tips for libero

Question
Hi. My name is Katerina and this year I'm playing as a libero. Could you give me some advice how to be a good passer and defender.

Answer
Hello Katerina and welcome to www.AllExperts.com

My name is Coach Tovar

To make sure that all my readers young and old can understand some of my comments, I have chosen to use simple vocabulary words and interpret the rule for this sole purpose.

There are certain things a Libero can do to better prepare themselves in becoming a great Libero and asset to your team.

There are three major areas to prepare for in becoming a great Libero, here are the three following: (A) How to read hitters and their offenses (B) Being a great passer and back row hitter, and (C) Attacking the ball from all points.

A. How to read hitters and their offense.
1. Identify the front row hitters when they are 3 front row players. Make sure you know who is who as they warm up.

2. Identify the 2 front row players, this means the setter is a front row player. This will give your team an advantage.

3. The setter in the front will also let you know that their hitting chances are limited and they might hit from the back row.

3. Look at their hitters during their warm ups to identify their approach technique, if they are left or right handed, and see if they hit the ball at its highest point. If they do not, you will probably be chasing tip balls from blocks all day long.

4. Communicate with your blockers to interchange according to your best blocker with their best hitter. By solving this problem, your team will not be behind all day.

5. Communicate with your blockers on who to make sure they block more than others.

6. If your blockers concentrate on those tough hitters, then you can better prepare your self to pick up a dig.

7. Most hitters hit in the same area most of the time. Look for this during the warm ups.

8. Do not underestimate how quickly the ball moves towards you. Always take a small
step towards the spike.

9. If the spiker is facing the setter during their approach, take that step towards the spike. If the spiker is facing the net during their approach then look for a down the line hit or towards the middle.

10. The wrist, hand of a spiker can manipulate the ball in so many ways so don't concentrate too much on those factors.

11. An excellent Libero must communicate effectively with their blockers during practice and always be one second in front of the hit.

12. Always take a small step towards the setter every time the setter touches the ball and then move away to your position.

13. An excellent Libero always knows where to be in every hit.

14. As you practice with your team, practice the following steps above. Especially practice communicating with your blockers and identifying the hitters at all times.

B. Being a great passer and back row hitter.

1. This basically starts with knowing where to be in front of the ball and passing it in a way that gives the setter and hitters enough time to prepare for a good offensive attack.

2. Set a basket ball in to the air and let it drop. Continue this for about ten times every day at practice. This will help you have stronger fingers in order to receive a volleyball with you fingers and will help you set the ball to the setter. You can also have the setter bounce the ball to you and set the ball up while letting it drop. You will then do the same to the setter for about ten times each.

3. Practice your court space to determine if the ball will be served out or in. Remember that 80% of the time, servers will serve in the same area unless indicated by their coach. Look at the server and see if he or she looks to the side at the coach. If they do this that means that the serve will be a different one from the previous one and will usually be the opposite speed of the previous one.

4. Have someone practice serving to you. Let the ball go between your legs. By doing this you will practice walking to the ball and setting yourself up for a great bump to the setter. Eventually pick up the serve ball and bump it to the setter. It will be great to practice turning slightly and facing the setter as you receive the ball so that the setter does not have to travel far for the ball.

5. Practice over and over having someone spike the ball to you while taking a small step. Make sure you also have a target to bump to that is not directly in front of you. Doing this will help you to connect the angle between the ball being spiked and your target. Doing it this way will allow your setter to take less steps in getting the ball as opposed to preparing for a great set.

6. Practice throwing the ball up into the air and spiking it over the net from your 10ft. line. If you have to set a free ball over the net then set the ball to the corners as in a shoot set. They will have more trouble getting the ball to the setter. Never give them a short ball unless you know where the setter is and give it to them. By doing this they will have to continue a set not from the setter.

7. Practice identifying a spike, dink, tip, and know where to be where the hitter has no choice but to move the ball around into your court.

8. Spike the ball from the back row using the "C" technique. Simply curl your hand in a "C" position and follow through as in a serve. The ball will drop very fast. You can also place the "C" position on the ball, keep the "C" position, throw ball into the air, and spike it with a follow through. Always do this with at least ten balls in a roll so that you can adjust to the hit quickly.

C. Attacking the ball from all points.
Even though you might not need all of the following techniques in picking up a ball, it will be great for you to get familiar with them until you can master them on your own. Know how to do the defensive roll, collapse dig, pancake and running through the ball.

The best way for more to help with these is to show you a video for each that I consider to be a fairly good practical technique.

The roll very basic - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ttPQYaf-jM&feature=related
The roll advanced - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JzcLjCwXE0&feature=related
Defense and roll - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXfCZUBpFDw&feature=related
Collapse Dig - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgE_ljKP5Vo&feature=related
Libero highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlY8ZzIGE_g&feature=related

You can also seek extra videos on the following skills above.


I hope this answers your question. Please take the time to rate me. Any feedback you can provide for me will be great.

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Coach Tovar