About Libero
What is the libero and why consider it for high school volleyball?
The libero (lee-bah-ro) position, which has been in use since 2002 in international
and club play, was designed to add excitement to the game of volleyball and potentially
raise the level of play. The libero was first introduced in international play as a way
to keep a good defender on the floor, as only six substitutions were allowed. In
international, club, and high school (in Florida) the libero does not serve. Libero
players are used at the collegiate level and in USA Volleyball.
The libero player is an option that may be exercised by one or both teams in the match.
The use of the libero does not affect substitution or entries on the opposing team.
The libero wears a uniform that contrasts with his/her teammates' uniforms, and is
allowed to replace any player in the back-row without counting as a substitution.
The libero is intended to be a player who specializes in defense and serve reception.
When the libero enters the match, the entry is not considered one of the allowed team
substitutions. When a libero replaces a back-row player, it is called a replacement
rather than a substitution. The number of replacements is unlimited, and the libero
can replace ANY back-row player except the player who is currently serving. That
means the libero can replace any number of teammates in the same game.
A different libero can be designated for each game, but the designation must be made
on the lineup sheet when it is submitted before the game. If no libero is used in a
game, the team is still restricted to the team substitutions that the rules allow.
Libero uniform
The libero must wear a uniform shirt or jersey that is in distinct contrast to
jersey worn by other members of the team. The style and trim of the libero’s shirt
or jersey may differ from her teammates’, but her shorts must be identical to her
teammates. The libero uniform shirt must have a legal number (not worn by any teammate)
as prescribed by NFHS volleyball rules (Rule 4, Section 2). Duplicate jersey numbers
may not be worn.
Tracking the libero
Each school is responsible for supplying a person to track the libero replacements
to ensure that: 1) once the libero is replaced, at least one serve must take place
before the libero can replace another player; and 2) when the libero leaves the court,
the player replacing the libero must be the same player who the libero replaced when
she last entered the game. This will be tracked on a separate form Libero Tracking Sheet.
The rules for libero:
A libero may be designated for each game.
If a libero is designated for a game, the libero’s number must be recorded on the
lineup sheet for that game. If a libero has not been listed on the lineup sheet for
a game, the team may not use a libero in that game. The libero may be designated as
the playing captain.
The libero may be used as an exceptional substitution for an injured player if no
other legal substitutes are available. When no longer playing as a libero, that
player must wear the same uniform as her teammates, and the team continues play
with no libero player.
The libero cannot be used as a substitute for a disqualified teammate. If the
libero is disqualified while playing, the player whom she replaced must replace her.
The team continues play with no libero player.
The libero can play as a non-libero in subsequent games. The player must wear the
same uniform as her teammates.
Libero playing actions
The libero is restricted to performing as a back-row player and is not allowed to
complete an attack hit from anywhere (including playing court and free zone) if,
at the moment of contact, the ball is entirely above the top of the net.
The libero cannot serve, block or attempt to block.
If a libero sets the ball using overhand finger action while in the attack zone,
any teammate who attacks that ball while it is above the height of the net is an
illegal attacker.
Libero replacements
The libero is allowed to replace any player in a back-row position.
Replacements involving the libero are not counted as regular substitutions.
These replacements are unlimited, but there must be a rally (which can include
a play-over) between two libero replacements.
The player whom the libero replaced can only replace the libero.
Libero replacements may take place only after the end of a rally or at the start
of each game after the umpire has checked the starting lineup, as well as any time
the ball is out of play and before the whistle for service.
A libero and the player replaced by the libero may enter or leave the court only
by the sideline in front of the libero’s team bench between the attack line and
the end line. It is important for the libero exchange and substitutions to be
easily distinguished from each other.
When a team is making both a libero replacement and a substitution for the player
involved in the libero exchange, the following protocol should be observed:
>> The player whom the libero replaced must step onto the court between the attack
line and the end line and make the exchange with the libero.
>> The substitute must enter the sub zone and wait at the sideline until the player
replacing the libero enters the court and moves to where the substitute is waiting
in the sub zone. The substitution then occurs pursuant to normal substitution
procedures (players await authorization by umpire before making the switch).
Redesignation of a new libero when the libero is injured
If the libero is injured and cannot continue play, she must first be replaced by
the player whom she replaced. Then, a new libero can be redesignated using the
following criteria:
Redesignation does not need to occur immediately after the injury and replacement.
When redesignation does occur, any substitution may be redesignated as libero for
an injured libero. The injured libero cannot play in the remainder of that game.
The player redesignated as the libero must follow the libero uniform rule and must
remain the libero for the rest of the game. The redesignated libero’s uniform must
have a unique number (not worn by any teammate), but not necessarily the same number
with which the player started the match.
