High school volleyball in Tennessee may look a little bit more like college volleyball this year. Last year TSSAA approved the use of a libero player during regular season play, but it was not allowed in post season. That meant it wasn’t used because coaches didn’t want their teams to get used to playing one way during regular season and then changing things drastically at tournament time. This year TSSAA approved the libero to be used during regular season and many teams are prepared to use it.

The libero (LEE-bah-ro) position has been used in international, club, and college volleyball since 2002 and is slowly making it into high school volleyball. The libero is played by a defensive specialist. She is allowed to replace any player on the back row and does not count as a substitution. She may replace any number of teammates during the same game and can enter the court during a dead ball without calling a referee to allow her entrance.

The libero wears a uniform that is in contrast with her team so that she can be easily tracked. She is not limited to the number of times she can enter and leave the court. The use of a libero does not count against a team’s total number of allowed substitutions.

The libero must play on the back row and cannot complete an attack from anywhere on the court if the ball is entirely above the net. She cannot block or serve. She may not set the ball with her fingers while in the attack zone.

Most coaches are ready for the change. Many of the area players participate in Chattanooga club volleyball and are accustomed to the libero after using it for several years.

It is the general feeling among coaches that the libero will enhance the game by increasing the level of play. Baylor Coach Lynne Stopford agrees. “(With a libero) we will see improved defenses making for more exciting rallies.”

Coach Catherine Neely from East Ridge said indeed defense is a key to a good volleyball match. “Defense enables the team to be able to run their offense.” Coach Neely said. “If I need to use a libero to accomplish that, I will.”

Most coaches, like Neely, will base their decision on whether or not to use a libero according to the personnel of their particular team.

Coach Christy McElhaney from Bradley has already chosen her libero. Senior Jessica Morris is well suited for the job. “Jessica is one of the scrappiest players I've ever coached.” Coach McElhaney said. “She is an excellent passer. She has a lot of pressure on her this year with this new position, but is confident in that. She is our best passer and can pass with extreme accuracy.”

CCS’s coach Jennifer Mathews points out another benefit to adding the position. “(The libero) allows the skills of some kids who are very good passers and defensive players to be utilized and recognized in a different manner than ever before.”

With most coaches agreeing that overall the addition of the libero will be good for high school volleyball there are a few points that, although outweighed by the positives, cause some coaches a small amount of concern.

The use of the libero does eliminate the need for at least one girl to be on the court. A player who may have been given a chance to pass or dig before will now be replaced by the libero. At the high school level this takes away the opportunity for that young player to develop a skill she may have been able to before the libero.

Another sticking point for coaches is that when a libero is used they must provide a tracker. The tracker is used to make sure that once the libero is replaced at least one serve takes place before she re-enters the game and that, when she leaves the court, she is replaced by the same player she replaced when she entered the game.

Hixson Coach Janet Tate points out how tough this can be. “It is tough enough to find scorekeepers let alone another one to track (the libero).”

The tracker will have to be specially trained to use the “Libero Tracking Sheet” which is completely separate from the scorebook but is considered an official form and is required when using a libero.

Bradley Central’s Coach McElhany may have put her finger on something else the libero will do for volleyball this season. “It will get lots of questions from fans wondering why someone has a different jersey on.” The Bearettes coach said, “Anything that will peak the interest of fans is good.”

No matter who you ask there is a feeling that the libero is going to bring a new excitement to the game this year.