NFHS adopts the libero

[TheGreatLineJudge]

NFHS Volleyball Section

 

It's going to be a long and interesting season, folks.

[TheGreatLineJudge]

Let the questions begin!!

 

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The Player

Six players are listed on the lineup sheet in the floor position they occupy at the start of the game. A team may also list one specialized defensive player called the "libero" on the lineup sheet for each game. If a libero is not designated on the lineup sheet for a game, that team may not use a libero in that game. A player designated as the libero can play as a non-libero player in that game. (Exception: Rule 10-3-6 - Exceptional Substitution)

 

A. Playing actions:

1. The libero is restricted to perform as a back-row player, and is not allowed to complete an attack from anywhere (on or off the court) if, at the moment of contact, the ball is entirely above the height of the net.

2. The libero may not block or attempt to block.

3. A teammate may not complete an attack when, at the moment of the attack, the ball is entirely above the height of the net and the ball is coming from an overhand finger pass by a libero on or in front of the attack line. The ball may be freely attacked if the libero overhand finger passes from behind the attack line. If airborne, the libero's position is judged according to the point of last contact with his/her team's court.

 

B. Libero replacements:

1. 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. The libero can only be replaced by the player whom he/she replaced. An incorrect libero replacement is penalized with a delay of game if the officials identify and correct the situation prior to the next service contact. If identified after service contact, a position fault results.

3. Replacements can only take place after the end of a rally or at the start of each game after the umpire has verified the starting lineup. The replacement must occur while the ball is out of play and before the referee signals for serve. A replacement will not be allowed after the signals for serve.

4. A libero and the player replaced by the libero must enter or leave the court only by the sideline in front of their team bench between the attack line and the end line.

 

C. Uniform

The libero must wear a uniform top that is immediately recognized from all angles as being in clear contrast to and distinct from the other members of the team. The primary color of the libero's uniform top must be different from any color that appears on more than 25 percent of the body of her teammates' uniform tops. In determining the body of the uniforms, the sleeves and collar should be ignored. The libero uniform must have a legal number. The style and trim of the libero's uniform top may differ from her teammates'uniforms, but her shorts must be like-colored to her teammates.

 

D. Injury Substitution

If the libero is injured and cannot continue play, he/she must first be replaced by the player whom he/she replaced. Then, a new libero may be re-designated using the following criteria:

1. Redesignation does not need to occur immediately after the injury and replacement, but may occur at the discretion of the coach(es).

2. When redesignation does occur, any substitute may be redesignated as libero for the injured libero. The injured libero may not play in the remainder of that game.

3. The player redesignated as libero must wear a libero uniform and must remain the libero for the rest of the game. The redesignated libero's uniform must have a unique number (not worn by any teammate), but, because of the injury situation, not necessarily the same number with which the player started the match.

 

E. Exceptional Substitution

The libero may be used as an exceptional substitution for another injured player if no other possible substitutes exist. When no longer playing as a libero, that player must wear the same uniform as her teammates, and the team continues play with no libero.

 

F. Disqualification Substitution

The libero may not be used as a substitute for an expelled or disqualified teammate. If no legal substitute is available for an expelled or disqualified teammate, that team will be declared incomplete and will default the game or match, as appropriate.

 

G. Libero Disqualification

If the libero is expelled or disqualified while playing, he/she must be replaced by the player whom he/she replaced. The team continues play with no libero player.

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIBERO TRACKER

An individual other than the scorekeeper must be provided to track the entries of the libero player. This assistant scorekeeper is charged with tracking the libero replacements. There are two important procedures that the assistant scorekeeper is responsible for enforcing. The first procedure is to assure that once the libero is replaced, at least one rally must take place before the libero can replace another player. The second procedure is to ensure that when the libero leaves the court, the player replacing the libero must be the same player that the libero replaced when he/she last entered the game.

 

Scorekeeper and Assistant Scorekeeper (libero tracker) Duties:

 

Before the start of each game, the scorekeeper will:

a. Obtain the lineup sheets from the umpire and record the uniform numbers of the starting players in serving order and the libero on the scorebook. Opponents will not be permitted to see the lineup submitted by the opposing team prior to the start of play.

b. Ensure that the assistant scorekeeper (libero tracker) accurately records the lineups on the libero tracking sheet.

 

After the toss of the coin and before each game:

a. Review the lineups submitted to ensure that a captain is indicated, no duplicate or illegal numbers are entered, and the libero's number is noted. If no libero is indicated, as a courtesy (clarifies it's not a rule) notify the umpire so the coach can verify that no libero will be utilized in the current game.

b. Record the team information and the positions of the player on the court according to the serving order on the lineup sheet.

c. Record all libero replacements accurately, so the libero tracking sheet reflects the players actually on the court at all times.

d. If an incorrect libero replacement occurs, notify the umpire unless the team immediately fixes the illegality with no delay.

 

During the match, the assistant scorekeeper will:

a. Record all substitutions and libero replacements on the libero tracking sheet.

b. Notify the officials if the libero is replaced by an incorrect player, or if an undesignated libero enters the game.

c. Notify the officials if the libero does not remain out of the game for one rally between replacements.

d. Communicate and coordinate with the scorekeeper to ensure accuracy of both the scorebook and the libero tracking sheet.