Here is a Garland Pinholster Wheel Offense playbook based on notes and diagrams from Coach Garland Pinholster. Coach Pinholster is credited for the innovation of the wheel offense. He created the Garland Pinholster Wheel Offense in the late 1950s while coaching at Oglethorpe University (Georgia). He coached 10 years at Oglethorpe compiling a 180-68 record at Oglethorpe and was 276-89 during his career as a college coach.
The circle offense is a continuity-based offense and it is also a variation of the 5 out motion offense. The main sequence of the offense is to have at least three players in constant motion at all times. How to Coach and Teach the Wheel Man-to-Man Basketball Offense. When it comes to coaching basketball fundamentals, you must consider continuity offenses. For example, most basketball zone offenses involve continuity, floor balance by rotating the ball rapidly from one side of the court to the other while filling the perimeter passing lanes as.
In the notes, Coach Pinholster states that he didn't create this offense, but that his opponents created it for him. The Garland Pinholster Wheel Offense came out of a need for a single formation to attack both man to man and zone defenses. Opponents would alternate defenses against his teams, and Pinholster didn't like the way his teams had to reset into either a man or zone offense. The Garland Pinholster Wheel Offense got the name 'Wheel' because it has a hub (the pivot man), spokes (the 4 other players), and the spokes rotate around the middle and revolve like a wheel. Also, the wheel can be run at different speeds and can be stopped and reversed. This is a continuity offense that moves the players in a circular, or wheel-like pattern to create scoring opportunities. Pinholster had great defensive teams, and used this offense to keep possession so that the opposing team had fewer possessions and therefore fewer opportunities to score.
The first chapter is an overload 1-3-1 formation, with 3 players in a line down the side of the key and one player on each wing. This chapter has several cutting options and strategies for running the wheel out of this formation. The second chapter is counter movement options out of the 1-3-1 formation. Chapter 3 is a 2-1-2 formation with 4 players out and 1 player inside at the high post. The 2-1-2 is used as a concealment strategy, and 3 options are shown for transitioning from the 2-1-2 concealment into the 1-3-1 formation.
I hope you enjoy this playbook.
Coach Wes Kosel
Wes Kosel is an assistant coach for men's basketball under Head Coach Tommy Jones at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX. 2013-2014 marks the second year for Kosel at TLU. Prior to arriving at TLU, Kosel served as a student assistant coach under Head Coach Chad Killscrow at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS. Kosel has an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from the University of Kansas, and is pursuing a Master's degree in Physical Education from the University of Houston. The Bartlesville, OK native is also a NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and teaches weight training and aerobic fitness courses at Texas Lutheran. He has coached AAU programs, volunteered with elementary and middle school basketball teams, and has worked basketball camps for various programs including the Houston Rockets, University of Houston, Texas State, and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Click on the pdf link to download the basketball offenses:
Garland Pinholster Wheel Offense Playbook by Wes Kosel
Components
1. 4 out 1 in, 3 out 2 in sets.
2. Constantly attacking the rim.
3. Utilizing the 3 point shot as a weapon.
4. Putting tremendous pressure on individual man defense of our opponents.
'1'
- Attack player # 1
- Our main ball handler.
- The catalyst of our attacking offense
- Will be best penetrator/creator
We look to attack at all times.
'2'
- 2 is the best shooter and will start on the right wing.
- Will run the right lane – Sets up two feet above free throw line extended.
- Is the opposite end @ free throw line extended versus full court pressure.
- 'SOB' = Weak-side corner
'3'
- Our second post or biggest guard.
- Runs the left lane – sets up with two feet above free throw line extended.
- Sets up in weak-side corner versus full-court pressure
- SOB = weak side block.
'4'
- Our best offensive post player (catcher and finisher).
- Our best rebounder.
- SPRINTS the floor to the rim.
- Is opposite end of the floor versus pressure.
- Sets up on the left block if does not have anything in transition.
- SOB = ball-side block.
'5'
- Our second best ball handler and creator.
- One of our best passers.
- One of our best offensive players.
- Inbounds the ball with speed and trails.
Offensive Rules
1. ATTACK
2. '4 out set 1 in', the offense will have the right block open on the initial drive.
3. 'On a miss' Must fill 4 perimeter spots on a miss, run lanes and be interchangeable.
4. 'On a Make' – numbered brake.
