We recorded this one at the approach end of the runway at NAS Oceana, with jets taking off over our heads. Coach David Cochrane hadn’t heard of the OODA loop before we sat down. I wanted to blend his work on skill in basketball with John Boyd’s real OODA loop.
David and I talk about turning clean drills into decisions that win games. The goal is transfer: practice reps with enough context that players have to read, adapt and act faster than their defender.
Shooting under pressure
David breaks down a shot that holds up under pressure: a high release, a true arc, a disciplined guide hand, and wrists and fingers doing the work. Then we test those mechanics with live closeouts from different angles, shot-clock pressure and fatigue sprints, so a good stroke survives a messy game.
Ball handling and rhythm
On ball handling, David separates tight control from rhythmic flow. He layers precision work in a taped box with float dribbles, weight shifts and contact, so players can change tempo and attack angles on command.
Let the decision emerge
Team scenarios get the same treatment. Situational inbounds become a place to discover. We change coverages mid-rep, add time limits, score the drill and let players see what the defense gives them. The coach shapes the task, the space and the player, and good decisions emerge. We also make the case for aggressive mistakes and quick debriefs.
Perception and action stay coupled through all of it. Orientation sits at the center of Boyd’s real OODA loop, and this kind of practice trains it.
What one constraint will you add to practice this week?
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