# Law 19: The Libero Player (FIVB Official Volleyball Rules)

Volleyball · Law 19: The Libero Player · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/volleyball/laws/law-19-the-libero-player/)

Designating up to two Liberos and their uniform, what a Libero may and may not do, Libero replacements and illegal ones, and re-designating a new Libero when one can no longer play.

## 19.191 Designation and Equipment

How many Liberos a team may and must list, the Acting Libero, and the contrasting uniform.

### Test 1: Designation and equipment

- Each team may designate up to two specialist defensive players, the Liberos. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.1.1)
- With more than twelve players recorded at FIVB senior level, two Liberos are mandatory. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.1.1)
- Only one Libero may be on court at a time. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.1.3)
- The Libero on court is the Acting Libero; the other is the second Libero. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.1.3)
- The Libero wears a uniform whose dominant colour differs from any colour of the rest of the team. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.2)
- Both Liberos may be in uniforms different from each other and from the rest of the team. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.2)
- All Liberos are recorded on the score sheet's special Libero lines. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.1.2)
- C contrasts clearly and carries a number; A and B share the team's dominant grey, and D has no number. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.2)
- The Liberos are recorded before the signatures, and the one who takes the court is the Acting Libero. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.1.2, 19.1.3, 4.1.3)
- One Libero on court, up to two designated, six players in play, up to fourteen on an FIVB senior sheet. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.1, 7.3.1, 4.1.1)

## 19.192 What the Libero May Do

Back-row replacement, the ban on high attacks, serving and blocking, and the overhand set in the front zone.

### Test 1: What the Libero may and may not do

- The Libero may replace any player in a back-row position. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.1.1)
- The ban applies everywhere, playing court and free zone alike. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.1.2)
- The Libero may not serve, block or attempt to block. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.1.3)
- The restriction applies only to the Libero's overhand finger pass from inside his front zone. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.1.4)
- A block attempt needs a reach above the top of the net, which the Libero never made. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 14.1.1, 14.6.6; Casebook 2024 5.21)
- The fault is for a classic, intentional finger set; protecting the face is not one. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 13.3.6, 19.3.1.4; Casebook 2024 5.26)
- The Libero is not allowed to take part in any substitution. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.5.1, 15.7; Casebook 2024 5.3)
- Digging in the back zone is the Libero's job; serving, blocking and spiking a ball above the net are forbidden. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.1)
- Rotation is clockwise, so a back-row player goes from 1 to 6 to 5 before reaching the front row. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 7.6.2, 19.3.1.1)
- A penalty rotation that would put the Libero in the front row is a listed exception. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.1)

## 19.193 Libero Replacements

When and how replacements are made, who may replace the Libero, late and illegal replacements.

### Test 1: Libero replacements: when and how

- Libero replacements are not substitutions and there is no limit on them. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.1)
- There must be a completed rally between two Libero replacements, with listed exceptions. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.1)
- The Libero cannot enter until the 2nd referee has checked the line-up and authorised the replacement. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.3)
- Replacements take place while the ball is out of play and before the whistle for service. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.4)
- They may only enter or leave through the Libero Replacement Zone. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.7)
- It is not rejected, but at the end of the rally the game captain is told repetition will bring delay sanctions. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.5)
- Subsequent late replacements interrupt play immediately and bring a delay sanction. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.6)
- Replaying the stopped rally does not complete it, so the Libero has to wait for one that ends in a point. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 6.1.3, 19.3.2.1, 17.2)
- Replacements happen out of play and before the whistle, through their own zone, and are recorded. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.4, 19.3.2.7, 19.3.2.8)
- Before the whistle is normal; a first late one is tolerated with a word; a repeat brings a delay sanction. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.4, 19.3.2.5, 19.3.2.6)

### Test 2: Who may replace the Libero, and illegal replacements

- The Acting Libero can only be replaced by the regular replacement player for that position or by the second Libero. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.2)
- The regular replacement player may replace and be replaced by either Libero. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.2)
- Replacing without a completed rally in between is listed as an illegal Libero replacement. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.9)
- Noticed before the next rally, the referees correct it and sanction the team for delay. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.9)
- After the service hit, the consequences are those of an illegal substitution. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.9, 15.9.2)
- A late service is a completed rally because it gives a point, so the Libero may re-enter. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 6.1.3, 19.3.2.1; Casebook 2024 5.22)
- A Libero may never take part in a substitution; caught before play resumes, the request is denied and sanctioned for delay. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 15.5.1, 16.1.3, 19.2; Casebook 2024 5.24)
- No. 6 is the player the Libero came on for and No. 2 is the other Libero; Nos. 9 and 14 do not qualify. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.2)
- It is treated as an illegal substitution: penalty, correction, then cancellation of points. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2.9, 15.9.2)
- A normal exchange is fine, a first late one is tolerated with a word, and the wrong player makes it illegal. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.3.2)

## 19.194 Re-designating a Libero

When a Libero is unable to play, who may be re-designated, and the cases of one or two Liberos.

### Test 1: Re-designating a Libero

- Injury, illness, expulsion or disqualification makes a Libero unable to play. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.4.1)
- The coach, or without a coach the assistant coach or game captain, may make that declaration. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.4.1)
- Any player not on court at that moment may be re-designated, except the regular replacement player. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.4.2.1)
- A Libero who is the subject of a re-designation may not play for the remainder of the match. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.4.2.2)
- If the coach requests the team captain to be re-designated, it is permitted. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.4.2.5)
- The team plays with one Libero; re-designation is allowed only if the remaining Libero cannot continue. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.4.3.1)
- Should a re-designated Libero become unable to play, more re-designations are permitted. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.4.2.4)
- Only players off court qualify, and No. 11, the regular replacement player, is excluded. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.4.2.1)
- The coach informs the 2nd referee, and the new number is recorded in the remarks and on the Libero control sheet. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.4.2.3, 19.4.2.6)
- One Libero on court, two on the list, three players in each back row. (Source: FIVB OVR 2025-2028, Rule 19.1, 7.4.1.2)

Sources: FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, Rule 19 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral