---
title: "4 Out 1 In Motion Offense: Rules, Spacing & Post Reads"
description: "The 4 out 1 in motion offense puts four players on the perimeter and one post inside. Learn the spacing, the rules for each read and where the post should play."
url: "https://www.coachboard.app/library/basketball/4-out-1-in-motion-offense"
sport: "Basketball"
category: "Tactic"
level: "all-levels"
dateModified: "2026-09-24"
---

# 4 Out 1 In Motion Offense — Basketball Tactic

The 4 out 1 in motion offense is a rules-based half-court system with four players spaced around the three-point line and one post player inside, where cuts, screens and post touches come from reads instead of called plays.

The 4 out 1 in motion offense spaces four perimeter players at the two slots and two wings, with one post player working inside. Instead of a scripted sequence, players follow a short list of rules (pass and cut, screen away, dribble at means backdoor), so the defense cannot memorize the next action. Coaches choose it when they have one player worth feeding inside.

It suits most rosters because it only asks one player to be comfortable in the paint, and it layers well: two rules in the first weeks, screening once the cuts are sharp, ball screens later in the season. The one decision a coach must make before day one is where the post player lives, because a post who wanders clogs every driving lane the spacing creates.

## Objective

Build an offense that runs on reads instead of plays, keeping four perimeter players spaced and moving while the post player seals, flashes and screens by clear rules.

## Setup

- **Area:** Half court
- **Players:** 5 offensive players; start 4v0 on the perimeter, then add the post, then defenders
- **Equipment:** 1 ball, 4 cones for the slot and wing spots
- **Duration:** 15–20 minutes per practice, adding one rule per week
- **Level:** all-levels (U10+)

## How it works

1. **Fill the four spots** — Two guards stand in the slots, above each elbow and just outside the arc. Two wings sit at the free-throw line extended, a step behind the three-point line. That puts 15 to 18 feet between neighbours: close enough for a crisp pass, far enough that one defender cannot guard two players.
2. **Pass and cut, then refill** — The passer basket-cuts hard to the rim, showing a target hand. If the defender jumps to the ball, he cuts behind him; if the defender stays, he cuts in front. No return pass means he exits to the open spot on the side with fewer players, and teammates fill one spot toward the ball.
3. **Screen away and read the defender** — Instead of cutting, the passer can screen for the teammate away from the ball. The cutter reads his defender: trailing means curl into the lane, cheating over the top means back-cut, sagging under means pop out or flare for a catch-and-shoot. The screener then steps back to the ball, often open when the defense switches.
4. **Dribble at means backdoor** — When a ball handler dribbles toward a teammate, that teammate cuts backdoor immediately. If the layup is not there, he clears to the opposite side, and the dribbler takes the spot he left. Later in the install, the same dribble can become a handoff when the defender sags.
5. **Give the post player one set of rules** — Most coaches keep the post on the weak side of the lane to leave the ball side open for drives, with permission to flash to the ball-side block or high post and hold for a two count before retreating. With a dominant big, flip it: the post follows the ball side to side and seals for the entry on every reversal.

**4 out 1 in motion offense rules**

| Situation | Rule | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| You pass the ball | Basket-cut or screen away, never stand | Moves your defender and opens the spot you left |
| Your defender denies you | Plant and cut backdoor | Denial leaves the rim open behind the defender |
| Ball is dribbled at you | Cut backdoor, clear to the far side | Gives the dribbler space and a layup pass |
| A spot opens near the ball | Fill toward the ball | Keeps four players spaced 15 to 18 feet apart |
| Post, ball on the far side | Stay weak side, flash for a two count | Keeps the ball-side driving lane empty |
| Shot goes up | Post and weak-side wing crash, top guard back | Rebounding without giving up transition |

## Coaching points

- Spacing is the first rule: two players standing on the same spot erase every read in the system.
- Cuts start with a change of pace, a slow walk into the defender and then an explosive first step to the rim.
- The post never camps in the lane longer than two seconds, both for the three-second rule and to keep driving lanes open.
- Every catch starts facing the rim; defenders only close out hard when the receiver is a shooting threat.
- One player sprints back on every shot while the post and the weak-side wing crash the glass.

## Variations

- **Rotating post** — Any perimeter player who cuts to the block can stay there as the new post while the old post pops out to the open spot. This puts a guard in the post against a smaller defender and keeps one player from doing all the screening.
- **4 out 1 in against a zone** — Against a zone, passers always cut instead of screening away, and each cutter finds the gap in the zone, stops there and shows a target. The post short-corners or flashes to the high post, and the perimeter players fill toward the ball quickly so every pass has an angle.

## Build it in Coach Board

Players stop standing still once they know each rule's trigger. Build a Coach Board court with the four perimeter spots and the post, then make one short animated board per rule: pass and cut, screen away, dribble at and post flash. Share them as a playbook link before practice, and scrub back to the frame where a filler went to the wrong spot so the fix takes seconds, not a walkthrough.

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## FAQ

### What are the rules of the 4 out 1 in motion offense?

The core rules of the 4 out 1 in motion offense are pass and cut to the basket, screen away from the ball, cut backdoor when a teammate dribbles at you, and refill open spots toward the ball so four players stay spaced outside. The post player follows a separate rule, usually staying weak side and flashing to the ball.

### Where should the post player go in the 4 out 1 in?

In the 4 out 1 in, most coaches keep the post player on the weak side of the lane, flashing to the ball-side block or high post for a two count before leaving. That keeps the ball side open for drives and gives the post rebounding position. Teams with a dominant big let the post follow the ball instead.

### What is the difference between 4 out 1 in and 5 out motion?

The 4 out 1 in keeps one player inside for post-ups, offensive rebounds and high-post flashes, while 5 out motion puts all five players on the perimeter and empties the lane. Teams with a skilled big usually prefer 4 out 1 in; teams without one often choose 5 out for more driving space.

## Related

- https://www.coachboard.app/library/basketball/5-out-motion-offense.md
- https://www.coachboard.app/library/basketball/princeton-offense.md
- https://www.coachboard.app/library/basketball/flex-offense.md
- https://www.coachboard.app/library/basketball/shell-drill.md

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