5 Essential Spacing Principles Every Player Must Follow in a 5-Out Offense

In modern basketball, spacing isn’t just a tactical concept. It’s a competitive advantage.

And no offensive system makes that more clear than the 5-Out offense.

Used across all levels, from youth development teams to NCAA powerhouses and professional clubs, the 5-Out offense forces defenses to guard the full width and depth of the floor.

It turns every player into a potential threat. And it empowers athletes to make reads, attack gaps, and play in flow.

The catch is: the 5-Out offense only works when players understand and execute spacing with discipline.

You can’t run 5-Out like a 3-out-2-in or a continuity motion offense. The positions are more fluid. The floor is more open. And every inch of space either creates an advantage or shrinks the floor.

Let’s explore the 5 essential spacing principles every player must follow in a 5-Out offense—with situations, teaching tips, and mistakes to avoid.

Whether you're a youth coach installing 5-Out for the first time or an advanced program looking to sharpen your reads, these principles are foundational and will shape my teaching this coming season.

Let’s dive in.

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Principle #1: Occupy the Perimeter with Purpose

The first, and most foundational, principle of 5-Out is understanding the spacing map.

In a 5-Out setup, all five players start outside the three-point line, occupying the five key perimeter spots: