August 19, 2026

Two Liberos – FAQs

NEW RULE: A team may designate zero, one or two liberos, but only one libero can be in the game at a time.

UNIFORMS

Q. Can the liberos wear two different uniform colors?

A. Yes – Each libero may wear a different color uniform, if both libero uniforms clearly contrast with non-libero teammates.

SITUATION 1: The team is wearing white uniforms, the L1 is wearing black, and the L2 is wearing red. RULING: Legal. (4-2-2a)

SERVING

Q. Can both liberos serve?

A. Yes, but they are tied to the same serving position.

SITUATION 2: L1 serves in position IV on the lineup. After L1 scores three points, the L2 exchanges for the L1 and serves two more points. RULING: Legal. (10-4-1a, 10-4-5a)

SITUATION 3: L1 replaces No. 21 and serves in position IV. Two rotations later, L2 replaces No. 6 and prepares to serve in the sixth position. RULING: Illegal. COMMENT: L2 completes an illegal libero replacement by replacing someone other than No. 21 in the serving position. The L1, L2 and No. 21 are tied to that serving position and it is an illegal replacement if the L1 or L2 attempt to enter the set for another player in position to serve.

An unnecessary delay (administrative yellow card for the first offense or administrative red card for a subsequent offense in that set) is charged to Team S if identified before contact for serve. If identified after contact for serve, an illegal alignment (loss of rally/point) results. (10-4-1a, 10-4-5a, 10-4 PENALTIES 1)

TRACKING

Q. Does the libero tracker have to track all exchanges?

A. No, it does not matter which libero is in the set.

SITUATION 4: Team S lists two liberos at the top of the scoresheet and libero tracking sheet. During the first set, L1 completes a libero replacement for No. 14. The libero tracker marks an “L” on the line next to player No. 14. A few points later, L2 exchanges with L1. Nothing is recorded by the libero tracker. When player No. 14 replaces L2, the libero tracker enters the player number next to the “L”. RULING: Correct libero tracker procedure.

COMMENT: If a libero exchanges with another libero, there is nothing to record on the libero tracking sheet. The libero tracker is only tracking libero and player replacements. The scorer will indicate with a circle the first entry for each libero into the set. (5-7-1b, Instructions for Libero Tracker).

Q. How do I ensure that the same libero is on the court after a time-out?

A. The officials should discuss during their prematch meeting how they want to note which libero is in the set when a time-out is called. The R2 can note the number of the libero in the set on their lineup card or ask the libero tracker to make a note.

DESIGNATING

Q. If numbers 2 and 7 are liberos for the first set, can new liberos be designated for the second set?

A. Yes, just like with one libero – they can change each set.

SITUATION 5: Player Nos. 2 and 7 are designated as L1 and L2 in set one. In set two, player Nos. 3 and 4 are designated as L1 and L2. RULING: Legal.

Q. When a team designates two liberos in the first set and one is disqualified, the team must play with one libero for the remainder of that set, can they list two liberos for the second set?

A. Yes, for subsequent sets, the team may designate up to two liberos.

SITUATION 6: Team S designates Nos. 2 and 7 as L1 and L2 in set one. No. 7 is disqualified. Team S plays the remainder of set one with one libero. Team S designates Nos. 2 and 4 as L1 and L2 in set two. RULING: Legal. COMMENT: Player No. 7 is disqualified for the remainder of the match. Lineups reset after each set and allow up to two liberos to be designated.

Case Book Correction: 10.4.3 SITUATION F: COMMENT: When a libero is disqualified the team may not re-designate a new libero. If a team has only designated one libero, the match set will continue with no liberos. If a team designates two liberos, the match set will continue with one libero.

REPLACEMENTS/EXCHANGES

Q. Can a libero replacement and exchange occur during the same dead ball?

A. Only when the L1 is moving directly to the serving position and the L2 will serve.

SITUATION 7: Team R wins the rally and the L1 (No. 9) completes a libero exchange with L2 (No. 8) who assumes the serving position. The entering position player (No. 5) completes a replacement with the exiting position player (No. 1). RULING: Legal. COMMENT: A replacement and an exchange can occur on the same dead ball when a libero is replacing the player serving in the right back position without leaving the court. (10-4-1d)

NOTE - THESE RULE CHANGES GO INTO EFFECT FALL 2026

High school volleyball teams will now be permitted to designate up to two libero players during each set, creating additional participation opportunities without needing to use a substitution.

In all, seven rules changes were recommended by the NFHS Volleyball Rules Committee at its annual meeting January 11-13. All rules changes were reviewed and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Rule 6-4-2 was adjusted to allow for multiple liberos to be used by a team; however, only one libero can be in the game at a time. Prior to each set, a team may designate zero, one or two liberos on the lineup sheet.

“We have seen rapid growth in high school volleyball participation over the last several years, which has resulted in more highly skilled student-athletes and larger rosters,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Volleyball Rules Committee. “Providing an opportunity for one more student-athlete to participate aligns with the mission of education-based athletics."

Additionally, Rules 10-4-3a and 10-4-3d now clarify how a libero can be replaced due to injury or disqualification and two liberos have been designated. In 10-4-3a, if a libero is injured, a team may replace the injured player with the player they replace on the court or the second libero. It may also re-designate a new libero.

In 10-4-3d, if a libero is disqualified and two liberos have been designated, the disqualified player may be replaced by the player they replace on the court or the second libero. However, the team must continue to play with one libero.

The libero’s uniform was addressed in edits to Rule 4, with added Rule 4-2-1i(3) to note that the libero’s uniform bottom may be any color while adhering to all other uniform rules.

The rules committee addressed the actions on non-playing teammates in Rule 12. Rule 12-2-8b was added to more appropriately assess when a non-playing teammate enters the court while the ball is in play as illegal alignment and penalized with a loss of point/rally. A coach or team attendant entering the court while the ball is in play is still considered unsporting conduct, and a non-playing teammate may receive a conduct violation if they engage in disconcerting acts or disrespectful actions.

Rule 12-2-8m was added to prohibit the use of props in bench celebrations by non-playing teammates to promote good sportsmanship while preventing disruptions.

Other rules changes include:

• Rule 5-5-3b(21) – The second referee will now indicate a second warning at two minutes, 30 seconds between sets instead of 2 minutes, 45 seconds to improve pace of play.
   
• Rule 6-5-1 – Players on the serving team are forbidden to raise their hands above their heads during service until the ball has passed beyond the net.
   
• Rule 9-2-1 NOTE 1 – No player shall wear any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device during the match, aligning volleyball rules with other NFHS rules codes.

A complete listing of the volleyball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Volleyball” and then “Rules.” The print version of the 2026-27 Volleyball Rules Book will be available for purchase in late April at www.NFHS.com, and the digital version will be available in April via NFHS Digital at www.NFHS.org. 

According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, volleyball is the second-most popular sport for girls (trailing track and field) with 492,799 participants in 17,027 schools nationwide. In addition, there are 95,972 boys participating in the sport at 4,303 schools.

Below: 

Volleyball Rules Changes - 2026-27

Volleyball 2026-27 Rules changes and Points of Emphasis

NJSIAA Points of Emphasis 2026-27

See Below