How many liberos can a volleyball team have?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 21, 2026
A libero is a designated back row player. A team can have only one or two liberos listed on the lineup per match. A libero is typically the best passer on the team. The libero(s) wear a clearly contrasting color uniform from the rest of their team (to help the officials track this player).
Can a volleyball team have two liberos?
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.
What is the maximum libero for each team in volleyball?
Rules for the Volleyball Libero
Each team can designate one specialized player as "Libero". The Libero must be recorded on the score sheet before the match in the special line reserved for this. The number must be recorded on the line-up sheet of the first set (game).
How many liberos are there in volleyball?
Under FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) rules, two liberos are designated at the beginning of the play, only one of whom can be on the court at any time. Furthermore, a libero is not allowed to serve, according to international rules.
Can a libero replace another libero?
The libero is allowed to replace any player in a back-row position. 2. Replacements involving the libero are not counted as substitutions, and are unlimited. There must be at least one rally between two libero replacements.
35 related questions foundWhat is the hardest position in volleyball?
Many things look easy and are very easy, but setting is not one of them. Setting might look like a piece of cake, but it is the hardest position in volleyball for many reasons. One reason is that as a setter, it is their job to get the second ball up to one of their hitters, even if the first pass was not any good.
Can the libero be the team 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.
Can a libero stay in the whole game?
The libero remains in the game at all times and is the only player who is not limited by the regular rules of rotation. The libero usually replaces the middle blocker position when that player rotates to the back row, but the libero never rotates to the front row.
Can a libero 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.
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.
Why are liberos not allowed to be captains?
But their ban on liberos serving as team captains is something of a mystery. One reason could be that, since the libero is continually rotating on and off the court, it would be a hassle to designate a floor captain each time the libero leaves the court.
Can there be 7 players in volleyball?
There are six players on court in a volleyball team, who each must rotate one position clockwise every time their team wins back service from the opposition. Only the three players at the net positions can jump and spike or block near the net.
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.
Does a volleyball team need a libero?
Playing with a libero player is optional. Teams do not have to have a libero player. NFHS Volleyball Rules will allow the use of the libero player during the 2014-15 school year.
Can you have two liberos one set?
The team CANNOT change Liberos from set to set when two have been designated at the start of the match. #3 - When a team is using two Liberos for the match, the Liberos may replace one another without the original player returning to the court. A completed rally must always occur between replacements.
Can a libero hand set?
LIBERO PLAYING ACTIONS:
* The libero cannot block or attempt to block (illegal block). * The libero cannot overhand finger set a ball while on or in front of the attack line to a teammate who completes an attack while the ball is completely above the height of the net (illegal back row attack).
Can libero cross 10 foot line?
The libero, also according to the rules, cannot “complete an attack hit” if the ball is above the net and it cannot perform an overhead set in front of the attack line — commonly called the 10-foot line — while still having teammates attack the ball above the net.
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 does one wear red in volleyball?
These players are the liberos. A libero is a volleyball player who typically specializes in defense, only playing in the back row of the court.
How many liberos can be on the court?
Only 1 libero may be on the court at any given time for the team. Some coaches and teams use 2 liberos, but they can never be on the court together. 3. Liberos must wear a uniform that has a different and contrasting color from the rest of their team.
What is a bolero in volleyball?
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.
Is libero a good position in volleyball?
The libero position on the volleyball team is one of the most important positions in the game of volleyball (Rank by importance were Setters, Outsides, Liberos). Defense is important but serve receive passing can sometimes be the game changer that it takes to win a game.
What does 2 fingers mean in volleyball?
Two fingers up. Ball contacted more than once by a player. The block does not count. Begin Service. The official indicates that the server may now serve.
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 for 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.