Why 1 Volleyball Player Always Wears a Different Color During an Olympic Match
When you re watching volleyball at the Tokyo Olympics, you might notice a player wearing a different colored jersey than the rest of their team. There s a good reason for their standout appearance: you ve just spotted the libero, a specialized player whose unique role requires them to be easily visible at all times.
According to USA Volleyball, the libero is a defensive specialist who can replace any player in the back row without counting toward a team s substitutions, which in international play are limited to six per set. Introduced in 1998, there are some specific limitations on what a libero can and cannot do while they are on the court. In international play, liberos cannot serve, spike, or rotate into the front row positions. Essentially, they re a defensive specialist who s there to help receive serves and make crucial saves during longer rallies.