From Cockpit to Hardwood: OODA Loop & CLA Basketball with David Cochrane
No Way Out
Constraining Practice to Replicate Game Pressure
Mark and David discuss using fatigue, defenders, and variability as constraints so shooting and rhythm survive real-game chaos.
A roaring flyover sets the tone for a fast, high-stakes conversation: how do we turn clean drills into game-winning decisions? We sit down with Coach David Cochrane to map the OODA loop—Observe, Orient, Decide, Act—onto basketball in a way that’s practical, challenging, and laser-focused on transfer. Forget perfect lines and cone choreography. We build context-rich reps that force players to read, adapt, and act faster than their defender.
We dig into why perception and action must stay coupled if you want real results. David breaks down shooting that holds up under pressure: high release, true arc, guide hand discipline, and wrists and fingers doing the heavy lifting. Then we stress-test those mechanics with representative constraints—live closeouts from different angles, shot-clock pressure, and fatigue sprints—so a great stroke survives chaos. On the ball-handling side, we distinguish tight control from rhythmic flow, layering taped-box precision with float dribbles, weight shifts, and contact so players can change tempo and attack angles on command.
Team scenarios get the same treatment. We build situational inbounds as a discovery lab: change coverages mid-rep, add time limits, score the drill, and let players see what the defense is actually giving them. Instead of telling them every answer, we shape the environment—task, space, and individual constraints—so good decisions emerge. Along the way, we champion aggressive m
John R. Boyd's Conceptual Spiral was originally titled No Way Out. In his own words:
“There is no way out unless we can eliminate the features just cited. Since we don’t know how to do this, we must continue the whirl of reorientation…”
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John Boyd’s Conceptual Spiral was originally titled “No Way Out.” In his words:
“There is no way out unless we can eliminate the features just cited. Since we don’t know how to do this, we must continue the whirl of reorientation…”
Download a complete transcript of Conceptual Spiral for free by clicking here.
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