Liberos are back row defensive specialists. They can only play in the back positions. They can enter the game freely (Libero is an Italian word meaning free) between rallys, ie the libero may replace any back row player without counting toward that set's substitution limit. When the libero leaves the court, the original player replaced must return to the game for the libero. To simplify this, the libero wears a different color jersey, and libero replacement happens between the attack line and end line, rather than between the attack line and center line as in standard substitutions.
The libero has a few rules that are unique to the position. The libero cannot block or attack at the net. Attackers cannot hit the ball above the net when the libero overhead sets on or in front of the attack line. The libero often is usually not permitted to serve.
Like the middle blockers, the libero is the anchor for the back row defense. They call out whether the setter is front row or back row. Usually teams have libero's base defense position in zone 5. When this is the case the libero usually is responsible for covering front row setter tips. Sometimes setters can be persuaded to pass up on attack attempts by talking across the net to tell the setter that you have his or her tips covered. Liberos also call out what hitters are front row and whether they are stacked or split. They also might be responsible for calling out where other back row defenders should be to dig hits from the different zones or players. They also might be responsible for adjustments to serve receive positioning for different servers. A key responsibility liberos have is to take the first contact on free balls. Liberos theoretically should be one of the best passers on the team. Taking that first contact on as many balls crossing the net as possible opens up the 4 hitters on the floor to get into position to make a full approach and swing. When middles are serving, this responsibility typically falls on the back row middle.
Liberos base defense position is usually in zone 5. Middles played back row defense in zone 5 before the introduction of liberos. Partly because liberos replace middles, this has carried over. Some teams put liberos in zone 6 instead. Most attack attempts go to zone 6, so placing your best defensive player here makes a lot of sense. In theory this is the libero. Still, most teams play liberos in 5. A big consideration for whether to play liberos in 5 or 6 is how much of a role back row attacks by outside hitters will play in your system. Having the outside in 6 and the libero in 5 simplifies making the back row outside a viable hitting option. The outside is already in or close to position to make a full approach. Placing the outside in 5 might place the better defender (libero in 6) in position to take the most hits (improving overall defensive performance), but the trade off is making the back row outside in 5 work harder to hit from 6. Not only because of the need to move from zone 5 to 6 to make yourself available to hit, but also because the base defense position will be closer to the net. Being closer to the net might make getting a full approach more difficult.
Liberos in men's volleyball were originally outside hitters who passed well, but for one reason or another weren't playing in hitting and blocking roles. One such situation involved three senior outside hitters, but a junior outside hitter was an excellent passer. That outside played libero that year even though he was 6'5". Liberos usually are some of the shortest players on any team. As the libero position was more widely adopted and time passed with liberos in the game, we are seeing players who have only played libero. Women's volleyball has employed back row only defensive specialists that substituted in normally long before the introduction of the libero. There the transition to the new position was more instantaneous.
Passing in serve receive and in defense are primary skills. Ideally your libero should be the best passer on the team. Liberos should have good foot speed to get to more balls in emergency situations. Overhead passing is also an important skill, but most of the time as a pass, not a set. Court awareness is critical in situations where the setter took the first touch and the libero is taking the second touch. Knowing where you are on the court and whether or not to overhead set is important in those situations.
See also:
The libero has a few rules that are unique to the position. The libero cannot block or attack at the net. Attackers cannot hit the ball above the net when the libero overhead sets on or in front of the attack line. The libero often is usually not permitted to serve.
Like the middle blockers, the libero is the anchor for the back row defense. They call out whether the setter is front row or back row. Usually teams have libero's base defense position in zone 5. When this is the case the libero usually is responsible for covering front row setter tips. Sometimes setters can be persuaded to pass up on attack attempts by talking across the net to tell the setter that you have his or her tips covered. Liberos also call out what hitters are front row and whether they are stacked or split. They also might be responsible for calling out where other back row defenders should be to dig hits from the different zones or players. They also might be responsible for adjustments to serve receive positioning for different servers. A key responsibility liberos have is to take the first contact on free balls. Liberos theoretically should be one of the best passers on the team. Taking that first contact on as many balls crossing the net as possible opens up the 4 hitters on the floor to get into position to make a full approach and swing. When middles are serving, this responsibility typically falls on the back row middle.
Liberos base defense position is usually in zone 5. Middles played back row defense in zone 5 before the introduction of liberos. Partly because liberos replace middles, this has carried over. Some teams put liberos in zone 6 instead. Most attack attempts go to zone 6, so placing your best defensive player here makes a lot of sense. In theory this is the libero. Still, most teams play liberos in 5. A big consideration for whether to play liberos in 5 or 6 is how much of a role back row attacks by outside hitters will play in your system. Having the outside in 6 and the libero in 5 simplifies making the back row outside a viable hitting option. The outside is already in or close to position to make a full approach. Placing the outside in 5 might place the better defender (libero in 6) in position to take the most hits (improving overall defensive performance), but the trade off is making the back row outside in 5 work harder to hit from 6. Not only because of the need to move from zone 5 to 6 to make yourself available to hit, but also because the base defense position will be closer to the net. Being closer to the net might make getting a full approach more difficult.
Liberos in men's volleyball were originally outside hitters who passed well, but for one reason or another weren't playing in hitting and blocking roles. One such situation involved three senior outside hitters, but a junior outside hitter was an excellent passer. That outside played libero that year even though he was 6'5". Liberos usually are some of the shortest players on any team. As the libero position was more widely adopted and time passed with liberos in the game, we are seeing players who have only played libero. Women's volleyball has employed back row only defensive specialists that substituted in normally long before the introduction of the libero. There the transition to the new position was more instantaneous.
Passing in serve receive and in defense are primary skills. Ideally your libero should be the best passer on the team. Liberos should have good foot speed to get to more balls in emergency situations. Overhead passing is also an important skill, but most of the time as a pass, not a set. Court awareness is critical in situations where the setter took the first touch and the libero is taking the second touch. Knowing where you are on the court and whether or not to overhead set is important in those situations.
See also:
Zones of the Court
Volleyball Basics are intended to present some of the fundamental volleyball knowledge that everyone serious about the sport should know.
Volleyball Basics are intended to present some of the fundamental volleyball knowledge that everyone serious about the sport should know.
