Libero

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Libero ReplacementUnnecessary Delay or Illegal
alignment NFHS Volleyball Interpreters
Meeting Indianapolis, Indiana
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Libero (Leebah row) Rhymes with
Figero!
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Libero (La bearo)
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The point of no return (10-4-penalties 1 4) p.
42 1. Unnecessary delay is charged to the
offending team when an illegal libero replacement
takes place prior to the whistle/signal for
serve. If identified after whistle/signal for
serve, illegal alignment results (loss of
rally/point). In all cases, the illegal libero
must enter legally or be replaced by a legal
player.
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2. For the serving team, any points known to have
been scored during a term of service in which an
illegal libero is discovered in the game, shall
be cancelled. 3. For the receiving team prior to
the contact of the serve by the opposing team,
all points earned during the previous term of
service by the violating team while the illegal
libero was in the game, shall be cancelled. 4.
After the serve has alternated and the first
serve is contacted, there shall be no
cancellation of points.
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Rule 10 Substitution and Libero
Replacement (Page 41) Section 4 Libero
Replacement Art. 1Procedures for libero
replacement a. The libero designated on the
lineup for that game is allowed to replace any
player in the back-row position. The libero
may serve in one position in the serve
order. b. The libero may only be replaced by
the player whom he/she replaced.
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c. One libero replacement may be exercised per
dead ball unless the libero is replacing the
player in the right back position and will
serve the next rally. d. Libero replacements do
not count as substitutions and are
unlimited. e. A libero replacement must take
place between the attack line and the endline
in front of that teams bench. f. A libero
replacement must be completed prior to the
whistle and signal for serve.


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• Art. 2Replacements may only take place
• At the start of each game after the starting
• lineup has been checked
• After the end of a rally
• While the ball is out of play and prior to the
  whistle and signal for serve.
• Art. 3A libero replacement cannot take place
  during a time-out. Replacements can occur after
  a time-out when all players have returned to the
  court provided the replacement sits out one
  rally/dead ball.

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• Art. 5A libero replacement is illegal
  when (Page 42)
• The libero or the replacement is in
• the game without following the required
  replacement procedure
• b. The libero or the replacement is not
• listed on the roster
• c. A libero other than the libero
• designated on the lineup for that
• game replaces a player on the floor.

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Rule 8 The Serve (Page 31) Section 1
Definition Art. 5A re-serve shall be called
when the server releases the ball for service,
then catches it or drops it to the floor.
A re-serve is considered to be a part of a
single attempt to serve. Therefore, after the
referees signal for service, no requests,
e.g., time-out, service order, lineup,
substitution, libero replacement, etc. may be
recognized until after the ball has been
served.
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•  
• Rule 6 The Team Composition and
  Positions (Page28)
• Section 3 Player Positions
• PENALTIES
• Illegal alignment
• 2. For an improper server or illegal
• replacement found in the game, loss of
• rally shall be awarded as soon as
• the improper server or illegal replacement
• is discovered and verified.
• a. When an improper server is discovered
• prior to the contact of the first serve by
  the
• opposing team, all points earned by the
• improper server shall be cancelled.

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b. When an improper server is not
discovered until after the serve has
alternated and the first serve has been
contacted, there shall be no cancellation of
points, and no penalty is assessed. c. Proper
serving order as written in the scoresheet
shall be regained immediately.
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• Points of emphasislibero (p. 48)
• Unnecessary delay or illegal alignment for
  replacementUnnecessary delay is charged to the
  offending team when an illegal libero replacement
  takes place before the next service contact. If
  the illegal replacement is found in the game
  after service contact, illegal alignment results.
  The libero replacement must take place before
  the whistle/signal for serve if it is to be
  considered legal.
•  

