offense
5-out motion offense
Five-out starts all five offensive players outside the paint. It is a starting arrangement, not one exclusive offense. Players can pass, cut, screen, dribble toward a teammate to trigger a cut or handoff, and move to support a drive.
How it runs
Pass, cut and fill the empty position
1. Start with five outside
1 passes to 2. The two corners and the opposite wing remain available instead of crowding the catch.
Notation
- Offense
- Defense
- Coach
- Neutral
- Ball
- Cone
- Cut
- Dribble
- Pass
- Screen
- Hand-off
- Shot
- Def. slide
One five-out pass-and-cut variation. Five-out is a starting arrangement; screens, handoffs and other reads can also follow. Defenders are omitted; captions state the chosen read. Spacing is illustrative.
Original CoachAssist teaching illustration, not a complete playbook. Arrows show the action from the displayed starting positions. Read each caption before advancing.
Reads and decisions
- Move into the space a cutter leaves. If a defender blocks the pass, cut behind that defender toward the basket. Notice whether the defender follows closely, blocks the passing lane, or stays closer to the basket.
- Players without the ball move to keep a clear passing option as the ball handler drives.
What to emphasize
- First practice filling one open position, then making a decision with a teammate, then maintaining spacing against live defense.
How to teach it
Choose current readiness, not gender or an assumed ceiling. Simplify whenever players need it.
New to basketball
- One idea to notice: A cut creates a vacancy; somebody fills it without crowding the ball.
- Use a manageable ball, short passing distances and a comfortable shooting range. Rehearse only one movement at a time; screening begins without contact.
- Let players explain or point to the open space. Stop for a short demonstration, then let them try again without a score or speed quota.
Level progressions are original coaching adaptations, not claims that a cited coach uses this exact sequence.
Tradeoffs, counters & terminology
- Standing outside alone does not create good gaps. Match spacing to players' usable range.
- A no-dribble game targets passing/cutting; it is not the complete offense.
Documented coaches & teams
Tara VanDerveer · Stanford
The public Spread Princeton clinic outline uses a five-out structure. It is one documented version, not proof that all five-out systems are the same.
Matching drills · steps and diagrams
Teaching level changes the lesson above, not these drills automatically. Check each drill’s players, equipment, skill and coaching adaptations before running it.
5-Out 5-on-4 Push/Pull Reads
Court diagram · view the drill first
System-specific breakdown: The documented five-attacker/four-defender progression practices drives between defenders and receivers moving into passing positions. State where each receiver goes on a drive toward or away from that player before playing.
Teach where receivers move when a teammate drives, using five attackers against four defenders.
9–27 players · 5–12 minutes · basketballs
Purpose
Teach where receivers move when a teammate drives, using five attackers against four defenders.
Set it up
Five attackers at top, wings and corners face four defenders: nine players and one ball. Agree on how teammates move when the ball handler drives or stops, and clear drive/landing lanes. A fifth defender requires a tenth player. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.
Run the drill
- Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
- The unguarded attacker drives between defenders; receivers move to give the driver clear passing angles.
- Watch whether a defender leaves a receiver to stop the drive, then choose a pass, a shot near the basket, or another drive.
- Progress by adding the fifth defender behind the ball; rotate the delayed defender.
- End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.
Scoring
Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.
Coach the details
- Relocate to improve passing angles.
- Do not require baseline cutting in every version.
- Count decisions that preserve an advantage, not only makes.
- Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.
Variations & provenance
- Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
- The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.
- Provenance (original-adaptation): The linked five-out resource supports drive relocation and advantage teaching. This recovery format and geometry are original SportsPlay adaptations; apply the coach’s chosen push/pull rules.
5-Out Pass, Cut and Fill
Court diagram · view the drill first
System-specific breakdown: A five-player, no-defense start teaches rim cuts and replacement into vacant perimeter spots; its no-dribble constraint is only a teaching phase.
Five players rehearse a pass, basket cut and fill into vacant perimeter positions.
5–12 players · 8–15 minutes · basketballs
Purpose
Five players rehearse a pass, basket cut and fill into vacant perimeter positions.
Set it up
Five attackers and one ball, no defense. Mark top, wings and corners with flat spots outside the movement lanes; use spacing and passing distance the group can manage. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.
Run the drill
- Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
- Pass from the top to a wing and cut toward the basket, looking for an available return pass.
- If the pass is covered or withheld, clear to the far corner.
- Players behind the cut fill one vacant position: corner to wing, wing to top. Do not send two players to the same spot.
- Reverse and repeat from the other side; the coach can permit a controlled finish when the lane is clear.
- End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.
Scoring
Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.
Coach the details
- The no-dribble phase isolates passing and movement; it is not a permanent ban on dribbling in five-out.
- Look for the ball and arrive balanced. Simplify to one movement at a time if the fill is unclear.
- Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.
Variations & provenance
- Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
- The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.
5-Out Dribble-At Back Cut
Court diagram · view the drill first
System-specific breakdown: Practices the denial backcut and subsequent five-out fill. The live-denial progression needs an added defender or coach.
On the agreed cue, the handler dribbles toward a wing whose pass is denied; the wing cuts behind the defender toward the basket, and teammates fill the empty five-out spots.
5–12 players · 6–12 minutes · basketballs
Purpose
On the agreed cue, the handler dribbles toward a wing whose pass is denied; the wing cuts behind the defender toward the basket, and teammates fill the empty five-out spots.
Set it up
Five attackers occupy the top, wings and corners with one ball. Start with a coach calling the denial cue; a live wing defender requires a sixth player. Keep the cutting lane clear. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.
Run the drill
- Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
- The handler reads the coach’s denial cue and dribbles toward the wing’s position without running into the receiver.
- The wing changes direction and cuts to the basket on the agreed cue.
- Pass ahead of the cutter only with a clear window. Otherwise the handler occupies the wing while the cutter clears.
- Fill the empty perimeter positions, recover the ball and rehearse the opposite side.
- End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.
Scoring
Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.
Coach the details
- Agree on the trigger; dribble-at can mean different actions in different offenses.
- A backcut is an option, not a guaranteed layup. Use controlled footwork and comfortable passing distance.
- Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.
Variations & provenance
- Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
- The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.
Sources & evidence notes
The system description and source links are reviewed references. Level progressions and evaluation ideas are original CoachAssist teaching adaptations, not tested prescriptions or a named coach’s complete playbook. Supporting drills develop ingredients; they do not automatically install the whole system.
Evidence status: established. Sources support the specific claims described here, not every possible version of the system.
- 5 Out Basketball Offense: Complete Guide
Jeff Huber · Breakthrough Basketball · publication date not listed
Public written coaching reference; undated unless specified. No linked paid video reviewed.
- Tara VanDerveer’s Spread Princeton Offense
Tara VanDerveer · Championship Productions · 2021
Publisher outline only; paid video not viewed. Complete drill mechanics and effectiveness are not established.