Forfeit rule when using Libero

[MCBear]

Felix,

What you say is correct. The problem refnrev and his partners discussed results from the following -

In the section titled "Transitioning to Libero Player" on page 57 of the currect rules book it says:

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

There are a couple of minor difficulties with the section as printed on page 57:
1 - NFHS rules do not allow for both expulsion and disqualification of players. According to Rule 12, "Procedure for Unsportsmanlike Conduct Violations", on page 43, we have "3. Warning..., 4. Penalty..., 5. Disqualification..."

2 - If the team becomes incomplete, we do not default the game or match - defaulting is never mentioned in NFHS rules.

The short version is that when NFHS was putting in the libero rules, they copied directly from USAV and NCAA without proofing it to correct it to match NFHS rules.

With that being said, we would refer to Rule 6-1-2: "If a team has fewer than six eligible players due to illness, injury or disqualification after the start of the match, it shall continue to play."

You are correct - if the libero is disqualified, the player who they replaced must reenter the game and there is no libero for the remainder of that game. A new libero may be designated for any subsequent game remaining in the match.