Coach,

Basketball offensive philosophies have undergone multiple complete makeovers over the past few decades. 

Perhaps the most influential shift came by way of the Golden State Warriors, during their four NBA Championship title victories from 2015 to 2021. 

Steph Curry and Klay Thompson’s elite sharpshooting surely played a major part in Golden State’s dynastic run. But head coach Steve Kerr’s offensive strategy made it possible for the Warriors to score in bunches even when his shooters weren’t shooting well. 

How did Kerr do this? By utilizing schemes inherent to the circle offense. 

And very few coaches know the ins and outs of the circle offense better than Steve Gomez. 

Coach Gomez recently concluded his 21st season at the helm of the Lubbock Christian University women’s basketball team, and the 11th season at the NCAA level. He opens the campaign with a 500-143 record, which includes a 24-3 record in NCAA postseason play.

Coach Gomez’s ‘Circle Offense’ course divulges the most important teaching point about installing this strategy into your own offense. 

Why Circle Offense?

Why Circle Offense?

The circle offense utilizes cuts and continuity patterns to create scoring opportunities near the basket.

Additionally, the circle offense features five players which fill five perimeter spots near the top, the wings, and the corners. 

The main premise behind the circle offense is to have at least three players in constant motion. The reason is that this often leads to a breakdown in communication within defenses, which incites chaos (and easy baskets). 

The circle offense is particularly effective with smaller, guard-centric teams, and teams who have elite shooting. 

Sample 1

Sample 1

Coach Gomez says that one of the best parts about running a circle offense is that it creates both a set pattern and allows for what he calls “freelance” opportunities. 



In other words, there is a solid foundation to the circle offense. There are specific play sets that can be drilled in practice and that should create consistent, steady looks during games. 

But Coach Gomez also references these “freelance” opportunities, which are the times when your players’ talents and skillsets can shine. 

This malleable style is why the circle offense has been so useful for so many different teams. 

Baseline Drive Reactions

Baseline Drive Reactions

Much of the circle offense’s crucial action (such as back cuts and off-ball movement) takes place along the baseline in every possession. 

Therefore, Coach Gomez stresses that instilling the importance of backside baseline reactions will free your circle offense up for a lot of success. 

This means that, when one of the guards is driving to the basket, whichever players are along the baseline will have multiple offensive options. 

They can either fade out to the backside corner to be available for a kick-out jump shot, move up to the wing to prepare for a kick-out jump shot, clear out then prepare to crash the board in case the driving guard goes for a layup, or if they’re on the weak side, flash to the basket along the baseline in hopes for an easy layup.

This is just one example of the various opportunities that the circle offense can (and will) provide success to any coach who’ll utilize it with their team.

Never get out coached, 

Coaches Clinic Community of Coaches Helping Coaches