5. 'Must have a drag man' (Fills behind on penetration – 5 initially)
6. 'If Denied' –
• Extend defense – (creates larger gap to penetrate)
• Hard Back Door – (Dribble at = go back door) (Ball Fake = back door)
7. 'Opposite Wing Flares on dribble penetration (extend the defense)
8. If there is a dribble to the corner on 4's side, instant high low.
9. 'Divers' create contact off of the dribble –
– '1st Contact' and 'Second Contact'
10. Penetrators almost always empty left. 'This will result in a wheel action'
11. Never pass the ball to a man inside the three-point line coming away from the basket.
12. Standing and dribbling is not productive unless a great player. Learn to play off the catch.
13. Anytime we a have a player on the block catch the ball = dive the next biggest player on the weak side to the opposite block, as well as the shooter on the weak side making a diagonal cut anticipating a skip.
'4 Set' 4 out 1 in = Wheel
- More of a passing offense.
- Post on the left block. If penetrators break though the shell – no one is home.
- Extended defense = back door.
- Never 2 wings on the right side at the same time.
'3 Set' 3 out 2 in = Kickbacks
- Easier to penetrate ( only three on the perimeter)
- Easier to get 3's in this offense.
- Look to get the ball in the 'Golden Area' at the elbows.
- Strong side post seals on penetrations.
- Opposite wings flare.
- Strong side wing reads defense (loops)
X
- This is when 1 passes to 2 or 5 and instead of cutting though, 1 gives 5 trailing a rub screen to either drive or cut to receive a pass from 2.
2 Game
- This is our stall.
- 3 and 2 will be in the corners instead of a step above free throw line extended.
- 5 and 1 will play keep away up top.
- 4 is always on the block opposite of the ball.
5 Set 'Hot'
The first chapter is an overload 1-3-1 formation, with 3 players in a line down the side of the key and one player on each wing. This chapter has several cutting options and strategies for running the wheel out of this formation. The second chapter is counter movement options out of the 1-3-1 formation. Chapter 3 is a 2-1-2 formation with 4 players out and 1 player inside at the high post. The 2-1-2 is used as a concealment strategy, and 3 options are shown for transitioning from the 2-1-2 concealment into the 1-3-1 formation.
I hope you enjoy this playbook.
Coach Wes Kosel
Wes Kosel is an assistant coach for men's basketball under Head Coach Tommy Jones at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX. 2013-2014 marks the second year for Kosel at TLU. Prior to arriving at TLU, Kosel served as a student assistant coach under Head Coach Chad Killscrow at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS. Kosel has an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from the University of Kansas, and is pursuing a Master's degree in Physical Education from the University of Houston. The Bartlesville, OK native is also a NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and teaches weight training and aerobic fitness courses at Texas Lutheran. He has coached AAU programs, volunteered with elementary and middle school basketball teams, and has worked basketball camps for various programs including the Houston Rockets, University of Houston, Texas State, and Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Click on the pdf link to download the basketball offenses:
Garland Pinholster Wheel Offense Playbook by Wes Kosel
Components
1. 4 out 1 in, 3 out 2 in sets.
2. Constantly attacking the rim.
3. Utilizing the 3 point shot as a weapon.
4. Putting tremendous pressure on individual man defense of our opponents.
'1'
- Attack player # 1
- Our main ball handler.
- The catalyst of our attacking offense
- Will be best penetrator/creator
We look to attack at all times.
'2'
- 2 is the best shooter and will start on the right wing.
- Will run the right lane – Sets up two feet above free throw line extended.
- Is the opposite end @ free throw line extended versus full court pressure.
- 'SOB' = Weak-side corner
'3'
- Our second post or biggest guard.
- Runs the left lane – sets up with two feet above free throw line extended.
- Sets up in weak-side corner versus full-court pressure
- SOB = weak side block.
'4'
- Our best offensive post player (catcher and finisher).
- Our best rebounder.
- SPRINTS the floor to the rim.
- Is opposite end of the floor versus pressure.
- Sets up on the left block if does not have anything in transition.
- SOB = ball-side block.
'5'
- Our second best ball handler and creator.
- One of our best passers.
- One of our best offensive players.
- Inbounds the ball with speed and trails.
Offensive Rules
1. ATTACK
2. '4 out set 1 in', the offense will have the right block open on the initial drive.
3. 'On a miss' Must fill 4 perimeter spots on a miss, run lanes and be interchangeable.
4. 'On a Make' – numbered brake.
