Volleyball Libero Rules and Player Substitutions
The Libero is easily recognizable because they wear a different colored uniform from the rest of the team.
Libero Player Rules and Restrictions
- The Libero cannot be the team captain or game captain.
- The Libero cannot block or attempt to block.
- The Libero cannot complete an attack hit when the ball is entirely above the net.
- The Libero can execute a finger pass in the front zone or front court, but only if the attacker hits the ball when it is below the upper edge of the net. This restriction does not apply to a forearm pass or when returning the ball to the opponent with a low pass.
An attack performed by the Libero is considered a fault when they touch the ball over the top edge of the net from anywhere on the court and send it to the opponent’s side.
With changes introduced in 2008 in Dubai, the coach can substitute the Libero player only once during the game. The starting Libero cannot under any circumstances return to the game after being substituted.
In the women’s university league (NCAA) in the United States and other lower categories, the Libero can serve, but only in one rotation, meaning in the position of one specific player for whom they are entering.
Player Substitutions
Players in the initial lineup can be substituted only once per set and can then return to the game, replacing the player who substituted them. Thus, the maximum number of substitutions is six per set, one per player. Libero substitutions are not counted towards this limit. A substitute player cannot replace more than one player per set.
Substitutions, except for the Libero, must occur in the designated substitution zone, located between the three-meter line and the net.
Substitution Procedure
For an individual substitution, the player entering the game must approach the substitution zone, where the game is stopped, with the number board of the player to be replaced. The scorer will signal with a horn or whistle to authorize the substitution and record it on the scoresheet.
For multiple substitutions (a ‘replacement queue’), the procedure is similar to individual substitutions, with the scorer recording all substitutions in the scoresheet.
Basic Volleyball Rules and Faults
Scoring Points and Common Faults
A point is scored when the opposing team cannot control the ball or commits any of the following offenses:
- Ball Out of Bounds: If the ball touches the ground within a team’s own court, the opposing team scores a point.
- Out of Play: If the ball goes out of bounds, either from a misguided attack or a defensive error, a point is awarded to the opposing team. Contact with the roof, any public fixture, or the school’s own structures is considered out of bounds. Contact with the net, poles, or wires outside the sidebands is also considered out of bounds.
- Illegal Hits:
- A team exceeds the allowed three hits (excluding a block) before returning the ball over the net.
- The same player touches the ball consecutively (a ‘double hit’), unless it’s the first contact after a block, in which case the block touch is not counted as one of the three hits.
- When the ball hits the net on an attack and does not go over, resulting in a fourth touch, a double hit, or the ball simply falling to the ground, the opposing team scores a point.
- Rotation Fault: If players are positioned incorrectly at the moment of the serve, or if the rotation order is not followed.
- Illegal Contact: If the ball is caught, held, or accompanied (a ‘carry’ or ‘lift’). As a special case, if the ball is simultaneously held on the net by players from both teams, it is a double fault, and the rally is replayed.
- Net Fault: A player touches the net or its antennae during play, or uses the net for support.
- Back-Row Player Fault: A back-row player attacks the ball from in front of the attack line when the ball is entirely above the net. The Libero cannot participate in blocking in any way and has restricted attack rules as previously mentioned.