That player is called the libero (pronounced either LEE-beh-ro or lih-BEAR-oh). The libero — Italian for “free” — is a defensive specialist position adopted by the NCAA in 2002. It could be considered the defensive equivalent of the designated hitter in baseball.
How did libero get its name?
The volleyball libero position was first introduced In Italy in the late 80's early 90s. The word "libero" means "free" in Italian. The Italian concept of the "libero" meant that a particular designated player was "free" to roam in and out of the court in the back row positions to play defense.
What does libero stand for?
A libero (LEE'-beh-ro) in indoor volleyball is a back-row defensive specialist. Since they only play in the back row, those players are often shorter than the front-row blockers and hitters but have impeccable ball-control skills. The position was created to promote ball-control.
Why is the libero not allowed to serve?
The libero replacement zone is the area between the 10-foot line and the end line. So the libero is allowed to serve for any person they substitute for, but once they serve in that one spot, that's the only position in the rotation they can serve in for the remainder of the game.
What is the libero and why was it created?
A libero is a defensive specialist position in indoor volleyball. The position was added to the game of indoor volleyball in 1999 along with a set of special rules for play in order to foster more digs and rallies and to make the game more exciting overall.
25 related questions foundWhy do liberos wear different jerseys?
The libero is made to wear a different colored shirt so that the referees can spot them easily and enforce the rules of that position. “The Libero's jersey or jacket must clearly contrast in color to the color of the jersey worn by other members of the team,” state USA Volleyball's rules.
Why does a libero wear a different colour top?
The reason they have to wear a different colour to their team-mates is to help the referee identify them clearly and make it easier for them to enforce the rules of the libero position. Liberos have only been allowed to be the team captain since earlier this year, after the rules were changed.
Can liberos be captain?
In volleyball, Rule 5 was revised to allow the libero to be either the team or game captain. The Commission reasoned that, although the libero frequently enters and leaves the court, same as a team captain in many cases, there is no reason to not allow the libero to be captain.
How tall should a libero be?
Libero/Defensive Specialist
Tier one players must be at least 5 feet tall. The range tier 1 is 5 feet, 5 inches to 6 feet for upper levels and 5 feet, 5 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches for mid-lower levels.
Can liberos Spike?
The Libero may replace any player, of either gender, in a back row position. The Libero may serve, but cannot block or attempt to block. The Libero may not spike a ball from anywhere if at the moment of contact the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net.
Is libero The hardest position?
It is difficult to be a setter and run an offense, to be a middle and jump every play, or to be an outside and also be a well-rounded player. However, my opinion is that being a libero is by far the most mentally taxing position in the game and is, therefore, the most challenging volleyball position.
What is the most important position in volleyball?
The setter is probably the most important role on a team as they are designed to take the 2nd contact on almost all positions during the game. A poor setter will limit or eliminate the opportunity for the hitters to help the team on offense.
What does C mean in volleyball?
C : A back row set aimed to the right side middle quarter of the court [A|B||C|D]. Chaos: An outside in which the middle runs a one, the outside comes for a two off the middle's shoulder, and the weak side runs around the back to hit an outside 3.
Why did volleyball introduce a libero?
To help quicken up the matches, they introduced the new scoring system which allowed teams to score on every side-out. During the same time, the libero position was introduced to let teams have a defensive specialist on the court for the majority of the match, and therefore, leading to longer, more exciting rallies.
When did libero become a thing?
In the late 1990s, the libero position was officially introduced for international competition and was first used for NCAA women's volleyball in the 2002 season.
How do you say libero in volleyball?
Libero is a three syllable word, not two, which would make it wrong. The correct pronunciation is LEE-buh-ro. It's Italian for "free player." Some people pronounce it "lih-BARE-oh," but I tell them, "it's not the 'statue of lih-BUHR-tee. '" Accent on the first syllable.
Do liberos get scholarships?
It is very common for a libero to commit her junior, or senior year, depending on her level. It is also common for a libero to only receive a full ride scholarship at a Division I school only for two of her four years, and it is usually the last two years of her eligibility.
Who is the shortest libero?
Iranian-born Farhad Zarif is the shortest professional men's volleyball player to have achieved wide success in the sport. And at under 5 and a half feet tall, he's as much as a full foot shorter than many of his competitors! His height gave him a special advantage as his team's libero, or back row defense.
Who is the ace in volleyball?
Definition Of An Ace In Volleyball
The term "ace" refers to when a player serves the ball and the opposing team is unable to pass it.
When there are 2 liberos when can they serve?
Ruling: Even when there are two Liberos on a team, the Libero(s) can only serve in one position on the scoresheet. The Scorer and Assistant Scorer should wait until the Libero contacts the ball for service, and then notify the second referee that a rotation fault has occurred.
Why do liberos go on and off the court?
Liberos do not need to officially substitute into or out of the match. They instead switch with their “sub” by running onto or off the court during a dead ball. Libero “subs” are not counted against your total substitution limit. This is one of the major benefits of using a libero.
What are the rules of libero?
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 may not serve, may not block and may not attempt to block.
Do liberos need to be short?
Most liberos are short comparatively, but they aren't actually short. A lot of the international liberos are in that 6'2-6'4 range.
Why is there a short player in volleyball?
The idea behind creating the position was to allow teams to keep their best defensive player on the court as much as possible. It gives extra value to smaller players who tend not to play along the front row.
