5 out motion offense: pass, cut, fill
5 out motion offense step by step
- 1
Five players spread on five spots: top, two wings, two corners. O1 passes to O2 on the wing and cuts hard to the basket.
- 2
O2 didn't see O1 open, so O1 keeps going and fills the empty spot in the left corner. O5 moves up to the wing and O3 fills the top.
- 3
O2 passes back to O3 at the top, then cuts to the basket.
- 4
O2 clears out to the right corner. O4 moves up from the corner to fill the right wing.
- 5
All five spots are full again. Keep repeating pass, cut, fill until someone gets a layup or an open shot.
When to use the 5 out motion offense
It's a good base offense for any youth team playing against man-to-man defense, especially teams without a true post player. With nobody in the lane, cutters have room to get to the rim and every player learns to dribble, pass, and shoot from the perimeter.
Young teams can start with pass and cut at 7U. As players get older, add rules like screening away, dribble handoffs, and backdoor cuts when a defender overplays the pass.
5 out motion offense rules by spot
Passer
After you pass, cut hard to the basket with your hand up. If you don't get the ball, keep running and fill the open spot on the side with fewer players.
Player with the ball
Catch and face the basket. Look for the cutter first, then a shot or a drive, then the next pass. Hold the ball no longer than a two-count.
Players without the ball
When a spot opens next to you, move one spot toward it. Stay about 12 to 15 feet from your nearest teammate so one defender can't guard two players.
Corners
Stay wide in the corner until you need to fill up to the wing. Corner players are often open when their defender helps on a cutter.
How to teach motion offense to young players
Start with five players and no defense. Walk through pass, cut, fill until every player can do it without being told where to go. Then add the rule that everyone has to touch the ball before anyone shoots.
Add defense in stages. Go 3-on-3 on three spots first, then 4-on-4, then 5-on-5. Smaller numbers give each player more touches and more chances to read their own defender.
If a defender overplays the passing lane, teach the backdoor cut: step out toward the ball, then plant and cut behind the defender to the rim.
Motion offense drill: 5-on-0 pass and cut
- Put five players on the five spots with one ball. The ball starts at the top.
- Players pass, cut to the basket, and fill the open spot. The coach calls out any player who stands still.
- After ten passes, the next cutter gets a pass for a layup.
- Add three defenders who only guard the cutters. The offense has to make ten passes before it can shoot.
Coaching point Watch the cut. A slow jog to the basket lets the defender stay between the cutter and the ball. The cut has to be at full speed with a hand up asking for the ball.
For players who need more reps on the pass and cut, teach the give and go with two players before putting all five on the floor.
Common 5 out motion offense mistakes
- Cutting to the basket and then stopping in the lane, which clogs the space for the next cutter.
- Two players filling the same spot, or nobody filling the empty one.
- Standing too close to the ball so one defender can guard two players.
- Jogging on cuts so the defender never has to turn.
- Holding the ball too long and letting the defense reset.
5 out motion offense vs. pick and roll
Motion offense spreads the ball around and gets all five players involved with passing and cutting. The pick and roll is a two-player action built around your best ball handler. Many coaches teach motion first and add a ball screen as one more option inside it.
5 out motion offense FAQ
What is a 5 out motion offense?
An offense with all five players spaced outside the 3-point line. Players follow a few simple rules: pass, cut to the basket, and fill the open spot.
What is the best offense for youth basketball?
Many youth coaches start with a 5 out motion offense because it teaches every player to pass, cut, and read the defense, and it doesn't depend on one tall player.
What does pass and cut mean in basketball?
After you pass the ball, you cut straight to the basket. If your teammate passes it back, you have a layup. If not, you clear out to an open spot.
Does motion offense work against a zone?
Pass and cut is built to beat man-to-man defense. Against a zone, cutters get picked up by whoever is in that area, so most teams switch to a zone offense that puts players in the gaps.