5. 'Must have a drag man' (Fills behind on penetration – 5 initially)
6. 'If Denied' –
• Extend defense – (creates larger gap to penetrate)
• Hard Back Door – (Dribble at = go back door) (Ball Fake = back door)
7. 'Opposite Wing Flares on dribble penetration (extend the defense)
8. If there is a dribble to the corner on 4's side, instant high low.
9. 'Divers' create contact off of the dribble –
– '1st Contact' and 'Second Contact'
10. Penetrators almost always empty left. 'This will result in a wheel action'
11. Never pass the ball to a man inside the three-point line coming away from the basket.
12. Standing and dribbling is not productive unless a great player. Learn to play off the catch.
13. Anytime we a have a player on the block catch the ball = dive the next biggest player on the weak side to the opposite block, as well as the shooter on the weak side making a diagonal cut anticipating a skip.
'4 Set' 4 out 1 in = Wheel
- More of a passing offense.
- Post on the left block. If penetrators break though the shell – no one is home.
- Extended defense = back door.
- Never 2 wings on the right side at the same time.
'3 Set' 3 out 2 in = Kickbacks
- Easier to penetrate ( only three on the perimeter)
- Easier to get 3's in this offense.
- Look to get the ball in the 'Golden Area' at the elbows.
- Strong side post seals on penetrations.
- Opposite wings flare.
- Strong side wing reads defense (loops)
X
- This is when 1 passes to 2 or 5 and instead of cutting though, 1 gives 5 trailing a rub screen to either drive or cut to receive a pass from 2.
2 Game
- This is our stall.
- 3 and 2 will be in the corners instead of a step above free throw line extended.
- 5 and 1 will play keep away up top.
- 4 is always on the block opposite of the ball.
5 Set 'Hot'
- This is our 2-1-2 press break.
- Easy – 4 flashes middle.
4 Down
- Isolation for the inside man.
- Stationary on the perimeter, can interchange when next closest is pressured.
- Good against sagging defenses where we can swing or reverse the ball with ease (defense cannot get around in time).
1 ATTACKS – 'Penetration Reads for 1'
Rules
1. Pass to the corner = basket cut.
2. 1 to 5, 5 to 1 = X Cut
3. On the X-Cut – cut to the elbow. 5 waits for 1 to get to the elbow before penetrating.
4. On any penetration or pass = 2 players to the corner and 1 player will drag behind.
5. If you want 1 and 5 to be your primary ball handlers = always X cut – this will keep them up top.
6. Options on penetration = get to the rim, wrap around lay-up, kick for 3.
7. On any dribble to the wing = go back door.
8. Sub – 3 minutes on – 1 minute off – 3 minutes on.
9. Always sub 2-3 at a time, never 4.
10. In a 40 minute game = shoot 110 shots.
11. In a 32 minute game = 75 shots.
Offensive Alignments
Wheel = 4 out 1 in
Kickbacks = 3 out 2 in
4 = Spread Offense – delay game
Hot = 2-1-2
5 = 4 out 1 on isolation for the post
2 Game = Stall, 1 and 5 play keep away up top.
13 = 1-3-1 alignment against zone
14 = 4 out 1 in against zone
Box = Zone Set
Spread = Zone Set
Dribble Rules
Crack back = Dribble from the wing to the post area, nearest perimeter player
fills behind.
Loop = Dribble from the top of the key area to the paint/foul
area and the nearest person up top fills behind for the 3.
Drift = Baseline drive, basline drift.
Fade = Drive from the top, wing players fade to the corner.
Opposite = Dribble at a post player, he will always cut opposite.
Go = Dribble at, back door.
Yo Yo = Dribble replace.
Dribble Throw back = Drive in the lane, jump stop, turn and throw behind.
Button Hook = Dribble at a man to post him up.
Flash = Low post player will flash high and we will enter the ball to
the post by using the dribble to improve the angle. (yo,yo)
to circle to post-feed.
Circle = Send the corner man through with an opposite post screen
*Circle with a back screen
circle to post-feed.
Shallow = Dribble replace
Basketball Wheel Offense Pdf Template
Pass Rules
Pass to the wing = Basket cut and fill opposite.
Pass guard to guard = X – cut to the dead spot.
Pass to the post = Dive and split
Sweep = Hand off
Double sweep = 2 Hand offs
Triple sweep = 3 Hand offs
Pass Fake = Back cut
X = Side cut
Smash = Back screen
Post = Basket cut ball screen
Post Feed = Split
Click on the pdf link to download the basketball coaching clinic notes:
Coaching Basketball Wheel Offense
Wheel Offense by Anthony Menard
