Volleyball is played and loved by many. If you are a beginner and don’t know about libero, you should know about libero before playing volleyball. Many are constantly questioning libero. What is libero? What does it do in volleyball? What is the part of libero in volleyball? How to play as a libero in volleyball? Even if you know about libero, you must have a little confusion, and that’s why you are here to solve your mess.
The libero position was introduced to club volleyball and school volleyball in the early to mid-2000s. The rules of this position and game have changed since the introduction of libero, changing how libero is used on most teams. Libero is not always used. The libero is allowed in some leagues and conferences, but no team necessarily uses the libero.
If you are curious about libero and would like to know more about libero, then keep reading to find out about libero and how it is played.
What is a libero?
A libero is a defensive specialist position in indoor volleyball. A libero is a designated back-row player. Per match, a team can only have one or two liberos. A usual qualification of the libero is that they are typically the best passer on the team. A libero has to wear a different colored jersey than the entire team. The jersey should be in contrast.
And using a libero is entirely optional. You can either choose to use or not use it. You don’t have to use a libero necessarily. The libero is the only player on the team who is not limited by the general rotation rules. Usually, the libero replaces the middle blocker position while that player rotates to the back row. But the libero cannot turn to the front row.
This position was added in 1999 to the indoor volleyball game. This position came along with its specified rules for play. This position was added to foster more digs and rallies and make the game more exciting overall. The libero made its debut in 2002 in the NCAA competition. A libero can’t block or attack the ball when it is above the net height. The libero can replace any back-row player when the ball is not in the game without any prior notice to the officials. However, the libero can only be replaced by the player they had returned to.
The modern-day libero
The modern-day libero often takes on the responsibility of a second setter. The setter usually digs the ball. The second ball’s responsibility and to set to the front raw is the libero’s responsibility. A libero can perform in a setter’s role with a few restrictions. The libero must not stand on the 3-meter line. The libero must be standing behind the three-meter line to make an over the handset. If not, you won’t be able to attack the ball above the net in front of the 3-meter line. However, from anywhere in the court, an underhand pass is allowed.
Assigning the libero
The team chooses a libero before a match or tournament. And the libero should have a few qualities to qualify for the position. A libero should be the best passer on the team. And he may have some other attributes that I will talk about thoroughly a bit later.
After assigning the libero, you must ensure that the libero is present throughout the entire game. The libero may be used or not, but they have to be present in play as the whole or even the tournament.
Anyone can change a libero if the libero gets injured. But the person you are replacing the libero with must not be present in the court at the time of the injury. If they were present in the court during the libero injury, they can’t participate in libero. And if you once become the libero, even as a replacement, you will have to stay as the libero throughout the game as a reminder of the match.
You can have one or two liberos in a team. But only one of them can be present in the court at a time. Some organizations allow having two liberos, and some don’t allow having two. But either way, only one libero can be at the court at a time. If a libero is disqualified in the NCAA women’s play, the team can continue with no libero. This rule varies in different organizations.
What does a libero do?
Libero is a position. And the coach of the team can use the libero in many different ways. There are rules about how a libero should play. And maintain these rules, the coach can make a libero do many activities according to their age, skill, and experience. An average libero can do many activities. And I’m going to talk about a few things that your coach can set you up to do as a libero.
The liberos will play middle back or left-back for their team’s middle blockers. The libero is most likely to serve in the place of the weakest middle blocker. The liberos pass more than anyone else. You want to take the ball from a libero if it is between another player and a libero. Liberos are also your backup setters when the setter passes the first ball. It would be best if you had a setter pass the ball into the court’s idle so that the libero can get the ball quickly. A libero can also work as a substitute in certain areas under certain circumstances.
The libero is extremely important for the team and plays an integral part in the game. The libero often may play a more significant role in the game than other players. The libero adds ball control to the game, and the primary responsibility of the libero is to pass the ball so that the team may run appropriately run the offense.
The libero needs to dig well in defense. The libero has to get their hand on every ball to keep the game going. Since the libero is free of attack responsibilities, they must get every ball. So, overall, there are many things a libero does in the game directed by their coach.
How to use a libero?
Liberos are very important in the game. And they add a higher level of skill and accuracy to the team’s defense. And it would be foolish not to use such a position. With libero, you can lessen the number of substitutions that you have. But it may be confusing how to use a libero.
As a beginner coach, you can face these problems. But as you gain more knowledge and experience in the game, you will be able to use this position properly.
To use this position correctly, you need to know the importance and the change that a libero can make in the game. And you need to know precisely what a libero does. And another thing that you need to know about libero is its rules. It would help if you learned its powers to use a libero, or you can also get disqualified. So, to use a libero properly, you should work on these three points and then develop strategies for using your libero.
It would be best if you practiced along with a libero before the actual game to do well in the game. By doing this, you will be able to make proper use of libero. To know the rules of libero, you should read the latest rule book volleyball. And it would be best if you continued your coaching studies. And make sure to practice more and more to achieve your goals.
Why does libero wear a different color uniform?
The uniform of the libero is in contrast. The libero must wear a different color uniform because they can join and leave the game at any time of the game. The libero should stand out in the team to track the libero and when they come and go. This is extremely important. You can’t go without the fitting jersey. The colors have to be correct. You need to ensure that you have the fitting jersey in the accurate color before the game. This can end up being a reason for complications in the game. So, it would be best if you were careful about this.
A few qualifications of libero
As a libero, there are a few qualifications that you need to have to take part in the position of libero. There are differences in liberos as well. Many are beginners, young, and less skilled, and many are pro and expert libero. Now, I will talk about a few of the traits that a libero should have. And they are listed down below-
- Great passing ability
- Great digging ability
- Great ball-handling skills
- Must be quick
- Must be constant
- Energetic and loud
These are the few traits that should be in a good libero. A libero’s work is significant and challenging, so they need to be completely ready and able to live up to that mark.
Rules of a libero
In the libero position, there are certain things that you can’t do. It is known to all that every game has some rules. And there are some rules for the liberos as well. And you have to be careful not to break these rules; otherwise, you can be completely disqualified from the game. That’s why you should know the rules of liberos.
If you are a libero, coach, or even a volleyball player, you need to know these rules thoroughly. And without complete knowledge of the practices, you can’t even make the game’s proper strategy. So it is essential to know these rules. And some of the regulations of libero are given below.
- Each team can have one or two (in some cases) liberos. But a team can have only one libero present in the court at a time.
- Before the match, the libero must be recorded on the score sheet n the line reserved for this. The number must be recorded on the line-up sheet of the first set.
- The team captain cannot be the libero.
- The libero uniform must be in contrast color to the rest of the team’s uniform.
- The libero uniform can have a different design but must be numbered in the same way.
- If a libero wears a jacket, the number of their jersey must be visible throughout the game.
- The libero can only replace a layer from the back row.
- The libero cannot block, attempt to intercept or serve.
- The libero can only be replaced by the player whom they replaced.
- Replacement can only take place when the ball is out of play.
These are only a few of the rules that libero has. There are more rules to this position. You can check out a recent rule book to find out all libero rules.
Thank you for reading this article. I have covered all the essential information about libero in volleyball in this article. I hope you find this article helpful to you.
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