Foo - Indoor Volleyball Uniform Question

Why does each team (men's and women's) seem to have one person with a contrasting uniform?

I guess I have watched just enough to notice this, but not enough to hear anyone explain it.

I've also wondered why men wear baggy basketball shorts and women wear those tight, short hotpants.

I can't answer the spandex question, but the person with a different colored jersey is the libero. They're primarily defensive player and they can sub in and out with back row players without checking in with the ref and without counting against any substitution limits.

It primarily allows a team to easily switch between a defensive or offensive lineup, I think generally depending on how the front rows are matched. You'll probably also notice the liberos are generally one of the shorter players and really good at digs.

I did notice they tended to be one of the shorter players on the team...

I figured it was a positional thing, like a goalie in soccer, but not knowing volleyball, I was clueless.

Thanks!

The introduction of the libero was part of rule changes that were intended to grow the sport, along with rally scoring and let serves. They wanted to encourage longer rallies with a defensive specialist that could be on the court nearly all of the time, and wanted to make match lengths more predictable with the scoring change (making it more TV friendly)

The one person with the contrasting uniform is the captain (i believe).

And what's with the tape on the women during beach volleyball? I started hearing the song "I am stuck on bandaids, 'cuz bandaid's stuck on me!"

The introduction of the libero was part of rule changes that were intended to grow the sport, along with rally scoring and let serves.

Yeah I just noticed the rally scoring for the first time this Olympics (don't know when it started). Definitely more fan friendly, gives the impression that the game is moving along, although I assume for the players it changed some of their strategies and tactics.

And in beach volleyball today I saw a let serve for the first time. I was surprised that it was allowed, but that's cool too.

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And in beach volleyball today I saw a let serve for the first time. I was surprised that it was allowed, but that's cool too.

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Another change they did with beach volleyball was shrink the dimensions of the court 1m each way. They thought it would provide longer rallies as well. My personal opinion is that it made players afraid to hit the ball hard, and it's turned more into a finesse game these days. That's when I started to tune out of beach vb.

And what's with the tape on the women during beach volleyball? I started hearing the song "I am stuck on bandaids, 'cuz bandaid's stuck on me!"The tape, like Kerri Walsh wears on her shoulder, are stick-on braces.

The girls were made to wear the tight pants in an attempt to make more people watch the women's volleyball.

Sad but true.

The tape, like Kerri Walsh wears on her shoulder, are stick-on braces.

Yeah, I know.......but it seems that the other ladies were wearing them too, as if it were some kind of fashion thing. Black for Walsh and pink and blue for the others. How cuuute!!

I'm pretty sure it's the setter.

There you go Dr. Pete, we used to try to have the setter wear a different colored jersey but back when I was playing seriously they put a stop to it. The idea is the setter (me) would be more apparant to the other players and stay out of the way. :)

I haven't played for quite a while and was not aware of the court size change, interesting.

Steven

There you go Dr. Pete, we used to try to have the setter wear a different colored jersey but back when I was playing seriously they put a stop to it. The idea is the setter (me) would be more apparant to the other players and stay out of the way. :)

I haven't played for quite a while and was not aware of the court size change, interesting.

Steven

I played in high school as well--I was a middle hitter, though... :beer:

Earlier posters seem to be right. The player with the contrasting uniform is the "libero"

http://volleyball.org/rules/libero.html

I'm pretty sure it's the setter.


Awww. Setters are cuuuute.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/244/520524714_b344612f9e.jpg

^^ Gordon Setter

The girls were made to wear the tight pants in an attempt to make more people watch the women's volleyball.

it's working

http://independentsources.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/olympics-********.jpg

As I said it's been awhile since I played and reffed the game. Sorry. :)

I played while in the Navy and the only time I played on a team that didn't take the base championship was when I was first learning. Strange thing, I never did well in any sport in high school, I sucked. When I took up volleyball at about 22 I got pretty good and found out that when you play with high caliber (not me) players you get better. Life lesson learned there.

Steven