Hey Joe/Jeff;

so I am teaching this 5 out m.o..I haven't had a chance to use it yet - since the league starts in the New Year, but my question is what are the more common ways one expects to score off of this? Dribble drive? Basket cuts? backdoor cuts? all of the above? I have read over all the material on your website on the 5 out - I just want to make sure I am coaching it correctly and perhaps what to emphasize with grade 6,7,8 kids that have not played before. Thanks.

Ray, it looks like you're off to good start in regards to understanding what different ways you can score. If you haven't taken a look yet, the open post offense DVD is a great resource: http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/pr/perkins-open-post-offense.html

With a group of 7th graders, I like to teach the option where they pass and cut and the players fill the open spots. If the defender overplays, the offensive player goes back door.

Eventually, I like to add down screens, ball screens, and dribble hand offs for youth teams. However, progress slowly. With our team, I'm just trying get through cutting and down screens for their first year with me.

Ray, I forgot to add that I teach them how to move when dribble penetration occurs.

Here is what the cutting portion of the 5 out would look like: http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/offense/cutters.html

Thanks Joe! I will take your advice. Two more thoughts:
1.) is it worth videotaping any of our games so the kids can see what they are doing - i.e.: using it as a teaching tool. Or is that basically a waste of time - kids don't generally watch bball DVD's .

2.) I have read the cutter offence as described in your website, but am not positive what you mean when you say teach them how to move during dribble penetration. How do they move differently during dribble penetration? Thanks for your help.

Ray

Ray, I wouldn't spend a lot of time on the video taping, but you could put together a few clips of them doing some things well and doing some things not so well. If you keep it 5 to 10 minutes, it might be helpful.

For dribble penetration, it depends on where the offense is located and where the defense is located. For example, if I dribble penetrate along the baseline and there was a post player on the block, the post player could move up to the elbow to create space. The opposite wing could drop to the corner to create a passing lane.

That's just one example.

That makes sense - thanks again for your help!

I am going to try and implement this with a girls youth team. It seems simple enough to teach/learn, and as you mentioned, you can add additional movements (down screens, etc.) once they master the basics. I do have a few questions, though:

For a youth team, what would you do if the defense plays very tight on the person with the ball--so tight that she is unable to make a pass to the cutter? I would probably tell the player to drive or have the nearest player set a ball screen.

How will this offense work if the defense plays 3 steps off the offensive players?

Paul - it completely depends on the age of the players, their skill level, what they are good at, etc. So it's hard to say. One option that works well for young kids is to simply have a rule that...
"the two closest players to the ball, screen for the two farthest players". This is a simple rule that allows for movement and pressure releases. If they accidentally set a double screen, that's ok. You really can't mess it up. They just move, try to follow the rules, and maintain their spacing. A motion offense is what ever you want to make it. You add the rules.

Well i learned this from a coach in the JR. High/Middle School division. DOes anyone know if it would be helpful running it with kids that didnt make the team for Jr. High.