Volleyball jerseys explained: Why one player wears different shirt to others at Olympics
A quirky volleyball rule sees one player wear a different kit than the rest of their teammates - here's why ahead of the action at the Paris Olympics
Volleyball newcomers at the Paris Olympics might find themselves puzzled by the players' kits. Each six-person team - the indoor game rather than beach volleyball - features one player donning an alternative jersey to their teammates.
This player is the defensive ace known as a libero, with each squad having two of them. Their kit typically reflects their nation's colours but stands out from their teammates so the referee can easily identify them and apply the specific rules of their role, which restricts them to the back row on the court.
Liberos are barred from front-row jumping spikes or netblocks. This position was introduced in the mid-1990s by the International Volleyball Federation to bolster defensive tactics.
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USA Volleyball's regulations explain: "The Libero's jersey or jacket must clearly contrast in colour to the colour of the jersey worn by other members of the team.
"The Libero jerseys do not have to match, but they must both be contrasting from the other members of the team. 'Contrast' means 'strikingly different'. As such, two dark colours [or two light colours] often do not provide sufficient contrast from one another."
In another regulation unique to the position, liberos are not subject to the same substitution rules as their teammates, with at least one point required to be played between a 'libero' exiting the court and their replacement entering. It was only in 2021 that liberos were permitted to captain their teams, following a rule change just before the delayed Tokyo Olympics.
Discovery+ is the new home of the Olympics. The streamer is set to broadcast 3,800 hours of sport live from Paris.
Sports fans can get Discovery+ for £3.99 a month until the end of 2024 via Amazon Prime's video channels. This also comes with an Amazon Prime 30-day free trial.
The volleyball competition, set to take place in the South Paris Arena, kicks off today (July 27) and wraps up on August 11. The top two countries from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals.
France and Team USA clinched gold in the men's and women's events respectively at the Tokyo Games. Volleyball has been part of the Olympic programme since the 1964 Tokyo Games.
Team GB have failed to qualify for Paris 2024. Their sole Olympic outing in the sport was at London 2012, where the women's team finished ninth and the men's team ended up 11th.
In contrast, the beach volleyball tournament will be held in a temporary stadium on the Champs de Mars, with the Eiffel Tower providing a stunning backdrop.
