FAQs: Can A Libero Attack The Ball?
One of the benefits of running a Facebook group for volleyball coaches (Volleyball Coaches Corner) is that I get a better understanding of what is confusing most coaches out there (both new and experienced).
One of the questions that was recently asked started a long discussion…
What was it, you ask?
“Can a libero attack the ball?”
It makes sense that this is confusing (even for experienced coaches) because how the rules are enforced don’t always align with what the rules technically are.
So for anyone who is wondering if your libero can hit the ball or not, let me share with you rules from the 2019 USA Volleyball Rulebook, give a summary of what the rules mean, and then share with you what I teach my players (because again… these rules aren’t always enforced the way they’re supposed to be).
Relevant Technical Rules
13.2 RESTRICTIONS OF THE ATTACK HIT
13.2.1 A front-row player may complete an attack hit at any height, provided that the contact with the ball has been made within the player’s own playing space (except Rules 13.2.4 and 13.3.6).
13.2.2 A back-row player may complete an attack hit at any height from behind the front zone:
13.2.2.1 at his/her take-off, the player’s foot (feet) must neither have touched nor crossed over the attack line;
13.2.2.2 after his/her hit, the player may land within the front zone.
13.2.3 A back-row player may also complete an attack hit from the front zone, if at the moment of the contact a part of the ball is lower than the top of the net.
13.3 FAULTS OF THE ATTACK HIT
13.3.3 A back-row player completes an attack hit from the front zone, if at the moment of the hit the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net.
13.3.5 A Libero completes an attack hit if at the moment of the hit the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net.
From page 55 of the 2019 USAV Rulebook: http://www.jvaonline.org/assets/2017_2019_USAV_Indoor_RuleBook.pdf
Technical Rule Summary
Front row player: MAY jump and attack the ball at any time without restriction.
Back row player (excluding the libero): MAY jump and attack the ball from behind the 10’ line (when the ball is at any height).
Back row player (libero included): MAY jump and attack the ball from in front of the 10’ line (provided the ball is below the height of the net).
Back row player (libero included): MAY NOT jump and attack the ball from anywhere on the court when the ball is entirely above the net at the time of contact.
How the Rules are Typically Enforced
Front row player: Any hit from anywhere on the court is allowed.
Liberos: Back row attacks (as long as they jump from behind the 10’ line) are typically allowed. I have never seen a referee call a fault due to the height of the ball.
All back row players: Any attack from in front of the 10’ line (regardless of ball height) is usually called as an attacking fault.
My Advice
Keep it simple for your beginner/intermediate teams. If they’re in the back row, they can jump and swing as long as they’re behind the 10’ line when they leave the ground. In front of the 10’ line (or stepping on it)? Downball instead.
Older and more advanced teams should know the technical rules and expect them to be enforced properly in most instances.
Do you have any questions about coaching volleyball? Let me know! you can email me directly at whitney@getthepancake.com OR join our closed Facebook group and ask other coaches their opinions, too!