How to become a better Libero?

Question

I love playing volleyball with all my heart. I use to be a setter but my coach told me she was going to try to have me play the position libero. I've been playing volleyball for about four years. I someday would even would like to become a pro. I'm very athletic and love to hussle after the ball and i'am not afraid to hit the ground at all. If you got any advice for me leave me a comment and i'll try my best to work on it.

Answer 1

If you can pass any ball, it won't matter what else you can do. Passing is the 1st ingredient to a potent play. Without the pass, you can't do squat. Get square in front of the ball when passing. Don't reach off to the side and try to pass. Move in front of the ball as quickly as possible and plant yourself. Create a platform with your arms and use your legs. Using your legs will work better than swinging your arms at it. The legs will allow you to have more control.

Answer 2

Libero is an important position for a team, but if you really want to be a pro, you might want to work on all positions.

Answer 3

Play pepper every day and touch the ball at least 150 times a day. and work on passing.

Answer 4

Play pepper. This will give you all round skills, in cases where you might volley or hit, and also good passing practice. Always be on your toes, butt down, ready to move wherever the ball is it. Its great that you are not afraid to hit the floor, but work hard so that you don't have to.  You can't be afraid of the ball, sometimes hits can hurt, but the pain will go away. Sprints and agility exercises are handy (such as quick feet back and forth). Practice not swinging your arms when passing. Also, be agressive. Because you're in the back, you can see what others can't so YELL!! Call the ball (in/out, mine/up) Good luck!!!

Answer 5

Good advice from above: yes, learn to serve! A good jump serve will help you stand out even more, but a consistent serve is the real key.

On digging: learn to dig well with your hands...you are a setter so it should help. It can help for high balls. Remember how you liked passes when you were setting, and give those kind of passes: accurate with enough height, and if not accurate, add more height!

Stay Low: keep your body lower to the ground. Springing up is a lot easier than diving down. Watch the non-blocking defensive player in beach doubles...they have to cover a LOT of ground. You can pick up some great tips from them.

Learn to "gator": this is a messy beach style dig that can  come in handy in a pinch when a ball comes hard at your upper chest. It's an open hand dig with the hands positioned loosely like the open mouth of an alligator. Coaches will not like it on a regular basis but it 's good to have in your arsenal.

On diving: it should not hurt! Watch a baseball/softball player slide headfirst for a good example.

Learn to "pancake"...this is where you place your hand flat on the ground and the ball bounces off it. Only for emergencies, but it can help you when you need to stretch for that extra few inches.

Of course, practice digging...everyone has said that and they're right. When peppering, ask your partner to hit different types of balls at you: fast, off-speed, high, low, to the sides, and mix in some dinks. Practice reading arm swing until you can read it like a book.

Workout: try adductor and abductor exercises (the machines where your legs are apread and squeezing in or pushing out. This will help your side-to-side movement quickness and strength.

Point your toes inward when receiving (like a baseball player stealing a base)...this lets you push off in either direction easier.

Keep a good attitude: talk up the players you are subbing for when they are coming on/off the court.

Hustle! Never give up on a ball. Keep running until it hits the floor...you will get to so many balls you might not think you could get to.

Communicate! Call balls, and call for help when you need it. On serve receive, you will be the defensive leader. Act like it and it will make everyone around you better.

Play doubles whenever you get a chance, with a player who can block preferably. Sixes will seem easy after that.

Have fun! Liberos are a key and important part of today's vball game.

Answer 6

Well I was switched to libero this past high school season, and now I'm my club team's libero. And it's good that you love to hustle and hit the ground but I think the key to being a good libero is knowing that most of the time you don't have to hit the ground to get a ball. I had that problem with a girl on my high school team, she thought that it was more entertaining and rewarding if she threw her body around, and it isn't as effective as you'd think. I only dive when i absolutely cannot get there. My defensive coach always tells me to get in the lane of the ball, and to have quick feet. I was in the habit of crossing over when I would shuffle to get the ball, and my base was fairly wide. If you skew your feet and have a more narrow base, it's easier to get there faster. And also, he tells me to "hand" my setter the ball on passing and that it's about "finesse" .. basically try to cushion the ball as much as possible and take the spin off of it.

lol that's all I can think of right now.

also... the one key thing to being a libero is being as communicative as possible because being in the back, you see everything, and what goes in your eyes should come out of your mouth. A lot of players get so focused on what they're about to do and get tunnel vision, it's the libero's job to keep everyone on their game and let them know what's happening. I can't tell you how many times I've been praised for being so vocal. lol for once, me liking to talk a lot has come in handy =P

Answer 7

If you are going to college & plan to play libero, start to serve better coz' libero is allow to serve in NCAA.   Watch soccer goalies, they have good reflexes & good eyes on where the ball is going.   Train your reaction & keep it sharp.     Last but not least, go watch Men's & Women's NCAA matches,  you should be able to pick up something from them.  Good Luck & Have Fun.

AND don't forget to pick the best answer.. .. =)