OODA Loop Applied to Soccer

OODA Loop Applied to Soccer

OODA Loop competitive cognitive model was developed by Col Boyd of the USAF in the 60s in an effort to create an advantage for pilots in dogfights. The OODA Loop is a competitive cognitive model, helping both active warfighters, but also giving structure to their training progressions to maximize their effectiveness in combat. Since its inception, and because of it's success, the model has steadily applied to anything cognitive processes under competition, including other military endeavors, finance and sports (although it is still entering the mainstream in this field). 

At APG, we have been implementing OODA Loop development for over 25 years in our soccer players, giving them the same advantages over their opponents that it did with the early fighter pilots. 

All talent is located in the brain. In soccer's case, that means not the feet. The brain still tells the feet what to do, when to do it, and at what angles, intensity and sequences. But the OODA Loop framework is so much more than that. 

Observe. Orient. Decide. Act.

  • For field players, this is eyes-brain-feet.
  • For goalkeepers, this is eyes-brain-feet-hands

Observe is the collection of pertinent stimuli to make a decision. In soccer, 94% + is visual information.

Orient is not your physical orientation to the field (part of observation), but rather orient the set of stimuli observed against known patterns or methods of analysis. Basically the processing and determination of what are the key drivers of the decision I'm about to make. 

Decide (even with the USAF) has a subcomponent which we will expand on later, but includes Deceive. The decision includes the conclusion of what is seen and analyzed, but also includes the selection of a corresponding answer "package". 

Act is the execution of that package. It includes, timing, delays, execution skills or sequences of skills and as we eluded too earlier, on higher order competitors, this includes an associated deception package.

This concludes the loop, and part of the training is to evaluate the loop every time. The goal of the evaluation is to look for errors (which cost accuracy, time or both) and opportunities (to increase accuracy, time or both).

All game long, you are working through your OODA Loops, and your opponent is working through theirs (whether they define it in this model or not). This is problem-solving, but with a competitive emphasis. If I can work through my loops faster than you, I may be able to complete 5 accurate loops before you can complete 3. Over the course of the game, I will have more opportunities to deliver game altering decisions because you cannot keep up.

Training is where you speed up (or tighten) your OODA Loop. The more I work through all the elements of the process: visual, cognitive, decision-making and execution, the more accurate and faster I become. The same works for my opponent. The goal here is to be more accurate and faster than my opponent. 

There is a 2nd way to win, however, that is often overlooked. I can slow your loop down. I really cant effect your execution as that is self-contained and I actually have very little effect on your decision-making process other than introducing stress against you. 

My opportunity to slow you down, or increase their inaccuracy comes in the visual collection of information. Can i disguise, or project false intentions to trigger inaccurate or delayed processing in my opponent? If I can, their loop will expand (or slow down) and I have created an opportunity for victory. 

Most training programs do a lot of repetitions on execution. It is wise to do this as knowing the answer but being unable to implement it is a problem and it requires lots of time to develop these abilities to be consistently reliable. However, the more impactful areas (and the most overlooked) are earlier in the loop, and rarely trained or addressed with great detail. If you've ever heard the phrase "garbage in-garbage out" you may have an understanding of why the early stages for both players is critical to overall success. 

If I can recognize key triggers more accurately and quicker than my opponent, then I have an advantage. If I can also disguise my intentions longer, minimizing the time for them to process and decide, or even leading them to the wrong conclusion, I will increase their inaccuracy or time to execute. In both scenarios, I am faster and more accurate, having created more opportunities for victory.. 

APG has been teaching this to all levels of players for over 25 years. We see the process very clear in our mind and it enables us to make faster, more accurate corrections for our players. Other entities are just beginning to dabble with these concepts and some, not at all yet. For players and coaches, APG presents an opportunity to learn this from experienced masters to your competitive benefit while your opponents are just beginning to dip their toes in this area. The advantages, if mastered, are huge and can change the trajectory of a player to a greater degree than any other pursuit in football (in our experience). 

There is no amount of physical speed that can outrun a good thought, executed accurate and fast.

If this is something you have not heard of, or heard in much detail, APG can help you create an advantage, regardless of level of play. The higher the level, however, the greater the advantage. 

If you are looking for that "edge" or catalyst to launch your new trajectory as a player, we are ready to guide you.

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At APG, we pride ourselves on bringing multiple strategic partners together, so that you have access to world-class solutions in multiple areas. 

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