In 1998, the International Volleyball Federation, or FIVB, announced a new position would be introduced to the sport. Each team at that year's world championships would designate a libero -- one defensive player that would spend the entire match on the back row. The rule revolutionized the sport and changed game planning for teams in the United States and around the world.
What Is The Libero?
Libero is Italian for "free," a nod to the position's ability to enter and exit the game without impacting the team's substitution limit. Before the introduction of the libero, coaches would rotate their defensive specialists in and out of the game. Preston Williams, writing for "The Washington Post," explains that liberos can stay on the floor the entire game and be moved along the back row as the coach sees fit. The NCAA followed the FIVB's ruling by adopting the libero for the men's game in 1999 and the women's game in 2002.
Uniform
It is easy to lose track of the libero on the court. USA Volleyball, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Federation of State High School Associations rules require the libero to don a different uniform, typically the road uniform if playing at home and vice versa. This allows officials to keep track of the libero and ensure rules are being followed. In USA Volleyball and NCAA competition, a libero tracker sits at the scorer's table and works with the officiating crew to monitor the player's serves and rotations.
Service
Before the libero's adoption, teams often would add back-row defensive specialists for their digging ability and service technique. While other players may rotate multiple times through the server's position, the libero may not. In high school and college play, liberos rotate through the service order but may only serve one side per set. If service rotates through the team and the libero comes up again, the libero must substitute out of the game. This libero substitution does not count against the team's substitution limits.
Field of Play
Section 19.3 of the USA Volleyball rules for indoor play sets the rules for where the libero may play. The rules section restricts the libero to the back row, and the position cannot attack the ball or strike the ball if it is entirely above the top of the net. The libero may volley the ball over the net with a free hit. This position also is prevented from blocking or attempting to block the ball.
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