THE LIBERO PLAYER – BASIC OPERATING RULES

 COMMENTARY: The home school is responsible for supplying an assistant scorekeeper (AS) to track libero replacements during each game of the match.

THE SPECIFIC RULES FOR THE LIBERO PLAYER ARE AS FOLLOWS:

�        A libero may be designated for each game.

�        If a libero is designated for a game, the libero’s number must be recorded on the line-up sheet for that game. Each time a lineup is submitted, if a libero has not been listed, the officials may verify with the coach and are encouraged to do so whether the coach meant to designate a libero, especially if the officials have observed a player who is clearly wearing a different looking shirt!

�        If a libero is not listed on the line-up sheet for a game, the team may not use a libero in that game.

�        The libero must wear a uniform shirt or jacket that is immediately recognized from all angles as being in clear contrast to and distinct from the other members of the team.

�        The libero uniform shirt must have a number as prescribed by rule.

�        A player CANNOT change numbers during a match (blood is the ONE exception), regardless of position (libero vs. non-libero).  So, #20 is #20 throughout the match, whether she's in a libero jersey for a particular game or not. 

�        If teams are anticipating using more than one libero as well as using those players in other positions in different games of a match, duplicate numbered libero shirts will need to be purchased for that purpose.

Playing actions:

�        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.

�        A teammate may not complete an attack-hit when, at the moment of the attack-hit, the ball is entirely above the top of the net, if the ball is coming from an overhand finger pass by a libero in the front zone. The ball may be freely attacked if the libero makes a finger-tip pass from behind the front zone/attack line. Other ball contacts (non-fingertip action) are not subject to this restriction.

�        The referee will use the illegal attack signal for any attack faults associated with the libero.

Replacement of players:

�        The libero is allowed to replace any player in a back-row position only.

�        Replacements involving the libero are not counted as regular substitutions. These replacements are unlimited, but there must be a rally (which can include a playover) between two libero replacements.

�        The libero can only be replaced by the player whom the libero replaced, and this is the responsibility of the AS to track.

When replacements must take place:

�        Libero replacements may take place only after the end of a rally or at the start of each game after the umpire has checked the starting lineup, as well as any time the ball is out of play and before the whistle for service.

�        A replacement made after the whistle for service but before the service contact should not be rejected by the match officials but should be the object of a verbal warning after the end of the rally. Subsequent late replacements are subject to an unnecessary delay sanction.

Where libero exchanges are to occur:

�        A libero and the player replaced by the libero may enter or leave the court only by the sideline in front of the libero’s team bench between the attack line and the end line. It is important for the libero exchange and substitutions to be easily distinguished from each other.

�        When a team is making both a libero replacement and a substitution for the player involved in the libero exchange, the following protocol should be observed:

o        The player whom the libero replaced must step onto the court between the attack line and the end line and make the exchange with the libero.

o        The substitute must enter the sub zone and wait at the sideline until the player replacing the libero enters the court and moves to where the substitute is waiting in the sub zone. The substitution then occurs pursuant to normal substitution procedures (players await authorization by umpire before making the switch).

Redesignation of a new libero when the libero is injured:

�        When a libero is injured, with prior approval of the referee, any player who is not on the court at the moment of the redesignation may be redesignated as libero during a game. The injured libero may not re-enter to play for the remainder of the game but may play in subsequent games subject to medical clearance if the injury involved loss of consciousness.

�        The player redesignated as libero must remain the libero for the remainder of the game unless there is an injury to the redesignated libero.