In Olympic team volleyball games, why is one person wearing a different color than the rest of the team?

Question

I was watching mens volleyball this morning and one man for the US was wearing white and everyone else was wearing red and i had remembered i had noticed this earlier in another game. Why is this?

Answer 1

i think i would have to agree with jeremy although i didnt read his whole post.thats alot of reading my friend

Answer 2

I don't know if you'll bother reading this, but I'll do this anyways.

SHORT VERSION:

Because you're probably not crazy enough to read all of the long version.  The middle blocker is the worst passer on the team, so when he or she is rotated to the back row, the libero, who is the best passer on the team, plays in his or her position.  Passing means to bump the ball with your forearms.

LONG VERSION:

Volleyball has the 10-foot line (or 3-meter line, but I'll be using 10 feet).  Before each point, each team will have 3 players in front of this line, and 3 players behind this line (actually not technically true, but rotations are quite confusing, so just take my word for this).  The 3 in front can jump and hit close to the net, but the 3 behind can only jump from behind the line and hit the ball.  No player can hit from behind the line and match their ability to hit close to the net.  So the sets will typically go to the players in front.  In addition, only the three players in front of the line can jump and block the ball over the net.

Now, the best blockers on the team are the middle blockers.  They are placed in the middle of the front so they can move to both sides to block.  However, they are also typically the worst passers on the team.  Because there are rotations counter-clockwise in volleyball after each time you win a point on your opponent's serve, the middle blocker cannot stay in front forever, and will eventually be moved to the back, where they cannot block and must pass.

So each team typically has two middle blockers.  They are placed opposite of each other, so each team will always have one middle blocker in front and one in back.  When one switches to the back, the other switches to the front, so each team will always have one middle blocker in the front.  Here is my best shot at drawing this:

Before point won:

X1        X2         M3

---------------

M4       X5         X6

After point won (one position counter-clockwise):

M4 X1 X2

---------------

X5 X6 M3

But the middle blocker in the back will be the worst passer on the team, and this hampers teams' chances of winning if the other team simply picks on that player.  So to prevent this, the libero was added.

Each team has a limited number of substitutions, so substituting out the middle blocker going to the back each time was not worth it.  The libero, however, does not count as a substitution, and replaces the middle blocker going to the back each time.  Since the libero cannot attack, he or she is typically the best passer on the team, because the libero's sole job is to pass.  So each team will always have one libero and one middle blocker on the court.  When the middle blocker is moved to the back, he or she comes out of the game, the other one comes in to the front, and the libero stays in.

Before point won:

X1  X2  M

---------------

L  X3         X4

After point won:

M       X1         X2

---------------

X3        X4         L

The middle blocker would've gone to the back and the libero would've gone to the front, but the libero cannot play in front, so the other middle blocker is substituted in.  Then the libero can replace the middle blocker going to the back.

Okay this was way too long and more information than you probably asked for, so I'm sorry.  But I had fun.  :-P

Answer 3

the captin

Answer 4

That member of the team is THE "LIBERO" PLAYER

Each team has the option to register one specialised defensive player, "Libero" among the final list of 12 players for the whole tournament.

The specific rules for a Libero player are as follows:

A) He/she is restricted to performing as a back row player and has no right at all to complete an attack hit when the ball is above the height of the top of the net.

B) The Libero may not serve, block or attempt to block.

C) The Libero must wear a different colour shirt from the other members of the team.

D) Substitutions involving a Libero are not counted as regular and their number is unlimited. A Libero cannot take part in normal substitutions and may only enter or leave the game while the ball is out of play and before the whistle for service.

E) It is necessary to have a rally between replacement of two different players involving a Libero. With the previous approval of the first referee, an injured Libero may be substituted during the match by any registered player within the normal line-up list of the score sheet.

G) The designated replacement of a Libero will be limited to performing as a Libero for the rest of the match and the subsequent matches. Nevertheless, this player will be allowed to be registered again in the normal line-up of later matches once the initially registered Libero is officially re-instituted.

H) No other player will be authorised to perform as a Libero and in the case of further injury of the originally registerd Libero, he/she will be replaced by the same player under the same conditions as stated in previous points.

Answer 5

That's the libero, the defence person in the team.