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Libero allowed to serve The libero may replace
the player in the right back position in the
service order. The libero may only serve in one
position in the serving order. If the libero is
in the game immediately prior to moving to a
serving position, there does not have to be a
rally between the libero replacements if the
libero serves the next rally.  
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Libero replacement clarifications Rule
6-3-Penalty 2 added, an illegal replacement
found in the game, to the rule and the language
in the penalty. When an illegal replacement is
found in the game, the offending team is assessed
the penalty for illegal alignment resulting in a
loss of rally/point being awarded as soon as the
illegal replacement is discovered and verified.
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The term libero replacement was added to the
list of requests that are not to be granted once
the referees signal for serve has been
given. Rule 10-4-2c states that the replacement
may only take place while the ball is out of play
and before the whistle/signal for serve rather
than at contact of serve. A re-serve is
considered as one attempt to serve the ball.
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 COMMENTS ON THE RULES   6-3-Penalty 2 An
illegal replacement, if found in the game any
time after the whistle/signal for serve, shall be
considered illegal alignment and result in a loss
of rally/point for the opponent. This change
encourages replacements to take place in a timely
fashion and allows the officials to have a
clearer distinction of when the replacement is
attempting to enter the game or is in the game.
The penalty now treats all players out of proper
position as illegal alignment.
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10-4-1f and 10-4-2c The libero replacement shall
be completed prior to the whistle/signal for
serve. In both rules, the libero replacement
must take place durng a dead ball and prior to
the signal for serve. This will allow the
assistant scorer to record the replacement, the
scorer to be alert if the libero is to serve and
the official to turn all of his/her attention to
the serve and not be distracted by a late
replacement and possible delay in the flow of the
game.
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10-4-Penalty 1 An illegal libero replacement
shall result in one of two penalties based upon
when the illegal replacement is identified by the
officials. When an illegal replacement attempts
to enter the game and is detected before the
signal for serve, an unnecessary delay is charged
the offending team. An illegal replacement
detected in the game any time after the
whistle/signal for serve is given by the official
until the next dead ball shall result in illegal
alignment and loss of rally/point is awarded to
the opponent. This distinction in penalties more
accurately reflects what is occurring in the game
and prevents poor procedure by not having a
timely replacement detract from the flow of the
game.
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8-1-5 This change clarifies that since a
re-serve is considered one attempt to serve, a
libero replacement may not take place during the
re-serve as there has not been a rally.
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6-3-2e Now permits the libero to serve in one
position in the serve order. The libero may
replace one player in the right back position to
serve. It is acceptable that if the libero is
already in the game immediately prior to moving
to the right back position to serve, the next
rally there does not have to be a rally between
libero replacements.   5-6-3c, 9-5-6d, and 10-4-1
a c With the addition of the libero being
allowed to serve, several other rules were
affected. Rules relating to replacement,
responsibilities of the assistant scorer and
libero player action have been changed to
accommodate the libero serving.
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SITUATIONS   Situation 1 After the
whistle/signal to serve, Team A drops the ball in
an attempt to get a re-serve. As soon as the
whistle sounds and the official signals re-serve,
the libero replaces a back-row player. The
official should (a) allow the replacement or (b)
whistle and signal unnecessary delay (c) whistle
and signal illegal alignment. RULING (a) and
(b) Incorrect procedure (c) correct procedure.
COMMENT The libero may not replace a back-row
player during a re-serve. (8-1-5)
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Situation 2 Team Rs No. 8 replaces the
libero. After the contact of the serve, the
referee spots a ball from another court on the
floor and whistles for a replay. The libero then
replaces No. 3. RULING Legal. COMMENT Even
though no points were scored, the ball was served
and a rally has taken place. Replacements are
allowed. (8-1-5)
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Situation 3 Team A earns the rally/point.
After the official whistles/signals for serve (a)
no replacement enters for the libero and the
libero has rotated to the left front position
(b) the correct replacement player runs onto the
court and quickly replaces the libero in the left
front position. RULING Both (a) and (b) are
illegal. COMMENT Rule 9-5-6dA libero shall
not rotate to the front row. Rule 10-4-1fA
libero replacement must be completed during a
dead ball prior to the whistle and signal for
serve. In both (a) and (b) the official shall
whistle and signal illegal alignment and award
the point/rally to Team B.
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 Situation 4 The libero for Team R has not yet
served in the current game. The libero has
replaced player 5 and is playing in the left
back position. Team R wins a rally and rotates,
moving player 8 to the serving position. The
libero goes to the service zone, player 8 exits
the court over the sideline between the attack
line and the end line, and player 5 returns to
the court to the right front position. The
official (a)whistles/signals for serve (b)
whistles/signals delay of game (c)
whistles/signals illegal alignment. RULING (a)
correct procedure, (b) and (c) incorrect
procedure. COMMENT These player exchanges are
all legal and if they are executed in a timely
fashion, there is no delay of game. The libero
may serve in one position in the serve order.
(10-4-1a) There does not have to be a rally
between libero replacements if the libero serves
the next rally. (10-4-6a,b)
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Situation 5 The libero for Team A has replaced
