turn a shooting warm-up into a game, this is a great one.  Start at half court and dribble to a spot on the floor.  If you swish it 2 points, if the ball hits the rim or backboard 1 point.  If you miss “Larry Bird” or whatever player you want to play against gets 3 points.  Play a game to 11 or 15 and challenge yourself to focus on your shot and get better at shooting off the dribble.

Short-Range Warm-Up - Stand directly in front of the basket and make five to ten shots, then move back a step.  This drill focuses on really getting your form and mechanics correct for when you are moving quickly and need to get up a shot up fast.  When that happens you’ll rely on the muscle memory you tried to create by shooting with perfect form in this warm-up drill.

Around The World - Shooting is a lot about rhythm and you want to establish that in your warm-up.  Grab a partner and make five spots along the perimeter. Then make five shots at each spot while your partner rebound and passes you the ball for a shot.  You’re working on finding comfort in different spots on the floor and shooting off the catch.  This is a great way to warm-up with two people.

If you like this post, here are some others you may enjoy (click title to read):

1. Five Tips To Get Open Off The Ball

2. A Guide To Rebounding Part One: Proper Positioning

3. Six Tips To Improve Your Jump Shot

4. Ten Ways To Earn More Playing Time and Improve Your Game