Where (and how) to play your libero?

tbarbera · **Where (and how) to play your libero? -** 07-20-2006, 09:58 AM

To me the Libero should take ALL free balls (with open hands), most serve recieves, and most digs. If they can touch it they should pass it.
If you use a Libero your serve recieve is taken care of (or it should be). The only time a Libero shouldn't take the serve is when the ball is impossible for them to get. If they can touch it, they should pass it. (This is assuming that they are the best passer on the court... usually the case.) They should also always be in the back row (obviously). The ideal situation would be to have the Libero play where ever the ball is going to be hit or served. This means that if the Libero thinks the ball is going to be hit in a certain spot he/she should play defense or get there to recieve the serve. The player whose spot is taken needs to fill where the Libero left. This is usually only going to happen between the OH's base defense and the middles base defense. (I would much rather play Libero in the OH's spot.) Also the Libero must be able to transition from getting ready to dig a ball to running up and getting up a tip. Playing left back they should be able to get 95% of the tips. The places that are usually tipped to are, over the block in the 2, 3, and 4 spots, in the middle of the court, and in the corners. (I guess thats everywhere huh?) there are only one spot the Libero playing left back shouldnt have to worry about covering and that is the deep tip to the 1 position. This ball is the middle backs responsibility. If the Libero runs up to cover for a tip to the two spot both the middle back and the front row OH MUST pinch over to cover where the libero left. This is usually not a problem.

Summary: The libero must take everything he can get to. He(/she) should set up serve recive and base defense. If he/she can touch the ball they should pass it!

Comments and questions welcome.

-Tyler

NewEnglandRT · 07-20-2006, 10:19 PM

That's all well and good if your libero has ball control like he's from the 619. However, in the last year I've seen some liberos who were just short.... not good. Yeah, you're liberos mentality has to be they can get up any ball.... what you're talking about it would seem requires alot from the other defenders in terms of unspoken communication and chemistry. That's a good thing if you've got it.

tbarbera · 07-20-2006, 11:08 PM

619? Did I miss something?

I guess you are right. You need comunication. When I play libero I yell to the rest of the players (or try to). Tell them where to cover. If you are playing with people that are in the A, AA, and Open skill level it should be easy for the other players to know where the Libero is leaving an opening in the court and to fill it up. That is what they should do when there is a whole anywhere like behind the block.

Point taken though, chemistry is needed, and the libero needs great ball control. My question is: What is anyone doing playing libero if they don't have great ball control? Playing libero is along the same lines as setting. What is a person doing setting if they don't have good hands?

-Tyler

NewEnglandRT · 07-21-2006, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Playing libero is along the same lines as setting. What is a person doing setting if they don't have good hands?

I've watched matches and asked myself the same questions!

To be honest I've never played with a libero but I'm always so impressed when I watch upper level teams with great liberos who touch just about anything.

PS- the 619 reference is for San Diego..... Manzi who's a libero as well is from out that way and he's got some ball control! I guess it's a vbli inside joke as cheesy as that sounds.

tbarbera · 07-21-2006, 08:36 AM

So now I am on the inside?

NewEnglandRT · 07-21-2006, 07:34 PM

That depends...

Have you used it in a sentance with other? ex: "wow, that chicks got ball control like she's from the 619!" or after an amaizing dig or pass and your partner complements you, you reply "awe, it's nothing... just reppin' the 619" ?

That's when you're an insider. LAF!

coachmanzi · 07-22-2006, 12:46 AM

So, i don't want to write this whole essay about being a libero, but I have to..
As mentioned earlier, it's a different mentality. A libero must be confident, not cocky. If they want to pass the ball, everyone must get out of their way. It is not considered snaking the ball (stealing it) if the libero takes it.
Like the setter runs the offense, the libero runs the defense. Everything revolves around them.
This past season, we ran our whole serve rec around the libero's and we were able to pass a 2.75 average.

Wearing the different jersey, I want every ball, I want every hitter to hit at me, every serve to come to me, just because that is all I can do. After I pancake a ball, or make a dig and a teammate or coach says "great up!" all I can reply is "hey, it's my job, gimme another one"

Tyler, you're talking about putting the L down the left side, which i totally agree with. Make the OH a swing hitter out of the back row and have the libero be able to dig the right side who can take line.

If you're ever in the 619, come say hi. We'll show you how volley should be played.

kvb · 12:56 AM

just got back from volleyball (imagine that!) and our tourney got cancelled tomorrow so we're gonna play beach pickup tomorrow at 10am (imagine that!)

tb's an insider when he can get strazz to run over his own frisbee while he's hitchhiking thru the parking lot (like Manzi)....ha ha ha ha

(and i'm not even gonna elaborate on manzi's demonstrating strazz's windshield wipers incident - other than to say i think strazz ran outta washer fluid! ha ha ha - my stomach hurts i'm lafing so hard!)

coachmanzi · 07-22-2006, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvb

just got back from volleyball (imagine that!) and our tourney got cancelled tomorrow so we're gonna play beach pickup tomorrow at 10am (imagine that!)

tb's an insider when he can get strazz to run over his own frisbee while he's hitchhiking thru the parking lot (like Manzi)....ha ha ha ha

(and i'm not even gonna elaborate on manzi's demonstrating strazz's windshield wipers incident! ha ha ha - my stomach hurts i'm lafing so hard!)

did that have any relevance to liberoing?

kvb · 04:19 PM

Yes, Manzi, it annoyed a libero, you - ha ha!

So, i wonder how TB made out w/his partner today at the BSSC Ipswich Men's grass 2's tourney...We got rained out here.

One of my 2's partners is a libero from club and she's great - she covers 110% of the court and makes me look good

and she's not a bad outside hitter either. Actually, now that I think about it, the last 2 women's 2's tourneys I played both partners are liberos from club and/or college. Liberos make excellent doubles partners because they're consistent passers, have good hustle and ball control. (Happy now Manz?)

I often play Outside Hitter or Setter, so I prefer the Liberos to take out the Middles. Outsides are usually better passers than the Middles. If you Libero out the Outsides, you take out your better passer and leave in your weaker passers (the Middles.) But I think I know what you guys are saying...still Libero out the Middles, but have the OH and Libero swap defense positions in the back row from where they'd normally play since that would put the Libero in digging position where the offense's OH is most likely to hit and have OH in middle back to cover back line and line behind the setter on a 6-2.