4-Out 1-In Motion

What it is

• The 4-out 1-in structure places four players on the perimeter (at or beyond the 3-point line) and one player in the low post.

Why it matters

• The single low post gives the team an interior presence and creates high-low action.
• The weakness is that it allows a skilled team to crash the offensive glass and overload one side.

How it works

• This is the most common modern motion offense alignment.
• The 4-out setup spreads the defense horizontally and makes it difficult for help defense to establish position.
• In 4-out 1-in motion, the point guard initiates from the top.
• They can pass to any perimeter player (typically at the wing or corner).
• The passer immediately reads: if the defense stays on the receiver, the point guard cuts.

Reads and counters

• After a pass the passer reads his man: basket-cut hard if pressured, or screen away to free the next perimeter player.
• A cutter reads head and hands: cut backdoor if denied at the wing, or flare to open space for a catch-and-shoot.
• The lone post reads his man: duck in when fronted, post hard when played behind, face up when help is late.
• On penetration the guard reads help: if the post's man tags the drive, the post slides opposite and the corner sprays open.
• Perimeter players read the fill: when a cut empties a spot, the nearest player fills up to keep four out and spacing intact.

Teaching cues

• Cut hard, fill behind
• Pass and screen away
• Read the help, spray the corner
• Duck in when they front
• Attack the switch early

Bilingual terms

Related concepts