What is Libero in volleyball?
I always feel that these athletic players are the backbone of the team’s defense. Libero is a specialized player who plays in the back row to maintain the team’s defense at an indoor volleyball game. If you notice players wearing a different colored jersey on each side of the court, they are none other than a LIBERO!
These ball control specialists highlight their performance using their excellent passing and digging moves with powerful defense abilities.
Do you know, the word ‘Libero’ comes from ‘free’ in Italian? – That means they can move freely around their side of the court and save the ball. But, they cannot rotate or serve the ball to the front line.
What does a Libero do?
When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row player, without prior notice to the officials. This FREEDOM to replace makes liberos play better without any stress.
For me as a coach or trainer, it’s a BOON to have the best Libero in the team! Because their replacements don’t count as regular substitutions.
It is important to note that these substitutions are unlimited. But, they must happen only when a rally in between takes place. Along with, they can move out of the court without informing referees or coaches.
What a great liberty they have! Right, isn’t it?
But, this strong player also has some LIMITATIONS, such as:
- They cannot attack the ball if it is above the net on the point of contact.
- They cannot set the ball if their team’s hitter is in the frontcourt.
- They can only replace their position with the player they originally replaced.
Why is there a Libero special position in Volleyball?
A Libero player is full of agility, rationality, mental toughness, and quick responses! Due to these essential qualities, they can defend any ball from opponents in any situation with the right approach.
PS- Do you know that being a defense position lover, this position is my TOP FAVOURITE? They can read the opponent’s moves and predict where the ball will go during the running match.
The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) introduced the ‘Libero’ position in 1998 to volleyball. The main intention behind creating this position in the team was to extend the length of rallies so that the audience could enjoy the game more. Their intuitive, flexible, and fast moves helped teams to strengthen their defense game.
It is important to note that Liberos are ONLY IN INDOOR VOLLEYBALL! Their presence helps to increase the speed and excitement of the game.
Interesting! Isn’t it? Haha! I KNOW IT IS!
Speaking of their versatile skills, let’s discuss the passing abilities of a Libero. They pass the ball to setters excellently while returning a serve. This helps to maintain ball control for an offensive play. It also increases the team’s opportunities to hit or return the ball.
I prefer selecting players with strong focus and excellent ball control to be a Libero. Because of their ability to keep an eye on the upcoming ball and keep it in play with a strong back-row defense, these players are called the first line of defense!
I remember one of the matches at my club level when I truly understood the importance of the libero. We were lagging behind by 7 points, but we ended up winning the set and the match, all thanks to the slight advantage that the libero position offers
They share real-time direction with their teammates for competitive play. Exceptionally, they set the ball for hitters if the team’s setter is the first to touch the ball or is too far. They run after each ball to have a hand on it and defend it whenever needed.
But, it is also important to note that these same players can be a BIG WARNING SIGN for your team if they have lesser court awareness, poor passing skills, and vague communication with teammates.
4 Tips to become a strong Libero:
A Libero should have these basic skills: agility, flexibility, passing, and quick response. They say:
‘Your strategy works better than power in Volleyball’
This is what a Libero makes unique and strong! Their intuitive thinking to guess the cues of the opponent’s moves and powerful defense keep them a step ahead!
Speaking of this, let us have a look at what makes a Libero strong player:
- Eyes on the ball! Always! :
They are always alert and focused on the ball and the opponent’s moves. Even a distraction of a second is not acceptable if you want to become a powerful Libero! With a constant watch on the ball, Liberos also should keep strategizing the next moves to build a strong defense.
- Run, pass, run!:
You can’t be low in confidence to fetch the ball which is too far from your end. You just have to think about running and passing the ball to your teammates so your team won’t miss a hit!
A Libero should have a harmony of running, receiving, and passing the serve.
I have seen many liberos running, hopping, flying, and jumping with the ball like a kangaroo. When a normal player thinks the ball is ungettable, a Libero makes it happen using his superfast running skills! Good footwork and passing drills practices are the keys to becoming A PRO!
- Dig better:
DIG, DIG, & DIG!
I say this to all my training Liberos to strengthen their gameplay.
Your opponents will always focus on serving hard spikes and sharp attacks to make the game difficult for you. As a Libero, you must always focus on saving the ball from miss/ fault using your powerful digs, defense strategies like pancake, diving, etc., and super-agile body movements.
You must be fast enough to dig to reach your target before the opponent becomes aware. You should practice and repeat digging and defense strategies!
Because, CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS, right?
- Positive Attitude:
Apart from the above important factors, what you think and what kind of attitude you keep on the court plays a vital role. I agree our physical capacity becomes low after running in long rallies, saving balls, and serving them to team members, again and again.
Here’s when staying resilient and positive toward the match keeps you going on to maintain the team’s defense. Quick responses, a rational approach, and powerful comebacks from setbacks make you a stronger Libero!
I have seen many Liberoes who self-talk in their minds during the match. This helps them to keep the spirit alive for digging, defending, and strengthening the game.
Also, you can glance at the following video for essential tips to become a strong Libero: Advice How to Become AMAZING Libero.
Famous Liberos till the date:
- Jenia Grebennikov: This French player plays as a libero for Zenit Saint Petersburg and the France national team. With his highly performing defending skills, he won two gold medals in the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and was the 2015 European Champion. His triumph is unmatchable and he is considered the most inspiring player for volleyball enthusiasts!
- Justine Wong-Orantes: The HERO Player! This player is famous for her excellent defense and digging skills. She is a part of the most glorious United States women’s national volleyball team ! She coveted a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Her team also won the NCAA national championship, where she was a Libero.
Final thoughts:
Being a Libero is a great responsibility to sustain the repo of your team’s defense! A Libero’s digging, defending, running, and passing skills lead your team to the win. Consistent drills are the way to enhance these skills. I feel I can reach more volleyball players and enthusiasts through my articles. I would love to hear your insights from you guys! If you need any help in volleyball, feel free to e-mail me.
