A Libero in volleyball is a defensive specialist in the back row. A libero is the most skilled player on the court. They play a crucial role by setting up offensive and defensive plays.
A libero is like a “safety net” for your team, they can cover any player on the other side of the court and often win points with an ace serve or diving save.
When playing as a libero, it’s important to have excellent ball control, passing skills and footwork to be able to get into position quickly when needed.
There are six general positions on the volleyball team, the most debatable being the libero. While every other post has a set function, the libero is considered the defensive specialist.
This, in turn, requires the libero to specialize in reading the court, defensive digs, technical setting, serving and attacking. Not to mention passing and bump setting.
Terming a libero job as a defense specialist is putting it lightly. There is tremendous pressure on the libero to deliver successfully in guiding the team to victory, dig by dig.
Electing the Libero
Every team needs a libero. It is the player who specializes in defense, and often times has the most pressure on them. The libero must be an excellent passer, digger, and can serve as well.
So how do you know if you should be one?
Well there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding this important question: firstly, what position do I play? If it’s setter or outside hitter then your best bet might not be to become a libero. Secondly, does my speed measure up? Most teams have at least one fast person but they need someone who can cover ground quickly as well as being able to sprint from sideline-to-sideline will come in handy for this role.
The libero position and status is a special designation in volleyball. Something akin to a pinch hitter in baseball. The primary role of a libero is to be the backbone of the back-row hitters.
A libero is not limited by the rules of rotation and can be freely substituted into the game. The selected libero is to remain in the game from start to finish. For situations where the primary libero might get hurt, a few organizations allow the option of a secondary libero.
However, the secondary libero can only be substituted if not present on the court at the time of the emergency.
Responsibilities of a Libero
A libero is the most important player on the court. The role requires them to wear a contrasting jersey or uniform, making it easy for teammates and opponents alike to tell who he is at all times during game time! They also spend plenty of energy playing defense from behind while sticking close enough in front so that any dig passes go right into his or her hands.
In addition, Liberos:
- At the start of the set, the libero replaces the middle blocker position but, during rotation, gets replaced out again. The libero is strictly supposed to be a back-row player and cannot rotate to the front row.
- In a volleyball match, you will notice that the libero is sometimes responsible for defense in larger portions of the court. There are situations where the libero can take up the gauntlet to set up an offensive play, albeit sparingly.
- Offensive play by a libero involves setting and passing the dig. Based on the position on the court, there are set standards of volleyball ball setting by a libero.
- Defensive play by a libero entails that the ball is kept in the air. This implies getting a hand on every attack the opposing team makes, and chasing the ball down even in tight corners.
The skills of being an attacker or a blocker are not top priorities for a libero. Further, the presence of a libero as a substitute enables the team to conserve energy and stamina throughout the set.
Attributes of a Libero
The concept of height has never been an issue for liberos. How tall is a volleyball net? Whether they are tall or not, they must merely possess the passion of being active on the court; aware at all times. A few other essential attributes that any team will benefit from in a libero are as follows.
- A libero must possess fine-tuned skills to be able to play in any position on the court.
- Must have a decent game-sense to get an accurate read on the flow of the game.
- Playing defensive digs and fending the floor is the most crucial aspect of being a libero.
- A libero should have decent passing and receiving skills to cover for targeted gameplays.
- Good setting skills with keen court observation skills allow a libero to set a perfect kill for his teammates.
Regulated playing actions of a libero
A libero certainly shares a great responsibility as a defensive specialist and the second life of defense. However, here are the limitations and allowances a libero faces when on the court.
- Under no circumstance can a libero act as a team captain.
- The libero is to be watched closely for substitutions and recorded on a set score sheet reserved for this purpose.
- The contrasting uniform of the libero must be visible at all times during the gameplay.
- The libero can only replace players in the back-row positions.
- Serving has always been a dicey area concerning liberos. While the FIVB does not grant permission to serve, the NCAA and USAV sanctioned events allow liberos to serve.
- The libero can neither attempt to block nor completely block any incoming kills. Going on defense in such situations by digging the ball is the only way forward.
- Even as a back-row player, the libero is limited to perform complete attack gameplay. He cannot attack the ball if it is above the net-level. This means that a libero can only reach for the ball while attacking and not jump to make contact.
- Players setting up the pass from a libero also face limitations in attacking. They may or may not complete attacks, depending on the position of the libero at the moment of the pass.
- A libero cannot set up an attack from the frontcourt.
- Passes from a libero can only be underhanded to be accepted from any position on the court.
- During the setting, the attack line determines how the libero can set for the hitter. If the libero is positioned behind the attack line, they can only make underhanded sets. If the libero is near or is touching the attacking line, he has to ensure definite foot positioning. The foot in contact with the line must be moved away before making contact with the ball. When the libero finds himself in front of the attack line, he can choose to put up underhanded or overhanded sets. In the case of an underhanded setting, the hitter will attack as usual. But in the case of an overhanded-set, the hitter must attack without approaching the ball from a stationary position.
Summing up
Volleyball is a physical game that requires precision. Liberos, who may not be starter for many teams but still play till the end of match ensuring saves from tight spots with their consistency and quick handling skills are truly something to appreciate on court.
Not all libero players can start in matches because there’s such an emphasis placed on blocking shots instead of setting up plays; however they stay put so when your team needs one last save or block it will always have someone waiting at hand.
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