Where should I play my libero? deep middle? or short left?

Question
I will be coaching twelve year olds and at this young level, should I keep my libero in the middle back or should I place her always in the left back?  I will have a DS, as well......

Answer
Good morning and welcome to www.allexperts.com!

There are several thoughts about where to play your libero.

* Many coaches play their libero deep middle b/c that allows your best passer/digger to cover more court.  Make sense.  If you're playing a perimeter defense that forces the deep middle to read, then a quick person playing that spot is very beneficial.  I accepted this philosophy, until I had a reason to unaccept it.  

* I now place my libero in the short left.  This doesn't compromise my defense b/c I either will have an OH or a DS playing deep middle and they will have ball control skills similar to my libero. However, if I can keep an OH in the deep middle, it really expands our offensive options!  An OH hitting a back row attack out of the middle back can be a devastating weapon!  So, now this is what I do.  

On a u12's team.....hmmmmm.....I've never coached a team that young before.  Since they haven't played much vball, and their reactions will be slow, I think I'd prefer to keep the libero in the short left.  When I watch those girls play, so few balls are taken deep.  In fact, in my area of Virginia, I imagine that 50% of the balls that go over the net are done so on the 1st or 2nd contacts....so you'd better have a quick/athletic kid behind your OH and MB or balls will fall time after time after time.  But, maybe you're planning on playing vs. teams that are as good as typical 14's or 15's teams.  Then, please go back to the "*" comments I have above.  

I hope that this helps.  If you have more questions, please contact me at [email protected], or follow up here.   

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Hope it's a great weekend!
Coach Houser