Two liberos - questions

[PaREF]

I just took my USAV test and I've spent some time digesting the new two-libero rule. My guess is that I won't see this very often but who knows? I do have a couple of questions and I'm wondering if anyone has been to a clinic or taken the clinic on-line.

1. According to the rules, if the coach wishes to have a libero enter the match immediately after the R2 has checked the lineups in the first set, he/she must be the "starting" libero (the one listed on the left of the lineup sheet). If I interpret it correctly, this only applies to the first set. I think that it means if the coach wants the "second" libero on the court prior to the first serve of the second or third set it is permitted. Is my interpretation correct?

2. Only one libero is permitted in the game at one time. Is it permissable after a completed rally for the "acting" libero to be replaced by the correct player AND the "second" libero replace a different back-row player, essentially, two simultaneous libero replacements?

[oldsetter]

Good questions.
1. seems right, that makes since.
2. I hope not, that would be a nightmare for the tracker. Imagine both teams doing it at the same time....wow.

[Antonio.King]

1. Yes. This only applies to the first rally of the match (so point 1 of set 1). However, if, for example, a team ops not to use their libero for the first rally, then any subsequent rally, either libero can enter the match.

USAV 19.1.3
One Libero designated by the coach before the start of the match will be the starting Libero. The Libero on court is the Acting Libero. If there is another Libero, he/she will act as the second Libero.

2. No. Regardless of there being two liberos, a libero replacement is still defined as a libero replacement, so there must be a completed rally in between replacements. So in your scenario, the acting libero comes off, the front row player returns to the court. Rally happens, opposing team wins point, NOW either libero can enter the court for a back row player since a completed rally preceded the replacement.

USAV 19.3.2.1
Replacements involving the Libero are not counted as substitutions. They are unlimited, but there must be a completed rally between two replacements involving a Libero (unless a penalty causes a rotation to position 4, or the Acting Libero becomes unable to play, making the rally incomplete).

The only issue where this gets hairy is for those regions that allow the libero to server (won't even bother getting into that unless there's a question about it).

Hope that helps!

[Scrapper1]

Is this also coming to NCAA? (I hope not!)

[Antonio.King]

It's a topic that's planning on being discussed in the next season (fall of '12). In fact, here's the NCAA report of changes and future topics (this came out in April of '11):

2011 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL RULES COMMITTEE REPORT
APRIL 2011

This document serves as a report to the women’s volleyball community from the NCAA
Women’s Volleyball Rules Committee. The committee met January 18-20 in Indianapolis and is
using this opportunity to inform the membership of its main topics of discussion and to
communicate rules changes, points of emphasis, clarifications and future considerations. While
there were no rules changes proposed for the 2011 season, two new rules changes were
approved that will be implemented during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The Playing Rules
Oversight Panel (PROP) approved all items in this report on April 14, 2011.

RULES CHANGES
1. Hand Signals. (Rule 18.1.5) – Beginning in the 2012 season, when a fault is whistled by the
first referee, both referees will first signal which team earned the point and will serve next,
and then signal the nature of the fault. When a fault is whistled by the second referee, the
second referee will first signal the nature of the fault. The first referee, if in agreement, will
then indicate which team earned the point and will serve next; the second referee mimics
that signal.
Rationale: Indicating which team will serve next facilitates the actions of the scorekeepers
and statisticians during the time that the ball is out of play. The tempo of the match will
improve, and fewer scoring errors should occur.

2. Libero Uniform. (Rule 12.1.3) – Beginning in the 2013 season, it will be required that either
the libero or her teammates wear a solid-colored jersey. Regarding the solid-colored jersey:
a. Sleeves must be the same color as the body of the jersey.
b. Piping/trim no wider than 1” can be a different color than the body of the jersey.c. Lettering and collars can be a different color than the body of the jersey.
d. Numbers must be a contrasting color and meet all other specifications in Rule 7.1.2.
The solid-colored uniform must clearly contrast from the predominant primary color(s) of
the teammate(s) jerseys. Predominant colors are those that appear on approximately half of
the body of the uniform.
Rationale: When both the libero and her teammates are in multi-colored uniforms of the
same color combinations, it can be very difficult to discern the libero’s legality when playing
the ball. Requiring either the libero or the other team members to be in a solid-colored
uniform will assist the referees in determining legal playing actions.
Please note that there will be no rules changes in the 2011 season.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS
1. Rules 10.3.1 and 10.3.2 describe the requirements for players to be in legal positions at the
time of service contact. Second referees must work diligently to track the position of the
receiving team and ensure that the rules regarding position faults are applied. While
preventative officiating or “warnings” are encouraged when players are close to an illegal
position, blatant position faults (overlaps) should be whistled when they occur. However, just
like any other rules infraction, the second referee should not whistle a position fault (overlap)
unless absolutely certain the fault has occurred.

