About the Circle 2 Set

2 players across the top.

• 2 players across the middle.

• 2 players behind the goal.

Strengths:
The Circle 2 Set creates more opportunity for the 2 man game than the Circle 1 does. All the offense players have good space and are positioned to drive and be a threat to score within a few steps. This helps the 2 man game work by creating looks for back door cuts.
A Circle offense confuses a typical crease-sliding defense and forces the adjacent slides. When the adjacent slide goes this often leaves the adjacent offense player open for a backdoor cut, and the ball carrier can draw and dump to feed the cutter to score.
The Circle 2 Set opens up a huge area for cutters from the back-side of the offense, especially through the middle, and forcing the adjacent slides also opens up large areas for good outside shooters to take advantage of.
A Circle offense is more of a free-flowing offense with dodges occurring all over the offensive end and cutters coming from all areas. Dodges can occur from anywhere in a Circle offense and should occur regularly to force the defense to slide actively. It is very easy for the defense to lose track of their matchups this way.
This is a great set for teams who only have 1-2 strong dodgers. In a Circle 2 even the weaker dodgers can cut and contribute to the chaos, so it masks their shortcomings as well as gives them experience to develop and improve. Meanwhile, bringing the 2 stronger dodgers behind GLE will force the defense to slide and respond, clearing space for the offense up top, creating outlets, and ensuring a player will get the line for a shooting lane.
The Circle 2 Offense works well combined with a 2-2-2 Offense since it is easy to switch between the 2; to alternate the 2 players across the middle just meet at the crease or go back to the wings.

Vulnerabilities:

The most obvious problem of this offensive set is that there is not the threat of a player in front of the goal to receive a pass for a quick stick goal.
Teams can be fabulous at passing the ball around the circle without making attempts to score, so the offense needs to be sure to keep making off-ball pick plays and cuts through the middle. The coach should have a few calls ready to initiate plays especially with younger teams.