Why does one player wear a different shirt in olympic volleyball?

Question

Why does one player wear a different shirt in olympic volleyball?

Answer 1

Asteroid's answer could be good enough for you.  Then you won't have to read all this.  But if you really care enough, here you go:

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 2

In 1998 the libero player was introduced internationally, the term meaning free in Italian is pronounced LEE-beh-ro (rather than lih-BEAR-oh); the NCAA introduced the libero in 2002.[15] The libero is a player specialized in defensive skills: the libero must wear a contrasting jersey color from his or her teammates and cannot block or attack the ball when it is entirely above net height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row player, without prior notice to the officials. This replacement does not count against the substitution limit each team is allowed per set, although the libero may be replaced only by the player whom they replaced. The libero may function as a setter only under certain restrictions. If she/he makes an overhand set, she/he must be standing behind (and not stepping on) the 3-meter line; otherwise, the ball cannot be attacked above the net in front of the 3-meter line. An underhand pass is allowed from any part of the court.

The libero is, generally, the most skilled defensive player on the team. There is also a libero tracking sheet, where the referees or officiating team must keep track of who the libero subs in and out for. There may only be one libero per set (game), although there may be a different libero in the beginning of any new set (game).

Furthermore, a libero is not allowed to serve, according to international rules, with the exception of the NCAA women's volleyball games, where a 2004 rule change allows the libero to serve, but only in a specific rotation. That is, the libero can only serve for one person, not for all of the people for whom she goes in. That rule change was also applied to high school play soon after.

Answer 3

because that person is the center, i have no clue why they do that highschool and college people do it to.

Answer 4

team captain