Three 5 Out Offense Drills Any Basketball Coach Can Use

• By Grant Young

The 5 out offense in basketball can be a highly effective strategy, but its success hinges on proper drilling and execution. 

This approach involves positioning all five players outside the three-point arc, which opens up the floor and creates driving lanes. However, to reap the benefits of this setup, players need to be well-coordinated and have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. 

First and foremost, effective communication is vital. In a 5 out offense, players must constantly read the defense and make quick decisions. Drills that emphasize verbal and non-verbal communication can ensure that players are on the same page, which is crucial for executing plays fluidly. 

Not to mention that spacing is key in the 5 out offense. Players need to create and maintain optimal spacing to stretch the defense. This requires significant practice and an understanding of movement without the ball. Drills focusing on spacing and movement help players develop a sense of timing and awareness.

Passing and ball movement are also essential in this offense. Quick, accurate passes can force the defense to collapse, creating open shot opportunities. Players should practice passing drills that promote quick decision-making and efficient ball movement. 

Players must also develop their shooting skills for the 5 out offense to work. Since it relies heavily on perimeter shooting, players must be comfortable taking shots from beyond the arc. Regular shooting drills help players gain confidence and consistency, which are necessary to punish defenses that over-commit. 

And lastly, understanding defensive reactions is important. Players need to be able to read how the defense reacts to their movements. Drills that simulate different defensive scenarios can prepare players to make quick decisions and exploit mismatches or gaps in the defense effectively. 

It can be difficult to find drills that coach all of these bases when employing the 5 out into your offense. To save you time and energy, we’ve provided three drills that have proven successful in developing elite 5 out offenses below for your use. 

Jaycob Ammerman - Drilling Attack Gaps

Jaycob Ammerman has worked with the UCF men’s basketball program since the 2014-15 season. He was named the Knights’ Video Coordinator in April of 2016 after spending the previous two years as a graduate assistant. He was promoted to Director of Operations in May of 2022, assists the UCF men’s basketball coaching staff daily, and is responsible for game and practice scheduling, travel, and all other organizational activities.

Coach Ammerman’s ‘Jaycob Ammerman - Implementing a Successful 5 Out Offensive System’ course details drills specifically for finding and taking advantage of attack gaps, which is a crucial part of a 5 out offense’s success. 

The drill begins with the ball handler at the top of the wing. They will either decide to dribble and drive or make a quick swing pass to either wing player. If the swing pass is made then the wing player should immediately dribble drive into the gap that arises in the defense from a quick swing pass. 

From there, the player who’s attacking the paint will either choose to drive to the basket, shoot a floater, kick to the opposite corner for the player waiting there, or any other type of move in the player’s arsenal. 

The goal is to create and simulate situations you want for your team when the game is underway. Create ways to drill these scenarios and get reps in for everything that your offense might face in response. 

Laura Kurz - 5 Out Cutting Drills

Laura Kurz joined the Drexel University women’s basketball program as an assistant coach in 2020. Coach Kurz made her way to Drexel after spending five years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Villanova University from 2015-20. In her role at Villanova, Kurz assisted with on-court duties, scouting opponents, inputting game strategy, player development, and film analysis while serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

In her ‘Laura Kurz - Harry Perretta`s 5 Out Offense’ course, Coach Kurz details a series of 5 out cutting drills she learned from legendary Villanova coach Harry Perretta. The first drill starts with a line of players at the top of the key, each with a ball. 

They will take a dribble and then pass it to a coach who’s on the wing. From there, they’ll execute some type of cut to another part of the floor. The coach will then deliver them a pass and they’ll finish it. 

The next iteration of this drill involves them setting an imaginary screen somewhere on the floor before getting into their cut. From there, the line will move to the opposite wing. They’ll make a skip or overhead pass to the coach (who’s still on the initial wing), set an imaginary screen at the elbow, and then make a quick backdoor cut. 

Cliff Ellis - 3 Man Shooting Curl

Cliff Ellis is the head men’s basketball coach at Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas.

In his 1st year as the Vandegrift head coach, Ellis guided an all-sophomore team to the 3A state playoffs – the first team sport ever to reach the state playoffs in school history. 

In his ‘5 Out Motion Offense’ course, Coach Ellis details a shooting drill that he uses to get his offense up and running each season.

It begins with a line of players at the top of the key and one line of players on each wing. From there, a coach will have a rack of basketballs next to one of the wing lines, and when the drill starts, they will make a pass to the player on the opposite wing who’s doing a back cut to the basket. 

The line of players at the rack will wait until the player at the top of the key sets a back screen and then flashes along the three-point line for a shot, which will prompt a swing pass to them.