The Bird

This is the name given to the tactical formations advocated by the KBVB (Belgian FA). I learnt it from Kris Van De Hagen.

  • A bird has a body, head and tail, in the middle and a wing on each side.

  • When it flies the body and wings are always in same place relative to each other, sides and middle.

  • If the bird put both wings on one side it would stop flying, fall out the sky and die.

  • We want our team to fly not die.

The aim is for the players to keep track of their teammates and ensure that the integrity of the birds body is maintained everywhere on the pitch.

The positions are given using traditional numbers, obviously change the numbers to suit your philosophy / style.

My personal preference is to rotate the players into each position. I feel this is especially important moving from 5v5 to 8v8. If player 8 has never played position 5, they will not move forward and backward as 9,11 and 7 do, and the team will become two units not one.

3v3

  • One left wing,

  • One body in the middle

  • One right wing.

  • No goal keeper use cones 3m apart.

3v3 bird.001.jpeg

5v5

  • One left wing

  • One tail at the back

  • One head at the front

  • One right wing

  • One goalkeeper

5v5 bird.001.jpeg

8v8

In this formation there are two birds in a line. The midfield player, 8, is the head of the back bird and the tail of the front bird, thus ensuring the team moves as one single unit not as two separate ones.

  • One left wing back

  • One back tail

  • One back head and front tail

  • One right wing back

  • One left wing forward

  • One forward head

  • One right wing forward

  • One Goalkeeper

8v8 bird.001.jpeg