What’s The Job of a Libero in Volleyball?
In Volleyball One Of The Most Coveted Positions Is The Libero
In volleyball the Libero is the Defensive Captain and wears a different colored jersey. There are typically six rotations per game. A rotation is when players rotate in a clockwise direction after scoring a point when the other team serves. For example, when the person in the front right position moves to the back right position, they become the new server. Previous rules only allowed the Libero to play three out of six rotations. But recent rule changes now allow the Libero to play all six out of six rotations.
Libero Means “FREE” in Italian
➤ Which is a fitting name for the position. The Libero in volleyball is special in the fact that they may substitute, or sub, in without actually using any official substitutions. Each team is only allowed to have six subs per set. Substitutions are important in volleyball because they allow players to come out of the game when tired, or to rotate to a different position on the court if they are struggling with the position they are currently playing. Allowing the Libero to come in and out of the game without using subs, allows the team to maintain more stamina per game.
But what does the Libero actually do? 🏐
Liberos mainly sub in for the Middle Hitter in the back row. While the Middle Hitter moves to the front row. The Libero can also serve for a Middle Hitter. Liberos must possess the ability and skills to play in any position, as they may be put into any position at any given time during a game. Liberos must especially be skilled at defensive digs. Which are maneuvers that prevent the ball from hitting the floor and keep the ball in play. It is also important that they can receive and pass the ball well. A good pass to the Setter allows the Setter to set the ball for a kill from the Hitter. A kill is when the ball is hit over the net and it cannot be returned. The team who makes the kill is the team who gets the point. The better the Libero passes, the better the set-ups, the more chances for the team to get kills.
➤ The attack line on the court determines how a Libero will set the ball for the Hitter. If both feet are completely behind the attack line, the Libero may set or bump set the ball. If one or both feet is touching, or in front of the attack line, the Libero may only bump set the ball so that the play that the Hitter makes is legal. A skilled Libero can set the ball on one leg with the other foot in the air, over the line, but not physically touching it, making it a legal move for the Hitter to attack the ball without a fault.
In summation, a good Libero in volleyball will have specialized skills in reading the court, passing, setting/bump setting, defensive digs, serving, and attacking