player 3 in position No. 1 and has served two
points. Player 3 returns to the game to replace
the libero and serve the next rally. The libero
stays on the court to replace another back-row
player. The officials (a) intercede to correct
the situation, whistle/signal delay of game (b)
allow the replacement, whistle/signal Team
A/player 3 to serve at which time the illegal
replacement is identified/verified and the
officials whistle/signal illegal alignment and
award the rally/point to Team B. RULING (a)
correct procedure, (b) correct procedure.
COMMENT The officials judgment comes into play
in this situation as they must determine what is
occurring in this game. As is stated in the
COMMENTS ON THE RULES, This distinction in
penalties more accurately reflects what is
occurring in the game and prevents poor procedure
by not having a timely replacement detract from
the flow of the game.
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Situation 6 Player 8 for Team S is rotating
to the right back to serve. The coach for Team S
requests a substitution, 10 for 8. Player 10
serves, and Team S loses the rally. The libero
for Team S then replaces player 10 and plays
the back-row positions. When the libero rotates
to the front row, (a) player 8 replaces the
libero (b) player 10 replaces the libero (c)
player 10 replaces the libero, moves to the
substitution zone while player 8 leaves the
bench area, enters the substitution zone and
substitutes for player 10. RULING (a)
Incorrect procedure (b) and (c) correct
procedures. COMMENT The libero must be
replaced by the player whom the libero originally
replaced.(10-4-1b) If an incorrect player
replaces the libero, delay of game is assessed if
the error is discovered by the officials before
the next whistle/signal for serve. If the
incorrect player is on the court when the
whistle/signal for serve occurs, illegal
alignment results.
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Situation 7 The Team S libero is on the bench
and has not served in this game. Before the
referee whistles/signals for serve and while
player 5 is in the service area, the coach
instructs the libero to serve for 5. The libero
and 5 exchange positions at the end of the
court. Neither player crosses the sideline
between the attack line and the endline. The
officials whistle/signal delay of game. RULING
Correct procedure. COMMENTS The players
involved in a libero replacement must enter and
exit the court over the sideline between the
attack line and the endline so that the assistant
scorer (libero tracker) is able to observe and
record all libero replacements accurately so the
libero tracking sheet reflects the players
actually on the court at all times.
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Situation 8 The Team S libero has served in the
current game in position three (in replacement of
starting player 5). Later in the same game, the
libero comes from the bench to replace starting
player 7, who is just rotating to the right back
position and prepares to serve. The officials
are aware that the libero cannot serve in this
second position. The official (a)
whistles/signals illegal alignment (b)
whistles/signals for serve, waits for the contact
of the serve by the libero and whistles/signals
improper server (c) whistles/signals delay of
game. RULING (a) and (c) Incorrect procedures
(b) correct procedure. COMMENTS There is
nothing improper or illegal about the libero
coming from the bench to replace a back row
player. The officials should treat this
situation as any other potential wrong
serverwait until the contact of the serve before
assessing illegal alignment/improper server.
Once the penalty is assessed, the libero can
remain on the court in replacement of 7 as a
rally has occurred.
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Situation 9 The Team S libero has served in the
current game in position three (in replacement of
starting player 5). Later in the same gme, the
libero is on the court in replacement of starting
player 10. The team wins a rally and rotates to
serve. Starting player 7 is the next legal
server. Player 7 leaves the court, player 10
returns to the court, and the libero goes to the
service area and prepares to serve. The
officials are aware that the libero cannot serve
in this second position. The officials (a)
whistle/signal delay of game and indicate illegal
libero replacement (b) whistle/signal illegal
alignment (c) whistle/signal for serve followed
by a whistle signal for illegal
alignment/improper server. RULING (b)
Incorrect procdure (a) and (c) Correct
procedures. COMMENTS The libero replacement is
illegal since the libero can only avoid sitting
out a rally between replacements IF the libero is
the next LEGAL server. (10-4-5a) If the officials
intervene prior to the beckon for serve, they can
assess the delay of game penalty for illegal
libero replacement as the libero did not sit out
a rally between replacements. Player 7 would be
the legal server and the libero can either remain
in the game for player 10 on the back row, or go
to the bench. If the officials do not intervene
until the libero illegally contacts the serve,
they would need to assess the illegal
alignment/improper server penalty. Once the loss
of rally/point is awarded, the libero can remain
on the court in replacement of 7 as a rally has
occurred.
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Situation 10 The libero (a) while playing the
center back position is standing closer to the
net than the center front player at the moment of
contact of the serve (b) during the same dead
ball--exits the court from the left back
position, briefly sits on the bench, re-enters
the court in replacement of the center back
player (c) is not listed on the lineup sheet for
the second game. RULING (a) Illegal alignment
(b) Illegal libero replacement (c) Failure to
list the libero number on the lineup sheet
results in no libero for that game. COMMENTS
(a) At the moment of serve All players,
including the libero, shall be in correct serving
order. Each front-row player shall havae at
least part of one foot touching the floor closer
to the center line than both feet of the
corresponding back-row player. (6-3-3b) (b) One
libero replacement may be exercised per dead ball
unless the libero is replacing the player in the
right back position and will serve the next
rally. (10-4-1c) (c) If the libero is not
listed on the lineup sheet, they cannot play that
game. The libero, when used must be designated
on the lineup sheet prior to each game.(6-3-2a)