2. Rule 10.1.1.1 was changed in 2010 to indicate that lineups for the first set are due at the
three-minute mark on the clock timing the pre-match warm-ups, and allowed changes to be
made by the coaches without penalty or substitution until the one-minute mark. Rule 18.4.3.2
further clarifies that other match personnel (statisticians, announcer, etc.) should not be
permitted to see the lineups until they are final, which means at the one-minute mark. At that
time, the lineups can be provided to those individuals.

3. It is re-emphasized that, whenever possible, spectators should be restricted from the playing
area through the use of stanchions or by establishing spectator walkways that are not part of
the playing area.

CLARIFICATIONS
1. In 2010, Rule 1.1.1.2 was modified to permit media personnel onto the court during timeouts
and between sets. To clarify, that permission was intended for video camera operators and their support crew who are associated with recognized media outlets, and who have been
approved/credentialed by the host institution prior to the match.

2. Rule 4.2.4 describes the ruling when nonplayers (i.e., media personnel or spectators)
interfere with a legitimate effort by a player to play the ball. To clarify, cheerleaders are
considered spectators, and legitimate interference caused by a cheerleader (or cheerleader
“gear”) may result in a replay. When clearing an area to allow play, cheerleaders should make
every effort to take their gear (megaphones, pompons, etc.) with them to avoid injury.

3. The restrictions on use of electronic aids as described in Rule 6.1.5 have not been changed.
Prohibited items include the use of a computer or other device that is used to transmit any
information (including statistics) from any area in the facility other than the bench to the
bench.

4. Rule 7.2.2 describes jewelry as illegal equipment. To further clarify, dermal implants (jewelry
surgically implanted in the skin) is considered jewelry, and is to be considered illegal
equipment. Sub-dermal implants (embedded items that do not protrude/break the skin) are
permitted.

FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
The committee will continue to examine health and safety issues in the sport, along with
financial implications regarding the different net systems that are being used around the
country. Institutions are using various in-ground systems, counter-weight systems and even
some suspended-net systems that swing down from the ceiling.

Survey topics for next fall will include:

• permitting two players to be designated as liberos for each set, with a free interchange of
those liberos during the set (only one libero would be allowed on the court at any time);
• changing the net fault rule so that only those net contacts that interfere with play (including
contacting the top tape while playing the ball) are considered to be faults;
• changing the illegal block rule to instruct the officials to determine the setter’s intent.

[PaREF]

Well, I was line judge at two D-1 mens' volleyball matches the past two evenings. The home team used two liberos (both nights) and one of the visiting teams used two liberos. They used the liberos in a manner that I suspected for which the rule was instituted.

The starting libero replaced the two middles. The second libero replaced an outside hitter (back row, of course) when the starting libero went out and the middles served. The starting libero came back in and the second libero came back out when the middle lost his serve. So there was always a libero on the court. So, there were two libero replacements simultaneously (L1 replaced by middle and OH2 replaced by L2 then after MH ends his term of service, MH replaced by L1 and L2 replaced by OH2).

We also had one instance where L1 was replaced by L2 (in my second match).

Visiting team in match two questioned whether a libero could replace a libero. R1 and R2 were National referees and said it was OK.

[Antonio.King]

Yes, if they're serving then that's different as PaREF mentioned above. All other instances of libero replacements, not including serving, require them to sit one rally.

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by PaREF

So there was always a libero on the court. So, there were two libero replacements simultaneously (L1 replaced by middle and OH2 replaced by L2.

This would be illegal. There are two replacements, and there has to be a completed rally between replacements, unless there there is a replacement for the legal server of the next rally. Otherwise, one rally between replacements, and if both liberi are involved, then it's two replacements, not one.

[oldsetter]

So, if R is left back on the receiving team and there is a lor, R can go back to serve, but not L for the 1st serve of that term?

[FMadera]

If the libero is allowed to serve, then either could serve, as the serving libero is replacing the next legal server. In that case, a second replacement during the same dead ball would be allowed.

Remember, R would be replaced by the player coming on, and then L would replace the server. L would *not* be replacing R.